Food and drink lovers are in for a real treat this weekend in Thanet with two top events.

A decade of dedication to ale enthusiasts continues at the 10th Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival. Thanet Campaign for Real Ales is putting on the liquid celebration at Margate’s Winter Gardens on Good Friday and Saturday, April 4, from noon each day.

Breweries from Kent will be well represented with a dedicated Garden of England bar showcasing beers from across the county. More than 200 different draught real ales, ciders and perries including a specially-brewed festival beer, will be available along with live entertainment.

There will be a giant pub quiz at 5pm on Saturday, with a £100 prize and other entertainment throughout the two days, including music from Flashback on Friday from 2pm and, later in the evening, from blues band Blue on Black on the main stage from 7pm.

Entry is £5 on Friday and £3 on Saturday and free to Camra card-carrying members on both days. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome until 7pm. The festival will be open until 9.30pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

More details at www.thanet-camra.org.uk

Just down the coast, foodies can have their tastebuds tempted at Broadstairs Food Festival’s spring fair. It takes place in Pierremont Park from Saturday, April 4, to Easter Monday from 10am to 5pm daily.

There will be 50 food and drink stalls offering the chance to buy fresh and cured meats, poultry and game, cheeses and chocolates, cakes and desserts, wines and liqueurs, ales and ciders.

Events include a prosecco and cheese tasting evening in Pierremont Hall on Easter Sunday from 5.30pm, tickets cost £15. There will also be an Easter bonnet competition on Monday for the under-12s. Entrants must be at the Chamber Office in Pierremont Hall at 2.30pm and judging takes place at 3pm.

More details at www.broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk

OTHER FOODIE EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTY

The Five Bells, Eastry, near Deal, is hosting a beer festival. It will run from Good Friday to Easter Monday at the pub in Lower Street. From 2pm to 4.30pm on Friday there will be performances from John Doggerel and The Bad Poets playing folk and blues.

At 7.30pm, The Bad Penny Band will perform blues, rock, funk and reggae songs.
On Saturday, there will be an open mic session from 2pm and this will be followed by Happy Daze at 8.30pm.

Easter Sunday will see an egg hunt from 11.30am, the Hoodners performing at 1pm, followed by a meat raffle and folk and country music from Crooked Style at 3pm. The festival will finish on Easter Monday with classic rock from ASP at 2pm. Beers available will include Purple Moose, McMullens and Brewsters, plus Snails Bank cider.

More details at www.thefivebellseastry.com.

An Easter cider festival will be held at the Past and Present micro pub in Skinner Street, Gillingham, on Good Friday and Saturday, April 4, from noon to 11pm, and on Easter Sunday and Monday from noon to 6pm. There will be up to 15 ciders and at least three ales available.