Carnival season is in full swing, and streets all over the county are filling up with colourful floats and pageant princesses.
The annual parades are a staple part of Kent’s summer calendar, so here’s our guide to your nearest carnival during the school holidays and beyond…
DEAL
Deal’s carnival celebrations aren’t just a one-time affair. The team that organises the annual event are behind a week’s worth of festivities, including fireworks displays, beach parties, raft races and more. The parade itself is the big finale, starting at The Strand in Walmer and making its way through to Sandown, and features everything from marching bands to street dancers.
Details: Thursday, July 31 from 6pm at Walmer Green in Deal
DOVER
This year, Dover carnival will be bigger than ever with a new, longer route. It starts from the Maison Dieu car park and loops through the town, with local teenager Hannah Caldwell leading the carnival court as this season’s Miss Dover Town. The parade will be packed with local schools, youth clubs, costumed characters, classic cars, cheerleaders and traditional floats.
Details: Sunday, August 10 from 4pm at Maison Dieu Car Park in Dover
FAVERSHAM
Crowds will have to wrap up warm to catch the last carnival of the season, as it doesn’t take place until October. This autumnal celebration will see Faversham’s historic town transformed into an after-dark street party with illuminated floats, music, dancers, gymnasts and a funfair in the nearby Recreation Ground.
Details: Saturday, October 11 from 6.30pm at Whitstable Road in Faversham
HERNE BAY
Make a day of it by the coast with Herne Bay’s jam-packed carnival day. There’s a street art competition, a Kids Got Talent show and live music at the Clocktower Plaza, while a spectacular fireworks display will round off the day over the seafront. The parade will start at 6pm and will include majestic carnival courts and children’s entertainment.
Details: Saturday, August 9 from 6pm at Lane End in Herne Bay
MARGATE
This vibrant parade is known for bringing a taste of Rio de Janeiro to Margate beach, especially if the sun is shining. It’s usually bursting with extravagant costumes, Samba dancers, steel bands, street performers and more, and there’s no reason to expect this year will be any different.
Details: Sunday, August 3 from 2.30pm at Palm Bay in Margate
SHEERNESS
The carnival parade is just one part of the Seaside Festival Week in Sheerness, which boasts a buzzing line-up of family-friendly activities. There’s treasure hunts, film screenings, creepy crawly shows, live entertainment and, of course, the carnival. This year’s procession is set to include decorated bikes, vintage vehicles, cosplayers, youth groups, local businesses and more.
Details: Saturday, August 16 at 4pm from New Road in Sheerness
SITTINGBOURNE
Given its phenomenal box office success, it’s no surprise that the committee behind Sittingbourne Carnival have chosen musical blockbuster Wicked as its theme for this year. Expect to see plenty of Glinda and Elphaba fancy dress and floats decorated like the Emerald City and Munchkinland, and it’s never too late to start learning the lyrics to Defying Gravity.
Details: Sunday, August 24 from 1pm at Milton Recreation Ground in Sittingbourne
WHITSTABLE
This year’s event is inspired by actor and former Whitstable resident Peter Cushing, who starred in Doctor Who, Frankenstein and Star Wars and lived in the town for 35 years until his death in 1994. The carnival, which has been running for 128 years, will feature children’s paintings of the film actor and movie-themed floats.
Details: Saturday, August 2 from 5.30pm at Tankerton Road in Whitstable
