The English Festival returns to Medway this April!

Riverside Country Park in Lower Rainham transforms into the annual English festival, which is being held on Saturday, 21 April from 11am to 5pm.

The English Festival is a fun-packed free day out for the whole family celebrating English traditions.

Pop along and watch a performance by St George and The Dragon, while playing a spot of bingo. Or why not pop along to the petting zoo, listen to live bands, buy local produce, get your face painting, plus lots more! You can also take part in the Town Crier competition with the new Crier, Mike Billingham.

Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.

Festival highlights

• Mobile Farm Experience – sheep, calves, lambs, goats, pigs, rabbits, chicks, guinea pigs, tours
• Sheep shearing
• Shire Horses
• Tractor/Lawnmowers/locomotives
• Woodturners with lathes and demonstrations
• Morris Dancing from Kettle Bridge Clogs and Kits Cory Morris
• Medway Lindy Hoppers – Morris Minor Association
• Kent Wildlife Trust
• RSPB
• Large Breeds Dog Rescue
• Medway Council Sports Team
• Scouts and Guides
• Dogs Trust Canterbury with a dog crèche
• Leeds Castle Falconry
• Romney Marsh Wool and wool spinning demonstrations
• Funfair rides
• Punch and Judy
• Chatham Historic Dockyard and a rope making machine demonstrations
• Bingo
• Voices from Victorian London (a living history display)
• Rochester Guildhall Heritage
• Medway Queen Preservation Society
• Roaming characters and St George stilt walker
• Kent Classic and Sports Car Club
• Southern Mini Owners Club
• Pearly King of East Peckham
• Facepainters
• Crazy golf
• Splashpals
• WI Tea Tent
• Kent Police Band
• Rock Choir
• Big Sing Choir
• Vintage Fire Engine
• Craft Tent
• Town Crier Competition

Cake decorating competition

The theme for 2018 is royal (wedding or baby!)

Bakers are invited to put their imagination and sugar craft skills to the test and enter the cake decorating competition.

Entries are displayed in the tea tent in the village zone with the public voting on their favourite throughout the day.

Parking

Park & Ride will be £1.00 per person (return). Children under 16 go free, dogs are welcome but must be on a lead. Buses are wheelchair accessible. The Park& Ride runs from 10am – 6pm from the Dockside Outlet area (precise location to be confirmed) – look out for the yellow Park & Ride signs.

There is a Park & Walk service. Park for £2.00 per vehicle at Bloors Wharf (bottom of Bloors Lane, off Lower Rainham Rd) and enjoy a pleasant 15 minute walk to the event along the river pat

There is limited car parking on site £3.00 per vehicle. Parking will be aimed primarily at blue badge holders – blue badge holders park for free.

Riverside Country Park is covered under the Medway bus routes.  It should be noted that the Saturday bus service does not enter the Riverside Country Park site.

Want a stall at the English Festival?

If you’re interested in becoming a stall holder and would like more information, please send your details to [email protected].

For more information on the festival and for directions please see the website: http://www.enjoymedway.org/events/english-festival-2018