Festival of Steam and Transport at Chatham Historic Dockyard on Easter weekend 2017

by My Kent Family reporter

mykentfamily@thekmgroup.co.uk

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

The Festival of Steam and Transport returns to the Historic Dockyard Chatham this Easter with show stopping entertainment, classic cars, live music, steam trains, side shows, comedy plus plenty of food and drink.

And not forgetting the star of the show, a free traditional funfair, that visitors can ride again and again.

The festival, that takes place on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (April 16 and April 17) is one of the highlights of the Dockyard calendar and every year the popular attraction rolls out some real treats that the whole family can enjoy.

Here's just a taste of what's on at this year's festival...

Giants of Steam

Steam traction engines and road rollers will be on display and steaming through the site next to the historic warships. Visitors can see these magnificent giants of steam in motion - an awe inspiring sight and not to be missed!.

The event also offers an exclusive opportunity for train enthusiasts to get up close and personal to the locomotives. Steam and diesel locomotives will be running all weekend and with not a platform in sight, this will be a rare opportunity to capture a ‘tracks eye’ view on camera.

Wander around a traditional steam funfair at the Festival of Steam and Transport

FREE Traditional Fun Fair

Visitors will have the opportunity to ride again and again all day, for free, on a traditional steam funfair. Golden gallopers, a ferris wheel, chair-o-planes and a towering helter skelter will provide the thrills of the fair.

The Best in Festival Entertainment

As part of the experience, visitors will be entertained throughout the weekend. Side show entertainment will be brought to visitors on the Dockyard streets. Alongside this, there will be live music which will fill the air, as roaming street performers will entertain with busker style performances, sea shanties, folk, acoustic and dancing from the local steampunk Morris team.

There will be plenty of live music throughout the two days

Classic Cars

Hundreds of proud classic and vintage vehicle owners will descend on the Dockyard, to display their restored and preserved vehicles, to complete the line-up of transport through the ages. There's also a chance for motoring enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of these classic motors.

The line-up of transport through the ages also includes hundreds of classic and vintage vehicles

Movie Magic!

Motion Picture Motors will be on site with stars from the BIG and small screen! Famous motors from Starsky and Hutch, Only Fools and Horses and Mr Bean will all be com,ing along for the ride plus look out for the legendary Dodge Charger from the 1968 Steve McQueen movie Bullitt.

The Ford Gran Torino from Starsky & Hutch

Steampunks

One attraction you won't be able to miss over the two days are the Steampunks with their unusual neo-Victorian costumes and steam-powered, wacky gadgets. The Steampunk Village will provide a colourful and imaginative world with local group Great Kentspectations offering workshops, live music, entertainment, photo opportunities and have-a-go activities.

Family Fun

There is plenty to explore on site with festival traders and food outlets, a giant hook-a-duck, giant rope maze, Punch and Judy and the Newfoundland dog team completing a thrilling festival line-up for all ages. Elsewhere, children’s indoor soft play and outdoor play areas gives little Dockyard explorers a chance to let off some steam of their own!