Canterbury Events and Festivals

(Canterbury, Kent, England, UK)

The city of Canterbury has long been associated with festivals and events. In fact, the extremely popular Canterbury Festival of the arts first took place in the 1920s and has grown in popularity ever since, always attracting large crowds.

Apart from Canterbury's many annual festivals, events and celebrations, the city's two theatres, the Gulbenkian and Marlowe, have usually got plenty on offer, including musicals, concerts, plays and comedy events.

Around the city there are also plenty of things to do, especially during the summer months, when many outdoor events take place at the Dane John Gardens and Westgate Gardens, next to the River Stour.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• January Sales - throughout January, the majority of shops around Canterbury's shopping district and High Street discount their stocks to prepare for next season's

February

• Valentine's Day - February 14th, local restaurants in Canterbury celebrate this day with special romantic meals for two, usually complete with red roses

March

• Easter Celebrations - late March / early April, a range of religious Easter festivities take place at Canterbury Cathedral and other venues, whilst the shops are suddenly full of chocolate eggs

April

• There are no noteworthy annual events held in Canterbury during the month of April

May

• May Day Celebrations - early May, dating back many centuries and including the Jack on the Green Festival. This is a very colourful and fun event that takes place in nearby coastal Whitstable
• Canterbury Half Marathon - late May, attracting large crowds as athletes run through the streets of the city and pass many landmarks en route

June

• Stour Music - mid-June, lasting around ten days and featuring a range of live music, this major festival is now more than 50 years old and includes numerous gigs, concerts and choir recitals. All events are based at the Pilgrim Church in nearby Boughton Aluph, roughly 20 minutes to the south-west

July

• Kent Beer Festival - mid-July, with more than 100 different real ales and tasty ciders, held each year at Canterbury's Merton Farm
• Lounge on the Farm - early July - live music over a three day period, along with plenty of tasty food and all kinds of additional entertainment. This event is held at Merton Farm, where camping is permitted
• Whitstable Oyster Festival - end July - one of the most popular events in Kent, this week-long celebration of the humble oyster includes many traditional ceremonies, such as the landing of the oysters, as well as a programme of live music, workshops, theatre, walks, art exhibitions and themed competitions

August

• Herne Bay Festival - mid to late August, dating back to 1993 and lasting around two weeks, this colourful event truly has something for everyone, with live music, workshops for children, fireworks, competitions and much more besides

September

• Hop Hoodening - early September, a traditional and extremely English festival historically based in Kent and featuring Morris Dancing and parades
• Wise Words Festival - mid-September, held at Greyfriars Franciscan Garden and various other venues throughout the city centre. Story telling, poetry slams and a variety of performances and workshops
• Food and Drink Festival - late September, based at the Dane John Gardens
• Eurofair - late September, a weekend event drawing more than 100 stall-holders from all over Kent and Europe. Visitors can expect to find a real assortment of mouth-watering food and drink, as well as handicrafts galore

October

• Canterbury Festival - mid to late October, the biggest and most popular cultural event in the whole of Kent, lasting two weeks and also known as the Kent's International Arts Festival
• Halloween Events - October 31st, various Halloween events take place throughout the city, including themed ghost walks around Canterbury and also fun at the Haunted Castle in nearby Dover

November

• Bonfire Night - around November 5th, with various bonfires and firework displays around Kent

December

• Pantomime - early December to mid-January, seasonal fun at a traditional Christmas panto, head each year at the Marlowe Theatre
• New Year's Eve - December 31st, celebrations and parties held all over Canterbury, include a number of big bashes, discos and balls