Tenterden Folk Festival

 TENTERDEN FOLK FESTIVAL 2024 WILL TAKE PLACE FROM THURSDAY 3^RD TO SUNDAY 6^TH OCTOBER

About the Festival

Tenterden Folk Festival is a registered charity (No 1038663) formed in May 1994 to preserve and advance public education and appreciation of traditional and contemporary folk music. Including song, dance and other related traditions, crafts and folk arts as a part of the living heritage.  The Trust is supported by Tenterden Town Council, Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council. As well as an increasing number of local and regional businesses and other community organizations.

What’s on

The annual Festival takes place over the weekend of the first Saturday of October. It is currently the only dedicated arts and music festival in Tenterden and one of the biggest and longest running in the whole Borough of Ashford.  The festival starts on Thursday with a special fundraising concert.  On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there are over 50 events including an English barn dance, storytelling for adults and children, concerts, craft fair, artisans and other stalls. Also including exhibitions, shows, dance displays and folk clubs. In terms of dance there will be performances from incredible  Morris dancers, Appalachian dancers, Slovakian Dancers, Bulgarian dancers, sing-a-rounds and music sessions.  Followed by a procession, street theatre, workshops, showcases and other folk events. Some events are ticketed but others, including all those in the streets and on The Recreation Ground, are free.

The four day festival features well known traditional folk musicians from across the UK and often includes guests from overseas as well.  The festival attracts hundreds of participants, visitors and tourists from the local area and from across the whole country and even some from Europe.

The Trust

The Trust also published Around Kent Folk, a two monthly magazine, in print and online. AKF is a free guide to folk events in Kent, Surrey and Sussex and beyond.  AKF is distributed by post and through local folk clubs, libraries and other outlets.

The Trust also runs educational workshops for students in local schools and promotes occasional special events. Sometimes in partnership with other arts organizations or local Councils, and acts as a local folk development agency.

More events…

• Craft and Stalls
• Tenterden Folk sessions
• Around Kent Folk
• F&F zooms