From yearly staples such as the Kent County Show and Canterbury Pride to huge music festivals including Black Deer Festival and Broadstairs Folk Week, we’ve got 10 essential dates for your diary…

Sweeps Festival, Rochester

One of the largest celebrations of folk music and dance returns for the early May bank holiday. The festival often draws in hundreds of Morris dancers, folk bands and street performers, as well as a funfair and market at Rochester Castle. There’s also lots of different beers, ales and ciders on offer, free gigs at local pubs and food traders from all over Kent.

Details: Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6 in and around Rochester town centre. The festival and its activities are usually free to attend.

Canterbury Pride

This joyful celebration of the LGBTQ+ community is the largest in Kent. The two-day Pride festival includes a parade, drag artists, singers, an outdoor market, food and drink stalls, an adults-only afterparty and more. The 2023 event saw performances from RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Baga Chipz, Choriza May and Danny Beard and music from our kmfm team.

Details: Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 in and around Canterbury city centre. The Pride festival is free to attend, but you will need to register in advance for some of the live entertainment.

Leeds Castle Concert, near Maidstone

Get ready for another spectacular day of pomp and ceremony at the Leeds Castle Concert. The classical concert, which boasts crowds of up to 10,000 people, includes a programme of rousing music led by a world-class orchestra and tribute bands, a Spitfire display and fireworks finale. Visitors can find a spot on the beautiful lawn and enjoy a picnic as they watch the entertainment.

Details: Saturday, July 13 at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online here.

Black Deer Festival, near Tunbridge Wells

The rock, country, blues and Americana festival will be back with a bang in 2024. While we’re still waiting to find out the full line-up, the festival recently announced that Grammy Award-winning singer Sheryl Crow will headline the main stage on Saturday night. There will also be lots of other activities to enjoy such as BBQ firepits, music workshops, silent discos and motorcycle displays.

Details: Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 16 at Eridge Park near Tunbridge Wells. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online here.

Margate Summer Series

The star-studded Margate Summer Series is a recent addition to the Kent calendar and is an unmissable series of outdoor concerts. This year, it all kicks off in June with a headline gig from ska band Madness and lasts until the end of August when popstar Becky Hill will perform. Artists including Busted, Paloma Faith, JLS, Nile Rodgers, Manic Street Preachers, Status Quo, Jess Glynne and Craig David have been announced so far.

Details: The current concert schedule starts on Friday, June 14 and runs until Saturday, August 31 at Dreamland in Margate. However, more concerts are expected to be announced. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online here.

Kent County Show, Detling

After a bumper year celebrating its 100th anniversary, expectations are higher than ever for the next Kent County Show. With a packed programme of everything from sheep shearing to showjumping, the three-day event is one of the biggest in Kent. The show is expected to bring back some of its most popular activities such as animal encounters, gardening workshops, tractor displays, dog agility and the food village.

Details: Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7 at the Kent Showground in Detling, near Maidstone. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online here.

Maid of Stone at Mote Park, Maidstone

After crash-landing in Kent this summer, the county’s newest rock festival is making a return next year. The debut line-up included Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes and Australian band Airbourne and, while most artists are still yet to be announced for 2024, American rock group Mr Big have been confirmed as headliners. Fans can expect another weekend of live music, outdoor activities, beer and ale bars and festival food.

Details: Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21 at Mote Park in Maidstone. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online here.

Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, Maidstone

Who needs a summer holiday abroad when DJ Pete Tong is bringing Ibiza to Kent? The Dartford-born radio presenter is bringing his huge Ibiza Classics show to Mote Park in July, which features a set of iconic summer anthems performed alongside the Essential Orchestra and conductor Jules Buckley.

Details: Saturday, July 27 at Mote Park in Maidstone. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online here.

Broadstairs Folk Week

The coastal town’s week-long folk festival will be back for more live music, dancers and free entertainment in 2024. The event is an annual celebration of local talent and top folk, rock, country and blues artists from all over the UK with gigs taking place in various pubs and indoor and outdoor venues. There’s also market stalls, food vendors and workshops.

Details: Friday, August 9 to Friday, August 16 in and around Broadstairs town centre. Some events are free, others are ticketed and can be booked online here.

Faversham Hop Festival

Enjoy the best of Kent’s beers, ciders, food and music at this much-loved town festival. The Hop Festival has been coming to Faversham for more than 30 years and brings hundreds of musicians to the town’s indoor and outdoor stages. There will also be lots of beer, ales and ciders on offer from Shepherd Neame and independent breweries, food from local traders, a fairground, street parades, Morris dancers and more.

Details: Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 in and around Faversham town centre. The festival and its activities are usually free to attend.