Erica Festivals come in all shapes and sizes. From music and theatre to food and drink. Kent is lucky to have lots of free festivals to choose from. Here are 10 of the best free festivals in Kent
Canterbury Festival: Held annually in Canterbury, this multi-arts festival features a wide range of free events, including live music, street performances, art exhibitions, and theatrical shows.
Broadstairs Folk Week: Taking place in the charming seaside town of Broadstairs, this festival celebrates traditional folk music and dance. Alongside ticketed events, there are free performances and workshops for all to enjoy.
Faversham Hop Festival: Held in Faversham, Kent, this festival celebrates the town’s hop-growing heritage. The streets come alive with live music, dance performances, a hop parade, and a variety of free family-friendly activities.
Hythe Food Festival: Volunteers in Hythe run this fabulous free 3 day festival celebrating all the best food and drink Kent has to offer along with live music. What more can you ask for?
Herne Bay Festival: Taking place in Herne Bay, this community-focused festival offers a diverse range of activities, including live music, art exhibitions, theatre performances, and family-friendly entertainment. Many events are free of charge.
Local & Live Festival, Tunbridge Wells: Taking place over the August Bank Holiday in Tunbridge Wells’ historic Calverley Grounds, the Local & Live festival is a four-day celebration of the best live music and culture in Tunbridge Wells.
Gravesham Riverside Festival, Gravesend: A free family friendly festival featuring live music from famous bands and tribute acts as well as a funfair, crazy golf and food outlets.
Maidstone River Festival: The River Festival started 40 years ago and people of all ages in Maidstone have great affection for what was the county town’s biggest annual event. There will be have dressed up boats, raft races, fun and games for all the family. There will be illuminated boats in the evening and it will all end with a big bang as an award-winning fireworks display will go off from the top of Fremlin Walk in the town centre.
Boing Family Festival, University of Kent, Canterbury: Boing! is be totally free to enter so you can relax and enjoy a brilliant festival day with lots of free, outdoor performances and activities. Boing is a family festival, meaning its not just for children – we programme fantastic artists from across the UK and beyond who make work for all ages.
Broadstairs Dickens Festival: Charles Dickens visited Broadstairs in Kent regularly from 1837 until 1859 and immortalised the town as “Our English Watering Place”. In 1937, to commemorate the centenary of the author’s first visit, Gladys Waterer, the then resident of Dickens House, conceived the idea of putting on a production of David Copperfield and of having people about the town in Victorian dress to publicise it.
