From seeing Dr Dolittle at Herstmonceux Castle to meeting Thomas & Friends on the Kent & East Sussex Railway, a new Summer Activity Trail at Shorne Woods and Riverhill’s Tree Hunt plus more, here are 11 events going on around Tunbridge Wells this weekend!
♥ St George’s Nursery Summer Fair – Friday 20 July
Join St George’s Nursery for an afternoon of fundraising fun from 3.15-6pm, including BBQ, cakes, stalls, games and children’s entertainment. This year the raffle prizes have been generously donated by Leeds Castle, Mr Mulligan’s Dino Golf, Cook, Fuller’s Farm Shop, The Floating Factor and more. All money raised will go towards buying new toys and equipment for St George’s, as well as developing the garden.
♥ Doctor Dolittle at Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex – Friday 20 July
See the funny, exciting adventures of Doctor Dolittle performed live at Herstmonceux Castle on Friday at 6pm. When his wise old parrot Polynesia teaches Doctor Dolittle how to talk to animals, news of his skills spreads far and wide. Soon animals across the world send messages asking for his help. With a strong message about responsibility towards animals and the environment, the show is suitable for cheeky monkeys aged 5+ and tickets can be purchased HERE.
♥ The Vicar’s Picnic – Friday 20 & Saturday 21 July
The Vicar’s Picnic is created by locals and curated with love, bringing the best of local acts alongside breaking artists and established bands.
The festival organisers believe in making memories ahead of making profit – they give all their time for free and will continue to do so as long as the people keep coming to sing and to dance in a field in Yalding. It’s the biggest little festival in Kent. Find out more about it HERE.
♥ Pennington Park Pre-School Open Morning – Saturday 21 July
Pennington Park Pre-School would like to invite you to an open morning this Saturday from 10am-12pm. This friendly Ofsted registered pre-school opened in September 2016 offering quality care and learning opportunities where children can flourish and grow. Situated in the Pavilion within the wonderful grounds of Pennington Park in Southborough the pre-school is fortunate to have extensive outdoor facilities which children love to explore and enjoy all year round in a safe and supervised environment.
The pre-school follows a carefully planned curriculum in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) delivered daily in an inclusive and dynamic way, incorporating the uniqueness of every child to support their development. Pennington Park has recently received a rating of ‘Good’ in its first Ofsted Inspection and the report can be reviewed HERE. But go and have a look around this small friendly pre-school for yourself on Saturday or arrange a visit on a date that’s convenient to you. Find them on Facebook HERE.
♥ A Fun Day out with Thomas – Saturday 21 to Monday 23 July
Join the Kent & East Sussex Railway in Tenterden for a day of fun and entertainment with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends! There’ll be unlimited 25-minute rides behind Thomas, the chance to meet the Fat Controller and his cheerful sidekicks Rusty and Dusty and be thrilled by the re-enactments of classic Thomas stories. The children can also have unlimited turns on the carousel and bouncy castle, their faces painted, enjoy the magic show, storytelling and much more.
Don’t forget to claim your free goody bag for each child and use the soft play area for the under 4s. Watch Thomas adventures on the big screen TV at the station and enjoy the wonder in your child’s eyes as they meet their favourite Really Useful Engines! Click HERE for further information.
♥ Summer Activity Trail at Shorne Woods Country Park, Gravesend – From Saturday 21 July
Shorne Woods Country Park in Gravesend is running a self-led activity trail through the woods everyday during the summer holidays. Purchase your trail sheets for £3 from the visitor centre on the day of your visit and get exploring! There’s a prize at the end for completed entries.
If you’re thinking of making the trip to Gravesend, the park has lots to offer families; including the eco-friendly visitor centre and café, sensory garden, picnic and play areas, not to mention 292 acres of rolling woodlands, wetlands and meadows. There are a variety of way marked trails for exploring the park, ranging in length from 1 mile to just over 6 miles.
♥ The Folkestone and Hythe RAF 100 Air Display – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July
A bit further afield, the Folkestone and Hythe RAF 100 Air Display is taking place this weekend with a nod to the centenary year of the RAF. A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, featuring a Lancaster bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane fighters will take place at 1.15pm on Saturday and the slightly earlier time of at 12.15pm on Sunday. Plus, the world famous Red Arrows will also be returning this summer for the first time in four years on Sunday at 5.00pm.
All air displays will be publicly visible above the channel opposite the Leas, with the best views from the Leas and Mermaid Beach and the displays will also be visible from Folkestone’s Harbour Arm.
♥ Riverhill Himalayan Gardens Tree Hunt, Sevenoaks – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July
Join Riverhill Himalayan Gardens on a fact-finding adventure as you hunt through the gardens and trails to find the oldest, biggest and most colourful trees, and then claim your treat at the end!
The kids are bound to enjoy the woodland adventure playground and exploring the forest with lots of opportunities for den building. Get lost in the marvelous maze and look out for the elusive yeti. Visitors can also climb to the viewpoint, which has stunning views over the countryside. Visit the Riverhill Himalayan Gardens website to find out more – the Tree Hunt is running for the next two weekends in July.
♥ Kew Science Festival at Wakehurst, West Sussex – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July
The Kew Science Festival is coming to its wild botanic garden at Wakehurst this weekend, with a host of workshops, shows, tours and hands-on experiments to inspire children and adults alike. Meet Kew’s scientists and find out how they are helping to protect rare and threatened plants and fungi. Hold the world’s largest seed in your hands, and experience the tastes and smells of the word’s smallest and smelliest fruits.
The festival will be set around the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild seed conservation project in the world. So get your white coats and protective specs at the ready! The festival is free with standard garden entry, for more details click HERE.
♥ Penshurst Maize Maze & Summer Sundays – until 2nd September
The Maize Maze is back at Penshurst Place for the summer and this year the theme is time travel. As you explore the twists and turns of the clock faced shape maize there’s fun clues to solve from different historical eras in order to collect letters and crack the new puzzle– and there are prizes on offer too!
Summer Sundays start this weekend, with an all-new falconry show, a welcome return from Aardvark Productions with a brand-new panto in the garden and a variety of crafts. The adventure playground has been refurbished and the all-new woodland trail is ready to be explored, complete with natural play material ready and waiting to be transformed into dens and camps! Click HERE for more information.
♥ Picnic in the Park at Dunorlan – Sunday 22 July
Friends of Dunorlan Park invites you to their annual family picnic on Sunday. They will provide the wine and the soft drinks, so just bring along a picnic and something to sit on and meet at the top of this glorious park (near the Pembury Road car park) at 1pm. New members are more than welcome! Please click HERE for more information.
Looking for ideas for FAMILY DAYS OUT THIS SUMMER? Check out our 2018 Summer Bucket List HERE:
For Holidays Clubs & Classes around Tunbridge Wells, check out this blog post:
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