News Summer fun in Maidstone Sat 29 July
Head into Maidstone on Sat 29 July for lots of free events with the River Festival and the Museum's glorious steampunk adventure!
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is supporting the River Festival, which is taking place between 9.30am to 10pm, a wonderful free community festival for all ages. It celebrates the River Medway and its historical importance in the development of Maidstone as the county town.
The riverfront will be full of visiting boats dressed up for the occasion and local teams will compete in a raft race with home-made rafts. Entertainment will take place all day in Coronation Square at Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre and will culminate in a paddleboarding light display on the River at 9pm and Fireworks at 10pm.
In addition, Maidstone Museum is holding the wonderful Steampunk festival between 10am and 3pm for lots of fun and games. People can find their perfect Steampunk accessory and take part in lots of activities; pin the goggles on the board, listen to a wizard telling stories in the historic library at 11am and 2pm, perfect your aim with Familiar Flinging at 12noon or take part in Tea Duelling at 1pm.
For a fascinating look back in history why not take in a visit to the historic Carriage Museum which is just across the road from Archbishops Palace and will be open between 11am to 3pm. With more than 60 vehicles ranging from grand carriages such as Queen Victoria’s State Landau, antique sedan chairs and Victorian ‘growlers’. The collection is still viewed as one of the finest in Europe.
Cllr Claudine Russell, Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Arts said:
“This is a great way to kick off your summer holidays. With so much to see and do all day in Maidstone on Saturday 29 July it is the perfect time for a visit.“We are pleased to have been able to support the River Festival with various grants and the use of Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre, where a whole timetable of bands and performers will be running from 12noon right through until 8.30pm on the stage in Coronation Square. Come along for a great day out.”
The River Festival Committee was awarded £2,000 from the MBC Creative Communities Grants which are funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Along with a further £3,000 from MBC directly.
Times of events at the River Festival:
9.30am Paddle board race starting at Lockmeadow
12.00noon Main event starts including live music, children’s rides and activities, community stalls and a farmers market in the market hall at Lockmeadow
2.30pm Raft race
9pm Illuminated paddle board canoe and kayak parade
10pm Fireworks
To see the full River Festival programme visit the website:
https://www.maidstoneriverfestival.com/whats-on
For information on the Steampunk event at Maidstone Museum visit:
https://www.visitmaidstone.com/whats-on/steampunk-festival-p301191
For more information about the Carriage Museum visit: https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/our-museums/carriage-museum/
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