Kent’s brilliant days out for the late May bank holiday weekend
It’s the third and final spring bank holiday of the year, and that means it’s your last chance to enjoy a bonus day off before going back to the grind (for a couple of months, anyway).
Make the most of the bank holiday weekend with beer festivals, classic car shows, flower displays, medieval battles and more…
THE APPLEYARD, Sittingbourne
Admire vintage vehicles and chat with like-minded petrol-heads at this classic car show. There will be a boot fair, children’s fairground rides, reptile displays, DJs and a BBQ, and it’s all to help raise money for the KSS Air Ambulance.
Details: Monday, May 26 at the Appleyard Sports Bar in Sittingbourne. Free entry, no need to book.
BETTESHANGER COUNTRY PARK, Deal
There’s still time to sign up for a charity race with a splash of colour. The army-style assault course has around 30 different obstacles including swings, slides, tunnels and climbing walls, and you’ll get covered in colourful paint as you go, all in aid of Breast Cancer Now.
Details: Sunday, May 25 at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal. Book online here.
CHATHAM DOCKSIDE
The annual Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival returns to the waterfront this bank holiday weekend, with plenty of tasty treats for visitors to sample. There will be a great range of food stalls, selling everything from curries to ice cream, and bars serving beer, cider, wine, cocktails and coffee. The festival also boasts a stacked line-up of live music including the North Kent Rock Choir, Side by Side, Unshackled, the Busking Barber and Cloud Nine Jazz.
Details: Saturday, May 24 to Monday, May 26 at Dock Square at Chatham Dockside. Free entry, no need to book.
HATCH, Gravesend
The Kent Craft Beer Festival, a new event celebrating British breweries, is set to make its debut this bank holiday. Producers such as Vault City, Phantom Brewing, Polly’s Brew, Cloudwater Brew and Pressure Drop will come together at Hatch, Gravesend’s indoor food market, with one-off beers that are not widely available elsewhere. Two sessions will be available on the day, each offering live music and street food.
Details: Saturday, May 24 at Hatch in Gravesend. Book online here.
KENT EVENT CENTRE, Detling
Has this month’s Chelsea Flower Show given you the gardening bug? Kent is throwing its very own celebration of spring blooms with the Kent Garden Show, which boasts around 300 different exhibitors. There will be stunning floral displays, gardening items for sale, craft stalls and live music.
Details: Saturday, May 24 to Monday, May 26 at the Kent Event Centre in Detling, near Maidstone. Book online here.
LEEDS CASTLE, near Maidstone
Watch an exhilarating display of medieval combat at the Queen’s Joust, a royal tournament full of mesmerising stunts and thrilling action. Knights from England, France and Norway will battle for the coveted cup, and visitors can also take part in blacksmithing and weaving workshops, sample medieval food and drink and watch traditional dancing.
During the half-term break, Leeds Castle will also be throwing a Horrible Histories-themed trail where visitors can listen to terrifying tales, create their own apothecary concoctions and receive a gift from the queen. The trail is open from Tuesday, May 27 to Sunday, June 1.
Details: Saturday, May 24 to Monday, May 26 at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone. Book online here.
LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, near Swanley
This beautiful manor house is being transformed into a medieval village for the bank holiday weekend. Visitors can step back in time with living history displays, live cannon firing, mock battles, costumed characters, campfires, weaponry displays and archery sessions. The gardens will also be open to explore.
Details: Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26 at Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, near Swanley. Book online here.
MOTE PARK, Maidstone
Two huge festivals are coming to Mote Park for a double bill of live music. It all starts with Rock the Mote, a three-day tribute festival with bands playing the biggest tunes by Robbie Williams, Oasis, Sabrina Carpenter, Harry Styles, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Taylor Swift and more. Then, on Monday, family festival Raver Tots kicks off its summer tour with an all-dayer featuring performances from the likes of Romeo, Lisa Maffia and Dan Da Man (So Solid Crew), Artful Dodger, General Levy, Matt Jam Lamont and The Wideboys.
Details: Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25 (Rock the Mote) and Monday, May 26 (Raver Tots) at Mote Park in Maidstone.
WINGS OF THE MORNING FIELD, Sevenoaks
A packed country show returns for two days of live music, stunt shows, livestock, cooking demonstrations and family entertainment. Fans of noughties band Toploader, best known for hit single Dancing in the Moonlight, can enjoy a headline set from the group, while families can take part in the superhero and puppet shows and visit the petting zoo. There’s even a dog show so four-legged family members can get involved.
Details: Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26 at the Wings of the Morning Field in Sevenoaks. Book online here.
THE WONDERWORKS, Margate
Relive your childhood and introduce your kids to retro toys at The WonderWorks. This attraction, which includes model exhibitions, Hornby Hobbies collections and interactive games, is throwing a Scalextric race over the bank holiday weekend. Enter your car on the track and be in with a chance of winning a Scalextric set worth £149.99.
Details: Sunday, May 25 at The WonderWorks in Margate. Entry costs £2, no need to book.
