KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
Whats On

May Day magic in Kent with mummers, live music and maypole dancing

By: Angela Cole

Published: 06:04, 01 May 2019

Updated: 10:22, 03 May 2019

May Day magic is being conjured up this weekend for the three-day weekend. From live music and morris dancing to Wild West fun and country crafts, here's some ideas for what to get up to

MAY FESTIVAL, HEVER CASTLE

Join Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle for a festival which runs from Saturday, May 4 to Bank Holiday Monday, May 6. There’ll be the chance to dance around the Maypole with the royal guests and the age old custom will be followed by demonstrations of May Day dancing and 16th century music, plus a short performance about Robin Hood to herald the arrival of summer.

Hever May Day events Picture: Alison Bailey

The mythical Jack-in-the-Green and the Green Man from folklore will be leading the traditional May Day procession . There’s a Green Man trail through the grounds and a duckling trail inside the castle and children can have their faces painted. Entry is £17.75 and £9.95 for fives to 17s. Details at hevercastle.co.uk or call 01732 865224.

Hever Castle May Day events

WILD WEST SHOW, GROOMBRIDGE PLACE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

There’ll be some fast paced action as the Devil’s Horsemen Wild West Show rides in to the Wild West Spectacular Weekend at

Groombridge Place, on Sunday, May 5, and Bank Holiday Monday, May 6. The adrenaline-filled performance combines top horsemanship with stunt action and is based on Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show which first came to the UK more than 100 years ago. The show opens with cowboys and cowgirls and there's also trick riding and a shootout, plus line dancing and a bucking bronco. There will also be face painting for a small extra charge. Find out more at groombridgeplace.com

The Wild West Spectacular Weekend at Groombridge Place near Tunbridge Wells

MAY DAY, OFFHAM, WEST MALLING

mpu1

The Great Offham Bake Off is one of highlights of the May Day activities at Offham, near West Malling. Cake creations need to be at the Village Green by 12.30pm on the day while, to kick off the day, the King’s Arms will be offering coffee and breakfast sandwiches followed by a Porchetta and Beer Festival. The event includes a May Queen procession, with the Kettle Bridge Clogs, barbecue, Pimm’s stall, tea lawn and cake tent; a dog show at 3.15pm, giant inflatable slideand the Offham Dash at 3pm. Find out more at offhammayday.co.uk and to find out about the festival at the King’s Arms, go to facebook.com/kingsarmsoffham

Offham May Fair will be staged Picture: Sean Aidan

WEALD OF KENT COUNTRY CRAFT SHOW, PENSHURST PLACE

It's the perfect time for the annual Weald of Kent Country Craft Show to come to Penshurst Place and Gardens, as the gardens there are blooming. With a wealth of artisan producers and array of activities on offer, the fair runs from Saturday, May 4 until Bank Holiday Monday, May 6. There will be some 150 stands and activities on offer, including craft workshops, demonstrations and live music. There will also be a food hall and shopping marquees. Tickets are £10. Book at thecraftshows.co.uk/kent/spring

The Weald of Kent Craft Fair will be at Penshurst

MAY DAY, WHITSTABLE CASTLE

The magic of May Day Magic, music and mummers are part of the May Day fun on offer at Whitstable Castle on Bank Holiday

Monday, May 6, organised by Whitstable and Herne Bay Lions Club. Activities, which start at 11am, include a Punch and

Judy show, craft stalls and poster designs from local primary schoolchildren. There will be a procession by morris dancers from the library to the High Street and onto the harbour and the castle, led by the Jack in the Green. The event has been celebrated for more than 40 years, with proceeds going to charity.

The May Day morris parade will come to Whitstable Castle Picture: Andy Jones

MAY DAY, KENT LIFE, MAIDSTONE

Traditional May Day festivities at the working farm on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6 include morris dancing and workshops to have a go. There will be live music, a tug of war challenge and fairground rides for a small extra charge. from noon there will be a parade and crowning ceremony for Kent Life’s 2019 Royal Court.

mpu2

For details go to kentlife.org.uk or call 01622 763936.

Read more: All the latest events and entertainments news across Kent

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024