Cultural Kent: Dover

(Image courtesy of Unsplash)

19th August 2021

By Juliette Moisan

This year, we are finally hoping that things will get back to some sort of normal, and so does all of Kent! In this series, you will find a roadmap to the biggest cultural events happening in the region this year. These events range from musical performances to exhibitions, and cover all genres of cultural happenings you can think of — and will hopefully constitute a way for you to (re)discover Kent as it is meant to be enjoyed.

For this first article, the focus is Dover. Famous for its White Cliffs and its castle, it is also a short and direct bus ride from Canterbury, enabling students to enjoy its sights and the diverse events held throughout the year.

In September 2021, the cities of Deal, Dover and Sandwich are opening the doors to many of their historical places, as part of the Heritage Open Days, which constitutes the perfect moment to learn more about the history of the region.
As we move into May 2022, you will be able to enjoy more than 50 food and drink stalls in the heart of Sandwich for the Sandwich Food Fayre, complete with street music in the center of the city.
In June, Le Weekend, a festival honouring French culture, will return in Sandwich for its 11th year, with its authentic French market as well as a number of street concerts and dancing.
Finally, July will be packed to celebrate the summer. The Deal Festival of Music and the Arts returns, with a wide range of events to pick from. The Deal Carnival and Regatta will bring its usual numerous and attractive events, although an exact programme hasn't yet been released. Finally, the Sandwich Folk & Ale Festival returns to celebrate traditional and contemporary folk life and arts for its 10th anniversary.

Alongside all the planned festivals, various other events are being held throughout the year. The Astor Theatre in Deal will be hosting live shows, the Dover Castle and Samphire Hoe will be home to a vast array of exhibitions, and, finally, the different cities are planning lots of events, ranging from outdoor cinemas to Halloween themed occasions at Betteshanger Park, in Deal.

* Note that these events are presented as they are supposed to be held at this time but their happening might be subject to change due to Covid restrictions.