Plays, parades, walks and talks at Broadstairs Dickens Festival

When: 13th – 19th June 2015

Where: Broadstairs, Kent

£: Ticket prices vary depending on the event.  Many events are free.

What is it?

The annual Broadstairs Dickens Festival in Kent takes place from Saturday 13th to Friday 19th June 2015 with parades, plays, walks and talks.

The Broadstairs Dickens Festival kicks off at 10am on the Saturday with a Victorian Country Fair in the marquee at Victoria Gardens.  Then at 1pm there will be an historical walk led by Bill Hackney, followed at 2.30pm with a Grand Parade from the War Memorial to Victoria Gardens.  The official festival opening ceremony will then take place at the gardens.  Other events on the Saturday include a performance of the festival play, Barnaby Rudge, and a choir concert.

The festival continues on the Sunday with a Victorian cricket match, a Dickens dog show, a ‘Prom-on-the-Prom’, and a chance to take tea with Dickensian characters.  Then on Monday there will be music on the Bandstand, a Dickensian beach party and a ‘Militant Maids March’ along the Promenade.

On the Tuesday there will be a period hair and make-up workshop, and a cream tea and reading at the Old Curiosity Shop.  On Wednesday visitors to the festival can listen to a talk by Peter Shaw, enjoy music at the Bandstand and have coffee with some Dickensian characters.

Thursday’s entertainment includes a Victorian picnic at Victoria Gardens, and fun wine tasting with What the Dickens is in the Cellar?   The final day rounds off with an Elegant Dickensian Traditional Afternoon Tea at the Royal Albion Hotel.

More info: www.broadstairsdickensfestival.co.uk and www.facebook.com/BroadstairsDickensFestival