Can you feel that? The buzz, the anticipation, the excitement beginning to permeate the days as we step out of winter and gear up for the season of sunshine and smiles. Delicious food, vibrant arts, fantastic music, and dazzling shows are all waiting to burst into life across the county, so here are some festivals coming your way to bring together all of that and more. From the unmissable Medway Gaming Festival to Dreamland’s jam-packed schedule, days out for the next few months have practically sorted themselves…
CANTERBURY PRIDE
8-9 June
Back once again for an unforgettable weekend, the Canterbury Pride festival will kick off in full swing the weekend of June 8. Grab your pals, bring out every rainbow-coloured garment from your wardrobe, and join in the celebrations of the city. Live performances will lead you through the day, bringing everyone together for a day of rejoicing in identity and self-expression.
pridecanterbury.com
BLACK DEER FESTIVAL
14-16 June
Elridge Park
With a lineup including the likes of Sheryl Crowe, The Staves, and Villagers, all you folk and country lovers out there are in for a real treat. At the Black Deer Festival, talents from around the world join together in a three-day festival of music, gracing the glorious outdoors of Eridge Park in Tunbridge Wells with a brilliant atmosphere and even more brilliant sounds.
blackdeerfestival.com
MARGATE SUMMER SERIES
14 June-September
Dreamland, Marine Terrace
The stops are most certainly being pulled out this year in Margate, with the Summer Series taking centre stage and dazzling us with its catalogue of artists from across the world of music. Bryan Adams, Limp Bizkit, Craig David, Simple Minds, Busted, Nile Rodgers…and that’s just to name a few. Interested? Just one look at their monthly lineup will have you booking tickets in minutes.
margatesummerseries.co.uk
MEDWAY GAMING FESTIVAL
15-16 June
Historic Dockyard Chatham
Where better to journey through to another world than at the Historic Dockyard Chatham? Bursting with its own rich stories of times gone by, the Dockyard provides an aptly grand and glorious backdrop for the annual Medway Gaming Festival. Throughout, you’ll discover games to excite the senses, virtual reality experiences to delight the mind, cosplayers to ignite the imagination, and plenty more fun from the world of gaming and technology.
thedockyard.co.uk/events/medway-gaming-festival
SAUSAGE AND CIDER FESTIVAL
15 June in Dunorlan Park
27 July in Quex Park
The world’s only touring sausage and cider festival is coming to a town near you! Setting up in Dunorlan Park on the 15 June and Quex Park on 27 July, you’re not short for chances to sample some of the delights on offer in this food and drink festival like none other. Palettes at the ready!
sausageandciderfest.co.uk
ROCHESTER CASTLE LIVE
5-7 July
A three-day extravaganza is on its way to you, hosted at the stunning Rochester Castle. From the people that brough you Uptown Festival, KISSTORY, Downtown, and many more, you’re most certainly in for an amazing weekend this July. Nostalgic club classics, indie beats, and legendary performers await, so keep an eye out for the lineup announcement, and we’ll see you there…
visitmedway.org/events/rochester-castle-live-116634
LEEDS CASTLE CONCERT
13 July
One of our summer highlights, the Leeds Castle Concert, returns in 2024 for a magnificent display of music to treat everyone. Set in the grounds of the iconic Leeds Castle, we’re heading along to join in on the party that most certainly would’ve had Lady Baillie smiling! This open-air musical delight has been treating crowds for over 40 years, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.
leedscastleconcert.co.uk
MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL
19-21 July
Mote Park
If a bit of rock is more your vibe, then fear not - the Maid of Stone Festival is coming to Maidstone’s very own Mote Park. With unmissable talents set across three stages, you can take your pick of which head-banging, guitar thrashing, drum kicking tunes to enjoy across this rocking weekend in July.
maidofstonefestival.com
MARGATE SOUL FESTIVAL
2-4 August
Margate Harbour
If you needed a reason to add Margate to your summer bucket list, this is it. Outlining the beautiful Kentish coastline, the Margate Soul Festival is getting ready to roll out an unbeatable lineup of soul music for you to sway, boogie, and dance to. And it’s not just the music they’ve got down pat – a strong sustainability ethos gives you a whole other reason to add this one to the itinerary.
margatesoulfestival.co.uk
BROADSTAIRS FOLK WEEK
9-16 August
Kent Innovation Centre, Millennium Way
Let the good vibes flow as you pack your bag, grab your camera, and head out to take in the wonders of the Broadstairs Folk Week. Spanning across eight days, you’ve got plenty of choice between your folk favourites, as well as fascinating workshops, more intimate pub performances in town, and even the option to turn your day into an overnight camping stay!
broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk
FAVERSHAM HOP FESTIVAL
31 August-1 September
3a Market Street
Delight in hop-fueled fun over the last weekend in August, when the Faversham Hop Festival will burst into life, bringing with it over 70 performers, an amazing atmosphere, and (of course) tastes from some of the finest brewers around. Nestled right next door to Shepherd Neame’s brewery, you’ll experience fantastic flavours of the area in the presence of Britain’s oldest brewer. – so, you’ll certainly be in safe hands!
favershamhopfestival.org
