Shepway Events for a Fun-Tastic Summer

After a busy Bank Holiday weekend, Shepway holiday, leisure and hospitality businesses are now looking for a big boost from the district's summer-to-autumn festivals and events season, which starts this weekend. The calendar includes exciting new events as well as traditional crowd-pulling pageants, carnivals, concerts and family-fun events.

Opening the season, the month-long Folkestone Festival features the Mermaid Festival (June 1), Leas Village Fete (June 2), Multi-Cultural Festival (June 14-16), Fish Festival (June 22 & 23), Green Fair (June 28 & 29), an open-air prom concert on the Leas (June 29) and Celebration of Youth (June 30) as well as art, craft and food markets, sports events and choral, orchestral and band concerts.

Events on Saturday, June 8, include the Battle of Britain Memorial Fun Day, a fly-past by the RAF Red Arrows aerobatics team (pictured) and a vintage car rally. Lydd Club Day presents music, entertainment and all the fun of the fair on June 15.

Folkestone Racecourse is the venue for the spectacular War and Peace Revival (July 17-21), featuring thousands of military vehicles, battle re-enactments and living history displays.

The popular New Romney Country Fayre takes place on July 27.

August highlights are Folkestone Ska Splash, with top bandsperforming at nineteen venues in the Old Town and harbour area (16-18), Hythe Venetian Fete, a five-hour aquatic extravaganza on the Royal Military Canal (21) and Folkestone Vintage Car Rally (26).

Euromilitaire, the world's premier military models event, returns to the Leas Cliff Hall on September 21 & 22.

Says Chris Kirkham, manager of the Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh tourism marketing partnership:

"This year's line-up of festivals and events offers something to please all ages, interests and tastes. Right across Shepway, week after week, month after month, there'll be plenty for visitors and residents to see and take part in. Many events are free - and that's a bonus".

For information: log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk or www.facebook.com/Discover.Folkestone