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A look back at Kent's Big Weekend, Dickens and Sweeps Festivals, Radio 1 Big Weekend and more

Thousands of you enjoyed festivals and events in Kent over the last couple of years, but this year, many have been postponed or cancelled altogether.

So we thought we would take a look back at some of the picture highlights from several events which have been held in the county.

World Custard Pie Championships 2018 Picture: Sean Aidan.
World Custard Pie Championships 2018 Picture: Sean Aidan.

The feeling of nostalgia is very strong for many during this global coronavirus crisis, so we've decided to take another dip into the archives.

We have found dozens from festivals and events from around the county which will not be staged this year because of the outbreak.

The Dickens and Sweeps Festivals, Rochester

Both have been axed this year because of the outbreak, but are usually attended by thousands of people from across the world.

The Dickens Festival is normally held in June and last year more than 20,000 arrived in the town and basked in glorious sunshine to enjoy the many parades, sideshows and attractions.

The Sweeps Festival is staged in May and usually and sees morris dancers, people dressed as chimney sweeps and folk performers flocked to the town.

Radio 1's Big Weekend, Maidstone 2008

In 2008 Radio 1's Big Weekend came to Kent and in Mote Park in Maidstone there were two days of incredible music in the park.

Thousands of music lovers enjoyed the weekend which included memorable performances by Madonna, The Feeling, Usher and Nelly - and was rounded off in style by The Kooks and The Raconteurs.

This year the event was being held in Dundee in May, but it too has become one of the casualties of the coronavirus outbreak and is no longer being staged.

Kent's Big Weekend, Kent

The event was this year due to be staged over the weekend of Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, this year, but organisers say due to the unprecedented events we are experiencing at the moment, the event is now on hold.

Bosses say they hope to go ahead at some point later in the year and confirmed tickets secured for this year's event will be valid for another date.

The annual event sees thousands of free tickets given to people in the county so they can explore popular attractions.

Armed Forces Day, Kent

Armed Forces Day was going to be held on Saturday, June 27, at various locations across the county and a major event is usually staged at The Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham.

The first ever event was held at Chatham's Historic Dockyard in 2009 and saw thousands of people gather at the site to enjoy the occasion.

The 30,000 lucky enough to get free tickets to the event had a great time, and the then Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said it as a "wonderful day for a great community."

Armed Forces Day commemorates the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces.

Custard Pie Championships, Maidstone

The World Custard Pie Championships, usually held in Coxheath in Maidstone and due to be held on May 30 this year, has been cancelled this year due to the pandemic.

During the event, teams of four are challenged to throw a table of pies at their opponents in wacky costumes to win the World Custard Pie Trophy.

Last year, a team called The Minions won the pie slinging contest which has been raising money for the Coxheath village hall and local charities for 50 years.

Did you have a good time at any of these events? Let us know in the comments.

To find out what’s going on in the county and for all the latest entertainment news click here.

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