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Enjoy a wild weekend trying wild cooking, fossil hunting, building a den and watching birds of prey at the country park near Deal throughout the bank holiday weekend. Activities run from Saturday, August 27 at 10am through to a woodland craft workshop on Bank Holiday Monday, which starts at 3pm. The celebration of native wildlife and woodcraft also includes guided walks and trails and even owl pellet dissection. The weekend is free to enter but charges apply for some activities. Call 01304 619227 to book your place.
The international family festival on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28 at the Gulbenkian in Canterbury features music, art, experiences and theatre, much of which is free. For all the details click here.
There’s a Medieval Story Garden at the site in Canterbury this summer with costumed characters plus maypole dancing, a knights’ school and the chance to experience the art of alchemy and storytelling. You can catch a story every day until Wednesday, August 31. For details visit canterburytales.org.uk.
Join the Winnie the Pooh trail through the gardens and woodland with a self-led family trail, incorporating some of the National Trust’s 50 Things for youngsters. Head out to help AA Milne’s much-loved character track down the bees for his honey, daily at both properties between 10am and 4pm until Sunday, September 4. It costs £1 for the trail. For details visit nationaltrust.org.uk.
The Social founder DJ Nic Fanciulli and friends will be playing a summer party in aid of Offham charity Spadework on Sunday, August 28 from 4pm to 11pm at the Swan in West Malling. The date is the first in a series of fundraisers being held by the music mogul around the county ahead of The Social in September. Tickets are £50 for over-25s, including a glass of fizz and a barbecue. To book call Anne on 01732 521918 or email anne@theswanwestmalling.co.uk.
With play areas, sandpits and rides galore, the Strood family attraction has everything from JCBs to dodgems and go-karts. You can take a turn on the head-reeling Spindizzy and there are picnic tables for a pitstop and a goodie store to search for souvenirs. For details and admission prices, visit diggerland.com.
Cheer the knights of old on as they go head to head – or lance to lance – at the castle’s Tudor Living three-day event, which runs from Saturday, August 27 to Bank Holiday Monday. Discover what life was like for archers on the battlefield and learn more about Tudor crafts, armour making, cookery, music, and games. Visitors can follow the procession from the forecourt as Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn lead the way to the arena and bring a blanket to sit and watch. There’s also shield painting for the kids and cool off at the water maze. For details go to hevercastle.co.uk or call 01732 865224.
Set sail on an adventure this summer at the dockyard with battleships to explore, three playgrounds to let of steam in and a submarine tour. Ages six and above can try the Dockyard Explorers, with a free booklet featuring the Captain’s Cat showing you the ropes. Join Doc Yard’s Time Travelling Techsplorers to try some family science experiments. Kids go free with every full paying adult in the holidays, with events running until Sunday, September 4. For details visit thedockyard.co.uk
Join Hopper the Rabbit and friends throughout the holidays until Sunday, September 4 for family fun including the Magic Castle, 4D Cinema and Hopper’s Animal World. Children’s favourites Ben and Holly will also be at the Paddock Wood attraction on Wednesday, August 31. For details of everything on offer visit thehopfarm.co.uk.
Go wild in the natural play area and tick off some of the National Trust’s 50 things to do before you’re 11 and three quarters, or head to the house for a fun quiz as part of summer holiday fun at the property near Borough Green this bank holiday weekend. The summer activities run daily between 10am and 4.30pm until Sunday, September 4. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk for more details.
Cool off the old fashioned way when the Maidstone farming attraction holds its first ice cream festival on Bank Holiday Monday with a choice of more than 20 varieties, snow cones and chocolatiers to choose from. The festival is part of summer holiday camp activities running until Sunday, September 4, with traditional games and races, a sandpit and Punch and Judy Show. For details and admission visit kentlife.org.uk
Become a super sleuth by cracking codes and seeking out spies in the grounds of the castle near Maidstone with the Spy School from Saturday, August 27 to Bank Holiday Monday, August 29, part of its Summertime activities. Visit leeds-castle.com.
David Bellamy they may not be but the intrepid Lullingstone Plant Hunters will be celebrated as they set up base camp with plant presses, a roaring fire and canvas tents in authentic dress, with Queen Victoria to send them off. World Garden founder Tom Hart Dyke will be leading a free tour between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, and there will be some reptiles and other animals visiting from Second Chance Animal Rescue to delight young visitors. The weekend runs from Saturday, August 27 to Bank Holiday MondayAugust 29. Entry is £10 with under 15s going free. For details go to lullingstonecastle.co.uk
The Milk House pub in Sissinghurst High Street will be staging its four-day full fat festival from Friday, August 26 to Bank Holiday Monday, with live music, food and drink from hot dogs to cocktails and bespoke Kentish cider plus fun for the whole family including face painting. Take a rug and tuck into the festival fodder while enjoying the tunes. Funds raised will go to local causes including Trinity Church. For details go to themilkhouse.co.uk/#milkfest
More than 4,000 re-enactors and living history enthusiasts plus more than 250 stalls make the show one of the world’s biggest re-enactment shows featuring a range of periods. Held at the Kent Showground in Detling from Saturday, August 27 to Bank Holiday Monday, the show is now in its 16th year and features history covering the Romans and Vikings to the English Civil War and both world wars. For more details go to military-odyssey.com
Be amazed by the Maize Maze, part of the summer activities including craft workshops, falconry displays and live action stories. Intrepid maze explorers can head in without a map, as all visitors are armed with a flag to raise if they need to admit defeat. There is also a children’s maze and adventure playground. Open until Sunday, September 4, from 10.30am to 6pm daily. Visit penshurstplace.com.
Open-air cinema, and live music will be put on for a festival day at the castle in Stone Street, near Hythe, on Bank Holiday Monday, with gates opening at 9am. Choose your picnic spot and sit back and relax for screenings, music and dance performances throughout the day until 10pm. Admission is £14.50 and £8.50 for five to 12-year-olds, with under-fours free. To book call 0844 8111943 or visit flicknic.co.uk.
The park will be the setting for open-air cinema, with a showing of this year’s Jungle Book being staged on Sunday, August 28 at 7.30pm, with doors open from 6pm. Tickets in advance cost £12.50, with four to 15-year-olds £8.50. To book visit parkwood theatres.co.uk.
It may be August but there's a chance to see the latest Autumn/Winter trends from a selection of their brands at the centre's fashion event on Saturday, August 27.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see new season women’s, men’s and children’s looks from stores including Marks & Spencer, New Look, Next, Outfit, Primark, Clarks and Claire’s, with designer accessories from Design 29 in the luxurious marquee, complete with chandeliers and a VIP area. There's also a chance to get a goody bags and watch live music from noon, with fashion shows at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. For details visit facebook.com/WestwoodCrossBroadstairs/.
