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Join the River Festival fun

Boat owner Peter Brooker of Barming preparing for the River Festival. Picture: David Antony Hunt
Boat owner Peter Brooker of Barming preparing for the River Festival. Picture: David Antony Hunt

It will be fun, fun, fun in Maidstone tomorrow when the 29th annual River Festival kicks off.

This year's event, with a theme of the Olympic Games, will stretch way beyond the river side with activities planned throughout the town.

It will be officially opened by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Denise Joy, at noon with River Festival chairman David Knight and the Kent Carnival Court.

Kmfm will also be broadcasting its Saturday Show live from the riverside between 10am and 2pm, with presenter Benedict Smith hosting the show and Breakfast show presenter Ant Payne also getting involved.

Live music, a raft race and dance performances will all be staged for visitors, who will also be able to see the decorated boats on the river.

There will be arts and crafts stalls around the riverside and events at Maidstone Museum, All Saints’ Church and the Carriage Museum.

The event will be topped off with an illuminated boat parade along the river and a fireworks display into the night.

Here are some times for you to make sure you don’t miss any treats on the day.

10am - 4pm: Open day at All Saints’ Church, Mill Street, with refreshments on sale.

10.30am - 4pm: Open day for the Maidstone Carriage Museum, Mill Street, Maidstone.

10am - 5.15pm: Exhibition to mark the 150th birthday of Maidstone Museum this year, including a Mad Hatters Tea Party bewteen 10.30am and 12.30pm.

10am - 6pm: Mandy Ellen School of Performing Arts will be performing on the hour through the day.

Noon: Official festival opening by Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Denise Joy and festival chairman David Knight.

Noon - 9.30pm: HRM SoundStage with bands from The Very Wonderful Long Teddies to Billy Wears Dresses.

2.30pm Raft race.

3pm Parade along the riverbank between the Hermitage Millennium Amphitheatre and the Maidstone Housing River Stage.

4.30pm Best Dressed Boat Competition, judged by David Knight.

9.45pm Illuminated boat display.

10.30pm Fireworks finale

For more details visit the Maidstone River Festival website.

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