What's on this August bank holiday weekend in Kent from jousting to ice cream and plant hunters to beaches
06:00, 19 August 2019
From bushcraft to beaches and battles, there's a bumper bank holiday coming. Here's what's happening a across the county:
JOUST: BATTLE FOR GOOD, DOVER CASTLE
Skilful knights mounted on their magnificent steeds battle in the name of good and evil, with the backdrop of the castle's medieval keep across the three day bank holiday. Besides the battle on horseback, there will be living history camps, falconry and young squires can test their bravery with hobby horse jousting. Cheer your favourite knight and step back in time for the weekend at the English Heritage site, on Saturday, August 24, Sunday, August 25 and Bank Holiday Monday, August 26. Entry is £24.40, with children £21.90. To book tickets go to english-heritage.org.uk/dovercastle, call 0370 333 1181 or get them on the day.
PLANT HUNTERS WEEKEND, LULLINGSTONE CASTLE
Celebrating the lives of some of the country's most intrepid plant hunters, Tom Hart Dyke and friends will don Victorian dress and lead a tour of the World Garden from 1.30pm to 3.30pm over the weekend which is on Saturday, August 24 to Bank Holiday Monday, August 26. Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) will also be bringing some animals on the tour. You can also see a plant hunter's expedition camp. Entry is £10, under 15s are free. Go to lullingstonecastle.co.uk
Experts from Camp Wilderness will be giving tips on Bushcraft on Sunday, August 25 and Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.
Settled beneath a yurt on the Woodland Trail, visitors will learn skills and have a go. On the Sunday, Treasure Island will be performed in the Stage Garden while there will also be falconry shows and children’s crafts. The six-acre Maize Maze is also open through to the end of August. Details at penshurstplace.com.
ICE CREAM FESTIVAL, KENT LIFE, MAIDSTONE
The popular festival returns on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, with more than 20 flavours from different vendors as well as chocolatiers and sweet stalls. The Dairy Stage will have live music and there will be face painting and Punch and Judy.
Find out more at kentlife.org.uk
PROMS & ABBA REVIVAL, HOLE PARK
For the first time the Rolvenden gardens will hold a Proms Spectacular on Saturday, August 24, with a parachute and Spitfire display followed by traditional tunes played by the Orion Orchestra with soloist Peter Auty and a fireworks finale. Tribute band ABBA Revival will follow on Sunday, August 25. Tickets are £37.50 (plus a booking fee) for the Proms and £30 for the ABBA Revival. To book visit organiser Bel Events' website at belevents.co.uk
BOING! FESTIVAL, CANTERBURY
The family festival returns to the Gulbenkian in Canterbury on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 with performers and artists from across the world creating music and theatre workshops, dance, films and the new Daedalum luminarium. The festival is free to enter, with some events needing tickets or pre-booking. Go to boingfestival.com
ROLLER COAST FESTIVAL, DREAMLAND
Embrace your inner nerd with Brainiac Live Week, which runs until Sunday, August 25, which is part of the Roller Coast Festival, the park's summer family fun. Live shows all week come from Brainiac and the scientists in Jurassic Park, in the food court or Scenic Stage. Milkshake! Week follows from Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, with shows starring Fireman Sam, Milkshake Monkey, Nella The Princess Knight and Digby Dragon. There will also be film screenings with Moana (PG) and Sing-a-long-a Grease. Entry to the park is free. Book wristbands for rides at a discount at dreamland.co.uk
CAMPFIRE TALES AT CANTERBURY TALES
Gather round the campfire as Canterbury's ancient storytelling traditions are revived on Friday evening in the Medieval Story Garden during the summer holidays. Hear tales of knights, wizards, witches and some magic from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Entry is £9. Book at canterburytales.org.uk or call 01227 696002.
Join Hopper the Rabbit for summer holiday fun, which runs at the park at Beltring, Paddock Wood, until Sunday, September 1 daily from 10am. Besides the usual attractions, shows in the Big Red Barn are provided by the entertainment team of Keep Calm And Book. Find out more by visiting thehopfarm.co.uk
THE BEACH, BLUEWATER
A sandy beach, water to take a dip in, fairground rides and games - plus deck chairs to relax in while you feel the sand between your toes are all on offer at the shopping centre's beach, which is back for a third year. The specially constructed seaside replacement at The Village car park costs £3 with rides and games extra.
GUIDED RIVER WALK, SCOTNEY CASTLE
Join a walk visiting the rivers and ponds of the National Trust’s Scotney Castle until Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, at 11.30am and 2pm. Visitors can learn about what has been done to improve the river banks and pond habitats and why. The walk isn’t suitable for pushchairs and younger children due to the surface and length. The walk, which is free with normal admission charges, is one of a number of summer activities happening at National Trust properties across the county. To find out more and one near you, go to nationaltrust.org.uk
JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY, HEVER CASTLE
Immerse yourself in different periods of history over the weekend from Saturday, August 24 to Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, with re-enactments and stalls, as well as jousting tournaments. Details at hevercastle.co.uk
KENT CHROME & CRUISERS SHOW, FAVERSHAM
There'll be some gleaming chrome on display at the show and autojumble at Faversham Showground in Staple Street on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, between 10am and 5pm. Live music comes from The Jets and Hullabaloo. Entry is £5.
The feel-good family-friendly festival of food and music at the Milk House pub in The Street, Sissinghurst, is back for a sixth year from Friday, August 23 to Bank Holiday Monday, August 26. There will be music from top local talent and food and drink, plus Kentish cider and Park Farm hot dogs, plus circus skills for the kids to try. Kent Brewery will provide a 3.9% special Session IPA using some of the latest English hop varieties at £3.50 a pint. Details at themilkhouse.co.uk/milkfest2019/
SUMMER HOLIDAYS, CHATHAM HISTORIC DOCKYARD
The dockyard has brought a retro beach to Medway beach throughout the holidays, bringing nostalgia - meaning the socks and sandles combo is permitted - with traditional beach huts, deck chairs and sand, until Sunday, September 1. All the other traditional dockyard attractions are open throughout the summer too. To book your tickets online - which include Kids for a Quid until the end of August - go to thedockyard.co.uk
LYNSTED MEDIEVAL FETE
Brave knights and fair maidens should head to Lynsted Park near Sittingbourne on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, when there will be live music, games, races, face painting and prizes for fancy dress plus hobby horse jousting and archery. The fun runs from 1pm to 4pm, with refreshments and ice cream to buy plus stalls to browse.
ALPACA MEET & GREET, YALDING
You'll get to meet, feed and take photos of the alpacas at the trust on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26. There will also be crafts from 11.30am and 2.30pm, plus cakes to buy or a woodland walk to try. It costs £5 per child, which includes a drink and an alpaca cookie. Details at kenwardtrust.org.uk
WHITSTABLE CASTLE FAIR & DOG SHOW
The castle's summer fair and fun dog show on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, runs from 10am to 5pm, and combines a traditional summer fair in the castle grounds with gift, food and craft stalls, as well as face painting, tea and cake, live music, a barbecue and fun family dog show.
To find out what’s going on in the county and for all the latest entertainment news click here.
