One of Kent’s biggest Facebook residents’ groups is among just 10 in the country to be awarded funding by the platform owner Meta to put on a community celebration.

The grant has gone to the Canterbury Residents Group which was set up in 2014 and has since grown to almost 64,000 members.

Now its administrators say the “lion’s share” of the cash – around £9,000 – is being used to put on a new weekend celebration of the city next month to showcase what it has to offer to the world.

Branded the Canterbury City Show, it is being held on July 8 and 9 and features music, art, food, and workshops as well as talks by city characters.

CRG founder Edd Withers says he is delighted the application to Meta for funding through its Community Accelerator Programme proved successful.

He has now set up an umbrella company called the Canterbury Community Company to administer the Facebook group and the new festival which he plans to make an annual event.

“To be selected as one of only 10 Facebook groups in the country to be awarded the funding by Meta is obviously a great result for us,” said Edd.

“But this funding is also designed to help make the CRG sustainable because many Facebook groups that do grow big take more and more time to adminster which can lead to their downfall.

“The idea of the show is to provide a platform for Canterbury to highlight to the world what makes our city such a special place, and for the entire community to come together to celebrate and share.”

Working with other city groups, including Republic Events and Canterbury Umbrella as well as those behind the City Sound Project , a packed and varied programme has now been put together.

It will take place at eight venues across the city including The Westgate Towers, The Guildhall and The Falstaff hotel.

The highlights include performances by Canterbury choirs and a string quartet, a soul choir workshop, and further music from jazz to the Beatles and the Celtic harp.

There will also be crafts markets and workshops, street food, a cocktail-making master class and a sustainable fashion show.

Among those giving talks will be former soldier and now inspirational mountaineer, Hari Budha Magar from Canterbury, who recently climbed Everest despite being a double above-the-knee amputee.

The show is also being supported by Canterbury BID and the full programme of events and activities can be seen at canterburycityshow.co.uk/whatson.