Thousands of extra visitors are expected in Maidstone town centre this weekend15.16,17 for MaidFest.

The three-day festival co-ordinated by One Maidstone, the organisation respresenting Maidstone town-centre businesses, will see some big events as well as numerous special offers at shops and venues throughout the town.

The Fusion Street Festival will run on Saturday, July 16, between 10am and 3pm.

There will be dancers and singers performing in the street, along with workshops based at The Mall shopping centre, with family-friendly activities also at the Lockmeadow Complex and Fremlin Walk.

Meanwhile the same day, Sessions House in County Road is playing host to a celebration of Kent's vinticulture with 25 of the county's top vineyards coming together to offer tastings of more than 100 wines. Tickets for this event are £15.

If you are more of a cocktail lover, The Market House in Earl Street is having a special offer on its imaginative concoctions - all at £7.50.

Lush, the soap shop at the top of Gabriels Hill, is offering shoppers the chance to try a bath-bomb-making session, while Frederic's Bistro in Market Buildings is offering 25% off customers' food bills.

Prezzo in Maidstone is offering a free bottle of prosecco to diners who give their email details to receive marketing bulletins.

There are also discounts and special offers at The Hazlitt Theatre, Onwards Social, Arriva, the Village Hotel, and The Entertainer, Trash and Treasure and the Maidstone Distilery.

If the town centre sound as little to busy for you, there is the more laid-back Blue Reef Festival taking place at Loddington Farm, in Linton.

The three-day festival of surf and skating culture includes live music from two stages, food and drinks stalls, and a display of classic WW campervans, motorcycles and scooters.

Day tickets are £50, with a discount for the whole weekend.