A tourist town will once again be hosting the ever-popular Sweeps Festival – an international celebration of folk music and dance.

It will be taking place in Rochester over the bank holiday between Saturday, May 4 and Monday, May 6.

Now in its 42nd year, the event has become one of the largest May festival celebrations of its kind.

Get ready to hear the clatter of clogs and clash of sticks on the cobbled high street from hundreds of Morris dancers, sing your heart out to live folk music and tuck into tasty food and drink across the three-day extravaganza.

With representation from the UK, Ireland, Poland, Nepal, India, South and West Africa and more, the festival has become a global gathering of all things folk.

The town’s streets, parks, bars, pubs and landmarks will be filled with dance and live folk music, with numerous headline acts representing folk culture throughout the weekend.

They include dance groups Folk Dance Remixed and Faltrukeirass bringing a modern twist on an age-old tradition, while Medway’s own sellout-sensations The Signing Loins and returning favourites such as Stompin Dave and Jacob Bride’s ‘Mecurial’ also feature in a packed programme.

The festival has received £30,000 funding from Arts Council England to enhance the three-day programme.

This grant will enable people of all ages to participate as performers, participants and volunteers, and will support a day of new creative activities and workshops for families to take part in.

It will also provide opportunities for local people to perform alongside Medway community groups showcasing folk traditions from across the globe, including ‘Turaka’, ‘McManigan Sullivan Academy of Irish Dance’, ‘Nucleus Arts – Flora Installation’, ‘Nicole Mollett and Jane Pitt – Art & Sound Installation’, ‘Gurukul Arts and Dance academy’ , ‘Mess Room’, ‘Gurkha Nepalese Community Medway’ and ‘Emily Cave – The Fairy Trail’.

The event as been run by Medway Council, alongside festival founder Gordon Newton, since 1981.

Unfortunately in 2020, the event was forced to postpone for two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it made a triumphant return in 2022.

It is a symbol of the beginning of the British summer, which was welcomed by chimney sweeps and Morris dancers.

The annual festival was designed to recreate the joy and laughter enjoyed by chimney sweeps on their traditional holiday and was even mentioned in a Charles Dickens article in 1836.

Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, said: “Rochester Sweeps Festival is a brilliant Medway tradition and I am really looking forward to this year’s event.

“We know how much this festival means to the people of Medway, but also how many visitors are drawn here to witness this brilliant event and join in the fun.

Music programmer for Sweepsm Doug Hudson added: “Each year I look forward to arranging a wide cross-section of folk music related acts.

“This year has to be one of the most exciting as we have an all-female brilliant folk punk band called ‘Message From the Ravens’ alongside the reunited American Cajun giants ‘LeRue’.

“ In between, there are European gipsy bands, classical pieces, street ceilidhs and more Morris sides than you could shake a stick at.

“But the best part of all is the Medway public who come out to support this wonderful event as summer beckons and we all emerge from our winter hibernations.

“It’s a celebration of a great tradition and I'm proud to have been associated with it for so many years.”

Click here to read our full guide to the event.

Due to the popular nature of the event, travelling via public transportation is recommended.

Arriva Southern Counties provides 10-minute bus services between Rochester and Chatham Maritime, as well as other services throughout Medway for local visitors.

For those visiting from further afield, Rochester train station is just a few minutes’ walk from the festivities on the high street, and is just a 34-minute journey from central London.

There are also direct trains from surrounding areas such as Canterbury, Gravesend and Sittingbourne.

However, festival-goers are reminder there are no trains to Rochester on Sunday, 5 May.