There are three undeniable reasons to love this time of year: blossoms, baby animals and bank holidays.

We all know May is the big one, with two long weekends bookending the month and lots of brilliant family days out to go along with them. Here’s our top picks for the early May Day weekend…

CORN EXCHANGE, Rochester

Just over six months since its debut, the Rochester Art Fair is back for a spring edition. Bringing together local and nationwide artists, collectors and enthusiasts, the fair is a three-day bonanza of beautiful artwork to admire, and perhaps even buy. It’s held inside the town’s 18th century venue, just a few steps away from the high street’s bars and restaurants.

Details: Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 at the Corn Exchange in Rochester. Adult tickets cost £7, book online here.

DANE JOHN GARDENS, Canterbury

Canterbury’s free multi-arts festival returns this bank holiday weekend after a five-year break. The CSP in the Park festival, organised by City Sound Project, boasts two days of live entertainment, including music, dance and cultural workshops. There will also be a children’s area with family-friendly performers, street food stalls and a bar.

Details: Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 in the Dane John Gardens in Canterbury. Free entry, no need to book.

DREAMLAND, Margate

Spend a day by the seaside with your four-legged friend at this year’s Dreamland Dog Day. The annual event boasts lots of pup-friendly activities, including agility courses, professional photoshoots and doggy ice cream, while the big screen on the outdoor Scenic Stage will be showing a free film throughout the day.

Details: Sunday, May 5 at Dreamland in Margate. Free entry, no need to book.

HARBOUR ARM, Folkestone

Grab the popcorn and enjoy a free screening of one of the world’s best loved musicals. Folkestone’s outdoor cinema season kicks off this bank holiday weekend with a showing of Grease, the hand-jiving 1950s film that continues to be a hit generation after generation. The screening, located at the harbour’s Goods Yard, will be surrounded by street food stands selling everything from bao buns to smash burgers.

Details: Friday, May 3 at the Goods Yard on the Harbour Arm in Folkestone. Free entry, no need to book.

HEVER CASTLE, near Edenbridge

The maypole will be flying high in the grounds of Hever Castle this May Day weekend. Grab one of the brightly coloured ribbons and take part in the traditional dance, which will be led by one of the castle’s dancers. When you’re done, take a seat and watch the Merry Men Players as they act out their interactive rendition of King Arthur and the Legend of the Sword, with characters such as Robin Hood, Little John and Maid Marion.

Details: Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6 at Hever Castle in Edenbridge. Activities included in a standard entry ticket, book online here.

HISTORIC DOCKYARD, Chatham

Visit one of Kent’s best-loved attractions and discover the history behind it at the new exhibition, Dockyard 40: Transform. The exhibit, created by the Medway School of Arts, celebrates 40 years of the Historic Dockyard Chatham since its closure as a naval base in 1984 and the past four decades as a tourist destination.

Details: Thursday, May 2 to Wednesday, May 22 at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham. Free entry, no need to book.

KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY, Tenterden

Dress up as your favourite intergalactic character, get your face painted like Chewbacca and duel against the dark side with Star Wars Day. This family event includes lots of fun activities all based around the sci-fi franchise, from trivia and crafts for the kids to Star Wars-themed beer for the grown-ups, as well as a ride on a heritage locomotive.

Details: Saturday, May 4 at the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Tenterden. Adult tickets cost £26.50 and can be booked online here.

KENT LIFE, Maidstone

Step back in time with Kent Life’s vintage village, traditional maypole dancing and live music from the old-fashioned steam organ. Alongside the retro May Day activities, the farm will also have its usual things to see and do, such as animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play areas, owl flying demonstrations and farmyard rides.

Details: Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6 at Kent Life in Maidstone. Activities included in a standard entry ticket, book online here.

MACKNADE, Faversham

Faversham’s food hall, Macknade, is putting on its first Dog Day this bank holiday Monday to help raise money for local animal charity Happy Endings Rescue. The event will welcome visitors and their fluffy friends who can enter into dog show categories such as Waggiest Tail and Golden Oldie and enjoy treats from the Food Village - there’s pizza, burgers and cocktails for the humans and doggy ice cream for the pooches.

Details: Monday, May 6 at Macknade in Faversham. Free entry, no need to book.

MOUNT EPHRAIM, near Faversham

Spend the day cuddling up to newborn lambs, with sheep farmers on hand to tell you all about the fluffy animals and explain what life is like on the farm. There will also be storytime sessions performed by Raggedy Jack, a falconry display by the Hawking Centre and a demonstration from Creepy Claws.

Details: Sunday, May 5 and Monday, May 6 at Mount Ephraim near Faversham. Adult tickets cost £9, book online here.

PENSHURST PLACE, near Tonbridge

This year, the Weald of Kent Country Craft Show is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and there’s a jam-packed programme to mark the occasion. There will be lots of performers, farmers and producers from the local area, with more than 150 stalls on offer over the weekend. Visitors can soak up the glorious countryside atmosphere with activities such as a beehive demonstration, live music, craft demonstrations, falconry displays, axe throwing, giant outdoor games and a carousel.

Details: Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6 at Penshurst Place near Tonbridge. Adult tickets cost £10, book online here.

ROCHESTER TOWN CENTRE

Watch hundreds of Morris dancers and folk musicians gather in Rochester’s historic town centre for the annual Sweeps Festival. The free festival celebrates the start of the British summer season with music, dance and entertainment popping up all over the place, from outdoor stages on the high street to cosy pub gigs. It’s been running for more than 40 years and has become a staple of the Medway calendar.

Details: Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6 in and around Rochester town centre. Free entry, no need to book.

SOUTHBOROUGH CRICKET CLUB, near Tunbridge Wells

The club’s free community May Day Festival returns for another year, helping local families make the most of the long weekend. There’s plenty for visitors of all ages to do, including live music, craft stalls, face painting, a bouncy castle, a fancy dress competition and, of course, dancing around the maypole.

Details: Monday, May 6 at Southborough Cricket Club in Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells. Free entry, no need to book.

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, Tunbridge Wells

Gather the girls for a gin-tastic train ride through the Kent countryside. The Gin, Jazz and Steam event gives visitors a chance to try gins from Marden’s Anna Distillery and Chatham’s Copper Rivet, tuck into a two-course meal and listen to live jazz music, all aboard an authentic steam train.

Details: Saturday, May 4 at the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells. Adult tickets cost £60, book online here.

THE SPRING RIVER, near Gravesend

Rock up to the Spring River in Ebbsfleet over the bank holiday weekend and get stuck into a traditional community fayre. It’s all free to attend and there will be a host of local businesses, from artisan bakers to face painters, ready to welcome you. The event also includes live bands to keep you entertained.

Details: Saturday, May 4 at the Spring River in Ebbsfleet, near Gravesend. Free entry, no need to book.