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Coronavirus Kent: events cancelled, postponed or put on hold as a result of the outbreak

Are you looking forward to some of Kent's best events coming up across the county in the coming months? As organisers decide whether to hold them in the midst of the coronavirus problems, here's the latest list of events affected as we get them:

Hadlow College Lambing Weekend was one of the first events to be cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak Picture: Andy Jones
Hadlow College Lambing Weekend was one of the first events to be cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak Picture: Andy Jones

Saturday, March 14 - Sunday, March 15: Hadlow Lambing Weekend

The weekend at Hadlow College was one of the first events across the county to be cancelled. It often attracts 10,000 people over the weekend.

Ally Sweeney at a previous Hadlow College Lambing Weekend Picture: Gary Browne
Ally Sweeney at a previous Hadlow College Lambing Weekend Picture: Gary Browne

Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22: High Weald Academy Lambing Weekend, Cranbrook

The High Weald Academy took the decision earlier this month to cancel the popular event. Pictures of newborn arrivals can still be seen on the weekend's Facebook event page.

Fun at last year's Broadstairs Food Festival Picture: Alan Langley
Fun at last year's Broadstairs Food Festival Picture: Alan Langley

Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22: Spa Valley Railway

The heritage railway had hoped to remain open, but managers said on reflection and consideration for older volunteers, it had decided to close and will review the situation on April 25.

Saturday, March 28 - Sunday, March 29

The nationwide Learn to Play Day events, scheduled to happen at venues across the county have been cancelled.

Saturday, April 11 - Easter Monday, April 13: Broadstairs Easter Food Festival

The event has been cancelled as it attracts large crowds where people sample local food and drink. The next such event will be the Autumn Food Festival from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4.

Broadstairs Food Festival involves many people sampling produce Picture: Alan Langley
Broadstairs Food Festival involves many people sampling produce Picture: Alan Langley

With the uncertainty surrounding how the virus may spread, many organisers are holding off making a decision, but have warned there may be issues. These events are currently in that category:

Saturday, April 4 - Sunday, April 5: Kent Big Weekend

Visit Kent, which organises the annual celebration of tourism in the county, has said that those who win free tickets may potentially be able to use them on a different date, if restrictions are in place by then. You can still register for the ballot until midnight tonight. Click here for details.

Saturday, April 4 - Opening of Dreamland, Margate

This has been postponed, to a date in the summer yet to be confirmed. Music events from today are being cancelled for six weeks and the Easter Camp Bestival takeover is expected to move to the summer.

Easter Sunday April 12 and Easter Monday April 13: Festival of Steam and Transport

The Historic Dockyard Chatham has had to shut its doors, and the Easter weekend festival of transport, live music and steam punks has had to be cancelled.

Festival of Steam and Transport at Chatham Dockyard
Festival of Steam and Transport at Chatham Dockyard

April - 15km Crocus Walk for Breast Cancer Now

The annual trek across the White Cliffs of Dover in aid of breast cancer research, support and treatment, has been postponed to Saturday, September 19.

Thursday, May 7 - Sunday, May 10: Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival

The event, which runs from Thursday, May 7 with a schools day, to Sunday, May 10 and includes the special VE Day celebrations has now been cancelled but organisers have pledged to put some author talks online.

Wednesday, May 13 - Business Vision Live

After consultation with event partners Kent County Council, Kent Event Centre and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce organiser Revolution Events has postponed the event to Wednesday, May 12 2021.

This year's Chiddingstone Literary Festival has been cancelled
This year's Chiddingstone Literary Festival has been cancelled

Saturday, May 23 - Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival

This has been postponed with the date pushed back to September. The event - which includes the Medway Sunlight Rotary Charity Dragon Boat Challenge - will now take place on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20.

Saturday, May 30 - World Custard Pie Championships

This year's fun-filled event has had to be cancelled and has not been rescheduled for this year - but will return next year.

Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14 - Forest Live

The Forestry England series of outdoor summer concerts at Bedgebury Pinetum in Goudhurst will now not go ahead until 2021.

James Morrison is among the acts that would have played at Bedgebury
James Morrison is among the acts that would have played at Bedgebury

Friday, June 26 to Sunday 16 August - Changeling Theatre tour

The Maidstone-based theatre company has postponed its 20th annual summer tour until 2021.

Friday, June 26 to Saturday, July 11 - Deal Festival

The music and arts festival has now been postponed until 2021.

Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12 - Pub in the Park

Tom Kerridge's event in Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells has been rescheduled to Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 23.

Friday, July 10 - Sunday, July 12 - Kent County Show

This year's show has now been cancelled and will return on the same weekend in July 2021.

Saturday, July 11 - Leeds Castle Concert

The concert has been cancelled for this year and will return on Saturday, July 10, 2021.

Theatres and venues:

The Orchard Theatre in Dartford has suspended all shows and events, while further updates would be made about upcoming shows.

The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury has cancelled all performances until Monday, June 22.

The Astor Community Theatre in Deal has suspending all its public performances and classes until further notice.

Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone said it had temporarily suspended its shows with immediate effect.

The Woodville in Gravesend and the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone have also both shut.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham has now closed, and the situation will be reviewed on April 30.

Dover Castle will be closed until Friday, May 1, English Heritage have said thought their free to enter sites in the county will stay open.

The Battle of Britain Memorial in Folkestone has closed. Visitors will still be able to go to the clifftop site on foot via the pedestrian gate but facilities, including the car park, will be closed.

Jeskyns Community Woodland in Cobham, near Gravesend, has also closed to visitors, as has Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in the town.

* Are you holding an event which has been postponed? Let us know by emailing whatsoneditor@thekmgroup.co.uk

To find out what is happening in the county and for all the latest entertainment news click here.

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