The second of this month’s three bumper bank holiday weekends is coming up and there’s no two ways about it; this is the big one.

The coronation of King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort takes place on Saturday, May 6, with screenings and street parties set to pop up all over the county.

Whether you’re looking to toast the historic occasion or make it a day your whole family will remember, we’ve got a jam-packed guide to Kent's coronation celebrations…

CORONATION PARTIES

KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY, Tenterden

Get all dressed up as your favourite Royal and wave your flag to help fill Tenterden station with colour. The fancy dress party is just the start; there will also be children’s games and activity sheets, photos in the telephone box with King Charles and a display of classic cars and motorbikes at the station before you board the train.

Details: Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8 at Tenterden train station. Book tickets online here.

MACKNADE, Faversham

What better way to celebrate the best of British than with a spread of local food and drink? The coronation ‘after party’ will feature bites from Macknade’s outdoor kitchen, specialty dishes and drinks from the Faversham Food Village, live music from Whitstable band the Rock Lobsters, crown-making craft sessions, lawn games and cooking masterclasses.

Details: Sunday, May 7 at Macknade in Faversham. Entry is free, no need to book.

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL

Bring your own picnic, throw down a blanket and take in great views of Rochester with this unique street party. Visitors can sit either outside on the lawn or head into the cathedral and admire the Jubilee Oak table, a 5,000 year old black oak tree table dedicated to HM Queen Elizabeth II for her Platinum Jubilee, while the coronation ceremony is shown on screens.

Details: Saturday, May 6 at Rochester Cathedral. Entry is free, no need to book.

TONBRIDGE CASTLE

You are invited to the Big Lunch party to enjoy an afternoon of free entertainment. You can bring your own picnic or sample bites from the food and drink stalls in the castle grounds, all while you listen to the music of the West Kent Big Band, the Tonbridge Scout and Guide Band, and more.

Details: Sunday, May 7 at Tonbridge Castle. Entry is free, no need to book.

TOWN HALL, Tenterden

If any occasion calls for an elegant English tea party, it’s this one. The vintage-inspired afternoon tea offers a classic spread of sandwiches and cakes for visitors to tuck into before you hit the dance floor and jive the day away to the music of Lelia Domenico and the Cafe Society Swing Band.

Details: Monday, May 8 at the Town Hall in Tenterden. Purchase tickets from the Cancer Research UK shop on Tenterden High Street or by emailing kentcoronation@gmail.com.

FOOD AND DRINK

CHILSTON PARK, Maidstone

Indulge in a buffet fit for a king or queen at Chilston Park. The luxurious suite will offer up a two-course afternoon tea buffet, including a glass of champagne, and there will be a selection of pop-up Pimms and prosecco bars - and even dog-friendly ‘pawsecco’. Visitors can toast the occasion as it’s shown on the big screen.

Details: Saturday, May 6 at Chilston Park in Maidstone. Book tickets online here.

KNOLE, Sevenoaks

National Trust property Knole is throwing a luncheon, and you’re invited. The country estate isn’t putting on the food itself, but visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and take a seat in the picturesque deer park for its Big Lunch event. There will also be giant outdoor games, royal dressing up costumes and craft activities for the kids.

Details: Sunday, May 7 at Knole in Sevenoaks. The Big Lunch is included in a standard entry ticket, which can be booked online here, or with a National Trust membership.

ONE WARWICK PARK, Tunbridge Wells

Over the long weekend, this hotel will be throwing a number of special events to honour the coronation. You can book your place at either the champagne afternoon tea or royal afternoon tea and sip a royalty-themed cocktail from the bar, complete with celebratory decor and a big screen showing the live ceremony on Saturday.

Details: Thursday, May 4 to Monday, May 8 at One Warwick Park in Tunbridge Wells. Reserve a table online.

SEVENOAKS HIGH STREET

In a first for the town, Sevenoaks will be closing its roads and inviting the whole community to take a walk down to the High Street to join the afternoon tea event. You can bring your own snacks, but there will also be food, drink and gift stalls and live entertainment to create a real festival atmosphere.

Details: Sunday, May 7 at the High Street in Sevenoaks. Entry is free, no need to book.

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, Tunbridge Wells

Take your seat aboard a real steam train and enjoy fantastic views of the Garden of England, all while you are being served a royalty-themed afternoon tea inside a 1930s heritage carriage. A special menu has been created for the coronation, which you can celebrate on your journey from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells.

Details: Monday, May 8 at the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells. Book tickets online here.

WOOLTON FARM, Canterbury

The Canterbury farm will be toasting the bank holiday with its own produce. There will be pink fizz and apple juice on offer, as well as cream teas and quintessential British picnic bites, alongside Woolton Farm’s usual food and drink menus. There will also be a live screening of the day’s events.

Details: Saturday, May 6 at Woolton Farm in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Book tickets online here.

KIDS ACTIVITIES

HEVER CASTLE, Edenbridge

Celebrate the coronation at the home of two former queens of England. Hever Castle will be hosting free crown and shield decorating crafts activities for children and, while you’re there, you can visit the exhibition inside the castle and discover the coronation robes and crown of Elizabeth I and Mary I.

Details: Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8 at Hever Castle. Activities are included in a standard entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

KENT LIFE, Maidstone

Dress up in red, white and blue, grab a Royal Box of tasty food and drink and settle down to watch the event as it’s televised. If the kids don’t fancy watching the ceremony, they can get stuck into a range of themed craft activities, as well as farmyard animal encounters, tractor rides and the outdoor play area. Also, if your name is Charles you can get in for free!

Details: Saturday, May 6 at Kent Life in Maidstone. Activities are included in a standard entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

LEEDS CASTLE, Maidstone

Where better to throw a garden party than in the spectacular grounds of Leeds Castle? There will be family lawn games such as giant Jenga and croquet, children’s crown-making workshops, a dressing up station, photo opportunities, and you can be one of the first to visit the brand new Beach at Leeds Castle, which opened last weekend.

Details: Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8 at Leeds Castle near Maidstone. Activities are included in a standard entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

PENSHURST PLACE, Tonbridge

This country estate will be inviting families to get creative over the weekend with lots of fun royal activities, including crown decorating, drawing and crafting workshops. There’s also the picturesque spring gardens, adventure playground and woodland walk to explore.

Details: Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8 at Penshurst Place. Activities are included in a standard entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

RIVERHILL HIMALAYAN GARDENS, Sevenoaks

Head out on an adventure through these extravagant gardens as you take part in a coronation treasure hunt. Find all the crowns dotted around the garden, all of which have been hidden in royal-themed areas, to win your special commemorative sticker.

Details: Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8 at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens in Sevenoaks. Activities are included in a standard entry ticket, there’s no need to book.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

Kick off the long weekend with a patriotic performance from the Central Band of the Royal British Legion. The group will be performing a selection of both classic and contemporary music, all with a regal flair. The concert is suitable for all ages and will help raise funds for the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral charity.

Details: Friday, May 5 at Canterbury Cathedral. Book tickets online here.

CHARTWELL, Westerham

If you want your celebrations to continue into the evening, the gardens of Chartwell will be open after hours for a one-off event. There will be a glass of champagne on arrival before you settle down with your picnic and soak up the sounds of the Oxted Band. The National Trust house will be closed, but visitors are free to explore the gardens at their leisure.

Details: Saturday, May 6 at Chartwell in Westerham. Book tickets online here.

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, Edenbridge

Join soul singer June B as she performs the best floor-filling party songs, including some of King Charles’ personal favourites. There’s plenty of space to bring a picnic blanket and have a boogie on the lawn, and there will also be food and drink available from the Tea Room.

Details: Sunday, May 7 at Chiddingstone Castle in Edenbridge. Book tickets online here.

ROCHESTER CASTLE

There’s a double bill of entertainment at Rochester Castle over the weekend. On Saturday, there will be a live screening of the ceremony, as well as street performers such as stilt walkers, Punch and Judy and bubble shows. The following day, the castle grounds will host the Big Lunch event and broadcast the Coronation Concert live from Windsor Castle on the big screen. There will also be plenty of entertainment from the circus acts, balloonists and children’s music workshops, plus funfair rides, face painting and a craft tent.

Details: Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 at Rochester Castle. Entry is free, no need to book.

WHITSTABLE CASTLE

The grounds of Whitstable Castle will be filled with live music and festive fare on bank holiday Monday. Groups including the Useless Pluckers and the Landmark Show Choir will be performing and there will be classic garden party treats including Pimms, prosecco and a BBQ on offer too.

Details: Monday, May 8 at Whitstable Castle. Entry is free, no need to book.