Plenty of free events for people of all ages to enjoy at this year’s Sevenoaks Summer Festival

by Festival Chairman – Ray Russell

THE colourful Sevenoaks Summer Festival Flags will shortly be flying in and around the centre of town, thanks to all the business and organisations who’ve signed up as sponsors, to herald the approach of the opening event – the Festival Fair on Saturday 22 June.

The stated aim of the Festival is to showcase the breadth and diversity of arts activities and opportunities available in the town and surrounding villages and in this this year’s brochure you will find details of more than 50 events taking place in more than 25 local venues.

The brochure has details of a number of free and ‘Join-in’ events and entertainment for children and adults. These include:

At Festival Fair
- The Youth & Community Music Stage in Bligh’s Meadow – performances from local schools, youth organisations and community groups throughout the day, culminating in a special performance by the Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra – not to be missed!!
- In the Shambles – PP the Clown, nursery rhyme singalong, Punch & Judy, Ukulele Orchestra
- Rolling programmes of music Beside the Clocktower and outside the Black Boy/Nonna Cappuccini’s in Bligh’s Meadow
- In the Vine Gardens – Painting for Fun – art tent for children to express themselves!

In the first week
The organ recitals at St Luke’s Church in Sevenoaks are free to attend.
- Sevenoaks Society’s Heritage Exhibition is free to visitors
- Kippington St Mary’s Celebration of Colour flower show is admission free
- Blues With Bottle Club holds free events in The Anchor
- Care UK’s Colourscape workshops at Weald Heights, Sevenoaks Ramblers guided walks and KYJO’s jazz workshop just require registration
- Sevenoaks Society’s Omega group invite aspiring poets to read their works
- Green Street Blues a capella choir welcomes everyone to its open evening
- Darent Valley Youth Music and Granville School’s orchestras and choirs perform in free concerts on the Vine bandstand
- Lunchtime and Organ Recitals at St Luke’s Church are free to attend
- Armed Forces Day, celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and the Charity Fayre are free
- The Sue Rivers & Jo Fooks Quintet and the Bosville Valley Stompers perform at the Three Horseshoes, Knockholt on Tuesday and Saturday respectively
- Sevenoaks Art Club’s Outdoor Exhibition is a free attraction on the Vine railings

In week two
There will be a variety of music during the Festival at the Blues With Bottle Club in The Anchor.
- Free Vine Bandstand concerts, St Luke’s Lunchtime Recitals and Sevenoaks Ramblers’ guided walk all continue
- The Town Council and Sevenoaks Camera Club’s exhibition and talk on the restoration of Bat & Ball station are featured free events
- Blues With Bottle Club’s events at The Anchor are free to enjoy
- Travelling Folk’s Folk Music Singaround is open to all-comers

All this means you don’t need deep pockets to enjoy what the Sevenoaks Summer Festival has to offer. But if you have some spare cash, do take a good look at the many ticketed events on offer. Sales are going well for all events between Saturday 22 June and Sunday 7 July, so be sure to book your tickets.

Full details of events are in the Festival 2019 brochure available for free from Stag, Waitrose and various other outlets in Sevenoaks and surrounding towns and villages. You can also view an online version on the Sevenoaks Summer festival website, which also has links to the box offices for all ticketed events: www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk