Visit Kent's Summer release

Aug. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Press Release
5 August, 2010


Fun in the Sun at Kent Life, Maidstone

This summer, visitors can enjoy daily activities including Cuddle Corner, ferret racing, piglet racing and pig football and tractor trailer rides. Other activities include the junior quad bikes, Paint-a-Pot Studio, donkey rides and face painting. On Bank Holiday Monday visitors can bring their pooch along and enter them into the Fun Dog Competition and see if they can win a rosette or even the honorable Judges Choice of 2010.
www.kentlife.org.uk

WWII Summer Holiday at Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk and the theme throughout the summer is Britain at War. Visitors can take themselves back to the 1940s playing traditional family games and with toys that will bring back memories. A special summer activity pack is available which will include various aspects of the war from a child’s perspective as well as hunting for clues in the house and gardens. As a final flourish over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, Hands on History will be presenting their interactive Civilians at War presentation where visitors will be enlisted into the Home Guard.
www.penshurstplace.com

The Enchanted Kingdom at The Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood

The Enchanted Kingdom brings popular children’s stories to life with real characters, animatronics and special effects. Imaginations will run wild in the Pirate Cove, where children can come face to face with ‘real’ pirates and explore the secret cave - overflowing with treasure and jewels before walking through the 40ft galleon ship where they must take care not to wake the sleeping pirates in their swinging hammocks. Families can also enjoy interactive displays, such as the Jungle, complete with Gorillas, Monkeys, Lions and Tigers and a watery surprise. Beware of trickery and enchantment in the Land of mirrors, where everything is not quite as it seems.
www.thehopfarm.co.uk

Jousting Tournaments at Hever Castle

On Fridays and weekends in August, the Knights of the Blue Order, spurred on by the cheers of the crowds, will be taking on their arch rivals from the Red Banner in a series of exhilarating full gallop jousts. Spectators will be treated to a tumultuous display of action, stunts, falls and fights as the Knights of Royal England bring the medieval sport of jousting to life. Last year, after a closely-fought tournament which saw the scores tie level, the Blue Order snatched a last-minute victory in a thrilling ‘do or die’ finale. This year’s event promises to be every bit as exciting as the Red Banner seek their revenge.
www.hevercastle.co.uk

August Adventure at Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House & Gardens, Birchington

Families are invited to come and join the adventure with a different theme each week throughout August. These include Thanet Coast Week, Theatre School Week, History of The World Week and Thanet Archaeology Week. Eat some seaweed, learn how to throw a stage punch, check out some cutting edge Stone Age technology and dig in to unearth some Thanet mysteries under your feet.
www.quexmuseum.org

Monster Bass Festival at Ramsgate (14 & 15 August)

This new free event to Ramsgate will take place around the harbour and seafront area. Inspired by legends of the treacherous Goodwin Sands and Ramsgate's unique relationship with the sea.

This spectacular opening to Sailing Week will use Ramsgate's cosmopolitan waterfront as a backdrop for two days of live entertainment, story-telling, sea-safaris and more. Throughout the weekend there will be an abundance of delicious seafood and tempting local produce will be on offer in the food village as well as from the harbour-side cafes, bars and restaurants.

The star of the show will of course be the Monster Bass when, in a dazzling show of sound and light, the ‘guardian of the Goodwins’ makes a dramatic return to the sea on Saturday evening. Don’t miss this free family weekend when we bring to life the ancient tales of the lost lands of Lomea and its mythical guardians.
www.thanet.gov.uk/monsterbass

Classic Cars and More! at Leeds Castle (14 & 15 August)

Bring all the family to a celebration of transport through the ages, with classic cars, aircraft and steam vehicles in the picturesque grounds of Leeds Castle, near Maidstone.

Specialist car societies and private owners will bring their lovingly restored cars dating from the early 20th century up to the present day. Visitors can view the gleaming vehicles up close and re-live their early motoring experiences with the experts.

Also on display will be a range of other forms of transport from a hot air balloon and helicopters to gliders and steam vehicles. There will also be a craft fair with a variety of stalls to browse.
www.leeds-castle.com/events

Sculpture Exhibition at The Secret Gardens of Sandwich (23-30 August)
Stunning pieces of art will sit alongside some of the best garden specimens in the South East when The Secret Gardens open the gates for their third annual Sculpture Exhibition, as part of the Sandwich Festival.

More than 35 artists are taking part in the exhibition, which will showcase work by Pure Form, a group founded by renowned local artist and sculptor Patrick Crouch, with a focus on direct stone carving. The pieces of stone used by the group are largely reclaimed pieces of old architecture with many coming from historic buildings in Canterbury, including Canterbury Cathedral, as a result of restoration work.

In addition to the exhibition there will be live sculpting in the gardens so that the public can witness the transformation from raw material to piece of art and, for the first time this year, all the exhibits - magnificent pieces of contemporary, abstract and figurative art - will be auctioned on the final day.
www.the-secretgardens.co.uk

Pirate Play Days! Historic Dockyard Chatham (until 29th August)
Young visitors will be able to enjoy the delights of the specially created ‘Pirates’ Play Place’, with stimulating creative activities, family learning opportunities, story-telling, puppet shows, and costumed characters – including Captain Flint, the mischievous parrot who is always on the look out for treasure to steal!
All activities and entertainment during Pirate Play plays are included in the normal admission price and with all tickets valid for 12 months, visitors can come back every day if they like!
www.thedockyard.co.uk

Wild Life Safaris at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest (4,11, 18, 25 August)

Bedgebury’s Pinetum and forest provides a haven for many wild animals. A mini-beast hunt will introduce visitors to some of the smaller inhabitants, and look for evidence of other inhabitants as they walk in the area around the Walled Garden. The morning will finish with children making a beautiful dragonfly to take home.
www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk

Anglo Bavarian Beer Festival at The Historic Dockyard Chatham (28 and 29 August)
In keeping with Munich's world famous 'Oktoberfest', the Dockyard will feature German 'beer-hall' style bench, seating and a selection of beer-swilling, foot stomping entertainment starring the UK's best German Oompah Band, the Amazing Bavarian Stompers, and the country's leading Chas & Dave tribute band.

No beer festival, let alone a Bavarian beer festival would be complete without the beer itself and you won't be disappointed as, in addition to some great Bavarian beers there will be a fantastic selection of British beers, real ales, ciders and for the non-beer drinkers, an area featuring 'wines of the world', spirits and soft drinks plus a food court serving a selection of regional delicacies including; bratwurst, hog roast and other mouth watering favourites.
www.visitkent.co.uk
-ENDS-

For enquiries please contact Chloe Buchanan on 01732 779087 or chloe@westgatecomms.com

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About Visit Kent:
Visit Kent Limited is a public/private sector partnership supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, the district and borough councils, Tourism South East and the leading sector tourism businesses in Kent. Visit Kent champions Kent’s £2.5 billion tourism industry by targeting UK and overseas markets, improving quality and skills and growing the tourism product.