ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
IT’ S FESTIVAL SEASON! cont.
Faversham Hop Festival Tenterden Folk Festival
A NEW DAY FESTIVAL // 25-27 AUG www. anewdayfestival. com
What a festival this is! Young, fresh and exactly what you need for a hot bank holiday in August( or even a warmish one), the A New Day Festival puts fantastic acts together with a gorgeous location, and offers it all for you to enjoy. For 2017 you can see some incredible live acts including Slade, Lindisfarne, New Model Army, The Yardbirds, Dr Feelgood and Solstice.
SANDGATE SEA & FOOD FESTIVAL // 26-27 AUG www. sandgate-sea-festival. co. uk
The August bank holiday just wouldn’ t be the same without the Sandgate Sea & Food Festival. It’ s a combination of two of Kent’ s greatest treasures: food and the coast. The event kicks off on the Saturday evening with a spectacular firework display together with the formal lighting of the beacon with Sandgate’ s 95th Rifles in attendance. Other events and entertainment includes stilt walkers, Punch and Judy, numerous stalls, circus workshops and live music.
DOVER MUSIC FESTIVAL // 26-27 AUG www. dovermusicfestival. co. uk
Forget about the weather and relax at this twoday indoor music festival. For the 2017 event 80’ s punk megastar Toyah has confirmed, as has Paul Young with Los Pacaminos. There is much more to come, all of a fantastically high standard.
ENGLAND’ S MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL // 26-28 AUG www. englandsmedievalfestival. com
With stage shows, jousting, medieval reenactments, music, dance, stargazing, an outdoor cinema, a marketplace, medieval banquet and so much to do for the whole family, England’ s Medieval Festival is a fun and fascinating event. For history lovers this is the ultimate day( or weekend) out. Come for the day, stay for the weekend, and enjoy the stunning surroundings of Herstmonceux Castle.
FAVERSHAM HOP FESTIVAL // 2-3 SEP www. favershamhopfestival. org
The Faversham Hop Festival could be many things. A beer festival. A folk music festival. A food festival. A fun fair. A Morris exhibition. A celebration of Kent and the way we do things here. Hops. But what is it really? The Faversham Food Festival is all of these things, and more. Why not come along this September to find out? You’ ll want to return year after year, which is exactly what many of the visitors here do.
INTO THE TREES // 9-10 SEP www. into-the-trees. co. uk
It went so well last year they’ re doing it again! Into The Trees is a festival all about nature – specifically trees, woods and forests. Learn about how we can use these areas for work, play and education as you have fun and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pippingford Park in East Sussex.
SKABOUR // 15-17 SEP www. skabour. co. uk
This is Skabour’ s seventh year, and it is just as popular as ever – if not more so. Celebrating the unique and peculiarly British‘ ska’ movement, visit Skabour in 2017 to see Tree Kong, King Prawn, Misty In Roots, Millie Manders & The Shutup and Bitt Mclean.
SOUTHBEATS FESTIVAL // 23 SEP www. southbeatsfestival. com
The Southbeats Festival takes place at the wonderful Port Lympe Reserve. It is 40 acts on four stages and that’ s not all. With a funfair and street food stalls the entire family can join in with the fun. You can even register as a VIP and enjoy enhanced gifts and treatment that includes secret DJ sets, fast track entry, gourmet street food, a private VIP bar, entry to the awardwinning cocktail bar and champagne garden and hammocks!
BROADSTAIRS FOOD FESTIVAL // 29-30 SEP & 1 OCT www. broadstairsfoodfestival. org. uk
With a plethora of delicious food from the naughty to the nutritious and plenty in between( all of it wonderful and most of it locally produced), the Broadstairs Food Festival is ideal for foodies of all kinds. Whether you like to cook, to eat, or to do a bit of both, this is the festival that will open up your eyes( and tastebuds) to what is out there. You might even be inspired to buy some of the wonderful ingredients and try something a little bit different for dinner!
TENTERDEN FOLK FESTIVAL // 5-8 OCT www. tenterdenfolkfestival. org. uk
The 25th Tenterden Folk Festival’ s guest list includes Doug Hudson, Keith Kendrick and Pete Castle while Woodchurch Morris Men will be heading the procession. The programme so far includes around 50 acts and there are expected to be up to 50 Morris sides and other folk dance display teams. There will be a variety of special events in numerous venues over the four core days with, for the first time, added events during the day on Thursday and the regular special concert in the Town Hall in the evening. The craft fair, music stalls and street stalls on the Saturday and Sunday will also be expanded this year, as will the free music and dance stage events all on the recreation ground.
CANTERBURY FESTIVAL // 14 OCT – 4 NOV www. canterburyfestival. co. uk
Last year saw over 65,000 visitors attend the 200 free ticketed events to watch the 2,800 artists that came together to make up the Canterbury Festival. This year is envisaged to be just a fantastic, which is why the Canterbury Festival is seen as one of the most important cultural events in the South East. This is where artists can be inspired to perform and to create. New work is created specifically for the festival, so if you want to see something exciting and different, something that makes you think and makes you remember, this is the place to be.
58