EVENTS
KENTEVENTS
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BIG DAY OUT FESTIVAL // 1 JUL
Big Day Out returns this year bigger and better! Organisers have made several exciting changes to improve the overall customer experience and they cannot wait to show you. Expect lots more characters, more fun acts, more bounce land rides and loads of extras including: Diversity, Atomic Kitten, Supreme Queen(" Queen " tribute band), Mr Bloom, Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol, under 18 ' s disco and karaoke stage, princess singalongs, arts and crafts areas, toddler soft play areas, live children’ s acts, magicians, circus schools, drum schools, a beer, cider and ale festival, foods of the world village, interactive workshops, children ' s fun zones, plus much, much, more. This year, picnics are welcome at Big Day Out( no alcohol though please).
From 11am. Price: from £ 15 Mote Park, Mote Avenue, Maidstone ME15 7RN www. bigdayoutfestival. com / 01622 602169
CHILHAM CHASE & CHILL // 1 JUL
The Chilham Chase is now 401 years old and was instigated by the castle’ s original owner, Sir Dudley Digges. In his bequest, he stated that the castle should host a race each year for ' gentlemen and maidens of good character from Chilham and surrounding parishes ' with a prize of £ 10. The format has changed over the last 400 years, with £ 100 for the winning team and a prize for the best costume.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, part of the castle’ s grounds will transform into a music stage, set to be filled with a variety of local talented musicians. The celebratory day will also include performances and activities organised by the local school and stalls selling local produce( from art and craft to food and drink). There will be a classic car display on the front lawn, a dog show on the back lawn and a bird of prey display from the Hawking Centre.
From 11am. Price: £ 10( children £ 5) Chilham Castle, Chilham, Canterbury CT4 8DB www. chilham-castle. co. uk / 01227 730811
BEN & HOLLY’ S LITTLE KINGDOM // 1-2 JUL
From the makers of Peppa Pig comes this BAFTA-award-winning television animation live on stage. Holly is a young fairy princess who is still learning how to fly and her magic doesn’ t always go quite according to plan. Her best friend, Ben the elf, doesn’ t have wings and he doesn’ t do magic, but he runs very fast and flies on the back of Gaston the ladybird. They live in the Little Kingdom, a tiny land where flowers and grass rise high above them and every day is an adventure.
Join Ben and Holly and their friends on this exciting, enchanting and magical musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter. This beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence will delight all the family.
10am, 1pm, 4pm. Price: £ 19( under 16s £ 17) The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED www. orchardtheatre. co. uk / 01322 220000
FAMILY DOG SHOW // 2 JUL
Bring along man’ s best friend to take part in Kent Life’ s Family Fun Dog Show. Enter the classes for £ 1 and win a rosette for your canine friend. Classes include: waggiest tail, best six legs, fancy dress, best child handler, dog the judge would like to take home, and Kent Life’ s champion dog. Why not have a go on the agility course and peruse the doggy-related stalls between classes.
From 10am. Price: £ 9.95
( children 3-15 £ 7.95) Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone ME14 3AU www. kentlife. org. uk / 01622 763936
SHIRLEY VALENTINE // 3-8 JUL
Shirley is a Liverpool housewife. Her kids have left home and she makes chips and egg for her husband while talking to the wall. Where has her life disappeared to? Out of the blue, her best friend offers her a trip to Greece for two weeks and she secretly packs her bags. She heads for the sun and starts to see the world and herself very differently. Willy Russell’ s heart-warming comedy premiered in 1986 and took the world by storm. It was adapted into an Oscarnominated film. Now, on its 30th anniversary, Jodie Prenger stars in the first major revival of this national treasure. 7.30pm( Wednesday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm). Price: from £ 15 Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LU www. assemblyhalltheatre. co. uk / 01892 530613
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