News Summer fun in Maidstone Sat 27 July

Head into Maidstone on Sat 27 July for lots of free events! The River Festival is taking place along the river and at Lockmeadow, street entertainers will be performing in Jubilee Square and Maidstone Museum is holding a glorious steampunk adventure!

Maidstone Mayor will be officially opening the River Festival on Saturday morning between 9.30am to 10pm after sailing upriver on the Kentish Lady boat. The wonderful free community festival brings the river front to life with dressed up boats, raft races and fun and games for all the family.

In Jubilee Square, crowds will be entertained with music from Jason Allen at 10am, 11.45am and 1.25pm, acrobatics from Juma Kuba at 10.40am and 12.25pm and wowed as Spikey Will performs on a bed of nails at 11.20am and 12.55pm. All part of a partnership with Maidstone Borough Council and Cohesion Plus to bring street performances to the town every weekend this summer.

Mayor of Maidstone Cllr John Perry said:

”I am really looking forward to this upcoming weekend in Maidstone, there will be so much free entertainment and  a perfect weekend to visit the town.

“The riverfront will be full of visiting boats dressed up for the River Festival 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 light up paddle sports display on the River and Fireworks at 10pm.

“The Jubilee Square free street entertainers are really bringing the town to life each Saturday during the summer with a variety of street performers, many usually seen in Covent Garden.

“This is a great way to kick off your summer holidays. With so much to see and do all day in Maidstone it is the perfect time for a visit."

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.

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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