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Rochester High Street was transformed this May Bank Holiday Weekend for the annual Sweeps Festival.

Throughout the weekend, the bustling streets of Rochester were filled with an impressive and entertaining array of dancers, musicians and street traders. But it was hard to spot a sweep amongst the crowds.

Four hundred years ago this was the one time of the year sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. These days the event has become predominantly a folk festival.

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Watch the video, filmed and edited by Steve Bodycomb, by clicking on the panel above right

Photographs in the gallery, above, by Barry Crayford

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The celebrations began with a traditional Pagan Jack-in-the-Green awakening ceremony at dawn on Thursday morning. Dance teams and sweeps brought to life Jack, a legendary seven-foot tall character who traditionally joined the Sweeps in their revelry.

Throughout the weekend the high street was filled with hoards of visitors enjoying the unusual bank holiday sunshine, the Morris dancing, folk music and plenty of real ale.

Dozens of dance troupes, with names like Bows n Belles, Lady Bay Revellers and the Rising Larks, came from as far away as Devon and Lincolnshire to strut their stuff.

On Saturday evening a Ceilidh was held for the Morris dancers at The Corn Exchange and on Sunday the venue was home to a Sweeps Ball. There was also a beer festival, a children’s fun fair, guided tours of Rochester, and a host of other events.

Almost every pub in the high street featured live music and the Castle Gardens played host to a series of concerts each evening.

Medway Council’s events manager Carl Madjitey said: “The Sweeps is always a lovely festival, especially for families, and this year was no exception. Rochester High Street was really busy all weekend and there has been lots of excellent music and excellent dancing.

“It’s hard to chose a particular highlight of the event, the festival is about lots of diverse people doing lots of diverse things and that’s what makes it so special.”