Fish and chips, bingo and Shakespeare – what better way to celebrate St George’s Day than at the free English Festival on Saturday.

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham, will be transformed into three distinctive areas – countryside, seaside and the village square – and each will offer visitors a different experience.

Escape to the countryside to meet some baby farm animals in cuddle corner and take a look at some traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and wood carving.

Donkey rides, crazy golf and fairground rides will feature on a trip to the beach where you can also tuck into fish and chip and have a game of bingo.

Enjoy tea and cake, browse stalls selling a variety of goodies and take a tour on a little red bus around the village square.

Saturday is also the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death so it is appropriate that the Canterbury Shakespeare Festival will be performing extracts from Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummers Night’s Dream.

There will also be a picnic area where you can take along your own hamper or buy snacks and refreshments available and listen to live music.

Cllr Howard Doe, in charge of community services for Medway Council, said: “Every year the English Festival attracts more and more families and we’re hoping its success will continue this year.

"It’s a free day out and it’s all about celebrating St George’s Day with some of the most iconic and ironic English traditions.

“There will be something on offer for everyone – children can enjoy cuddling baby farm animals and jumping on board the little red bus, while the adults tuck into fish and chips and listen to a live band.”

There is limited parking on site, so a park and ride service will be running all day from the Dockside Outlet Centre multi-storey car park, £1 per person (return journey) or try the park and walk from Bloors Wharf, at the bottom of Bloors Lane, Rainham, and take a riverside stroll to the park, £2 per vehicle. Parking on site will cost £3 per vehicle.

The festival runs from 11am to 5pm.