What can I do with the kids this weekend in Kent?

by Emma Grafton-Williams

Are you looking for inspiration for family events?

Then let My Kent Family come to the rescue. Every week we search the county for some great ideas to keep you entertained.

Volunteers around the country will help to clean up litter from over 200 beaches in the UK

Big Spring Beach Clean Up - Surfers Against Sewage

@ Tankerton Beach, near Whitstable

Saturday, April 16

Get the whole family on the beach this weekend - and help the environment at the same time. Simply head down to the beach at Tankerton, find the head volunteer and spend a couple of hours picking up litter to help the local marine wildlife. The clean up starts from noon and runs for three hours. It's free, fun and the kids will love it. Meet up at the Long Beach, behind Whitstable Swimming Pool.

Find more details about the charity here

See Pinnocchio come to life at the Gulbenkian in Canterbury

Curious Adventures of Pinocchio

@ Gulbenkian, Canterbury

Sunday, April 17

One of the best-loved children's film Pinnochio is being brought to life at the Gulbenkian this weekend. Could Pinnochio become a real boy? Patrick Lynch from CBeebies pulls out all the strings and turns the pages to bring you the story of Pinnocchio - with crickets, rats, foxes and the world famous puppet this is sure to be entertaining for all the family.

Click here to book tickets

Dracula

@ Theatre Royal, Margate

Saturday, April 16

The hunter becomes the hunted! Bram Stoker’s dark tale is brought to life by the local Youth Theatre members. They dive head first into this terrifying story, flavouring it with the touch of anarchic comic energy that this group have become known for. But this is no parody. This is Dracula in its raw, terrifying and spine-tingling form. The show isn't suitable for really young children, but moody teenagers will love it!

Click here to book tickets

Holly Fuller, Kayleigh Lancaster, Josie Rollings with bantams at the New Line Learning Acacdemy

Farm Spring Fair

@ The North School, Ashford

Saturday, April 16

Head down to the North School farm for the annual spring fair where families can take a tour of the farm and see how pupils at the school learn about agriculture. There will be spring lambs to see along with cows, calves, hens, rabbits and guinea pigs. Enjoy food from the barbeque and get involved with games, raffles and tombola. Parents can take a walk around the stalls while kids can play on the climbing frame.

For more details click here

Meet the newborn lambs at the New Line Learning Academy. Picture: Matthew Walker

Lambing Weekend

@ New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone

Saturday, April 16

Bring the whole family along to meet the new arrivals at this school farm. Browse a variety of stalls and help celebrate the opening of the new farm in Boughton Lane, Loose. The site used to be home to Oldborough Manor School before the academy was built. The farm is run by the Young Farmers.

More info here

The Turner turns five

@ The Turner Contemporary, Maragte

Saturday, April 16

Live performances, music, stalls, workshops, competitions and flash mobs will combine to mark five years since the opening of the cutting edge gallery in Margate. In a packed programme, there's something the whole family will enjoy, especially the birthday cake cutting at 3pm.

More info here

Vaisakhi

@ Gravesend

Saturday, April 16

The streets of Gravesend will explode with colour and music as the annual Sikh festival comes to Kent. The event includes a fun fair, Sikh martial arts, information stands, activities for children, food stalls and a stage programme featuring a host of international acts.

Get more information here