Festival season has arrived and we know that unanimously popular are the food and drink ones! With them comes a good reason to eat and drink a host of foods from local and international sources.
Over the coming months, the Garden of England will be showing off its culinary credentials with a whole host of festivals dedicated to sensational food and drink. Whether you are a sucker for street food or want to watch some of your favourite celebrity chefs go about their work, it’s time to tempt your taste buds...
Canterbury Wine Festival
17th and 18th May
Right at the end of spring is surely the perfect time to taste Kent’s finest wines all under one roof, as the weather begins to warm up and you dream of wandering the vineyards. With 14 wine producers from Kent showcasing their product, Master of Wine Clive Barlow will host the event where you can sample the county's finest wines. Of course after the session you are free to buy your favourites, which to us sounds like the perfect way to amplify those summer evenings.
Hop and Harvest Beer Festival
Date TBC
Kent Life is known for its animal experiences and a portrait of how Kent was over the centuries, so it is only fitting that the Hop and Harvest Beer Festival is set there for a weekend. You can start the process that the producers take by having a go at hop picking, and then taste and sample the 50 varieties of locally brewed ales and ciders on offer. Ironically this festival is also perfect for kids as there is a Big Top which has some of the best indoor and outdoor activities going on.
Medway Food and Drink Festival
7th - 9th June
Set in the grounds of Rochester Castle, the Medway Food and Drink Festival is set to return with a celebration of local, regional, national and international produce. Expect street food, live music and entertainment for the whole family at this fun-packed foodie weekend.
CAMRA Real Ale and Cider Festival
14th - 15th June
Hosted at Tenterden Town Station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, this festival promises local ales by vintage rails. Expect a wide range of ciders, perry and real ale on the platform and, if you arrive on the Saturday, you can even jump aboard and steam through the beautiful Wealden countryside, glass of beer in hand.
The Kent Food Fest
15th and 16th June
Come along to Sevenoaks Food and Musuci Festival this June and enjoy an array of amazing food trucks, stalls, acts, live music and sweet treats! Nothing beats a lazy early summer afternoon like strolling around, eating some tasty food, and enjoying live music. Bring along family, friends, and an empty stomach – this is one Saturday you won’t want to miss out on!
Ashford Food & Drink Festival
Throughout July
A celebration of the food and drink businesses in and around the town means a month long festival that begins with a two day event at Elwick Place full of producers, restaurants, live music and pop ups! Throughout the rest of the month there'll also be a calendar of foodie events workshops and competitions galore.
Beer and BBQ Fest at Macknade
6th July
We're counting down the days to this extravaganza. Held at the iconic Macknade in Faversham in collaboration with Time & Tide Brewing and Big Green Egg, you'd better believe this is one to add to the calendar. Expect the very best craft beer, a mouth-watering celebration of BBQ, live music and plenty of family fun. On the cards are live cookery demonstrations, brewing masterclasses, a street food village, bars and exclusive offers on BBQ equipment and more. Free to enter with pre-booked tickets.
The Spirit of Tenterden Festival
5th - 7th July
Set in the heart of the beautiful town of Tenterden, this foodie fest comes complete with street food, live music, artisan makers, creative stalls, arena display and even a dog show! Round up the whole family and enjoy plenty of foodie fun at this festival.
Sausage and Cider Festival
27th July
Quex Park will be welcoming the Sausage and Cider Festival for the first time with an incredible line-up of tribute acts, up to 30 ciders, and street food! With Scouting for Girls headlining, a silent disco and festival market, we can promise this will be one fun-packed day.
Hythe Food Festival
24th - 26th August
With a whole bank holiday weekend set aside to enjoy food and drink, the Hythe Food Festival is one to add to the diary! This three day event promises a feast of over 70 stalls, meaning you and your group will have your pick of favourite cuisines. Free to enter, you'll have plenty of pennies to spend, so be sure to arrive with an appetite.
Faversham Hop Festival
31st August and 1st September
Our county is quite well known for its beers and food produce - and in certain areas of Kent, hops! In steps one of Faversham's most beloved street celebrations, the Hop Festival. Bringing together no less than 60 bands and live performances stretching folk music to Morris dancers, but it doesn't just stop there as there'll be a fairground and the likes of magic shows for kids - this one big free weekend for all to celebrate and have fun.
Deal Food and Drink Festival
29th August - 1st September
The celebration is coming to the coast this summer as the Deal Food and Drink Festival kicks off its 9th year. Set right by the beach at Deal Castle, the festival will serve up live music, street food, fairground rides and even a comedy show.
Canterbury’s Cooking Food & Drink Festival
20th - 21st September
This year, the Dane John Gardens in Canterbury will once again host the best of Kent’s food and drink scene for a free to enter three day festival. With over 100 traders, 2 stages of music, a bar, and a dedicated kids’ area, this is a celebration of not just food, but of the community and culture of Kent and Canterbury. Bringing food, music, and handmade products to one place, this is a place for people of all ages to have fun. So, bring along parents, friends, kids and whoever else loves food and enjoy a weekend of eating, dancing, and relaxation!
Broadstairs Food Festival
27th - 29th September
One of Kent's best festivals (and not just because of its stunning views over Broadstairs and the sea!) holds two events, one spring and one autumnal. This September/ October celebration will have 100 stalls of regional produce and sharpen up your skills with workshops and live chef demonstrations. If the weather's good, you can always burn off the extra calories with a dip in the sea.
Godinton House and Gardens Autumn Fair
12th October
Godinton House and Gardens is opening the doors and hosting a brand-new fair this autumn. Join them as they welcome the best local and independent producers, craftspeople and more in a celebration of the end of the 2024 season. Plus, with Godinton's gardens in their autumnal best, it's the perfect location to raise a glass to the harvest season.
Getting here...
With Kent's reliable transportation links, Southeastern railway and Stagecoach bus service, travelling around the county's food festivals couldn't be easier (or cheaper). Especially with Stagecoaches' brand new express route which runs through cultured Canterbury, to the bustling town of Chatham, finally landing at the Capital in about 2 hours. The service also runs late at night so you can come out of hiding when the words 'designated driver' are muttered... Or, if you’d prefer to stay a weekend the Camping & Caravanning Club has plenty of sites across the county.
