Events in Rochester - 2008
The City has events on throughout the year, that range from concerts in the Castle Gardens and pub gigs to farmers markets plus historic and folk festivals.

Use the links below to jump to the different event categories or scroll down the page to browse through what's happening.
Markets & Fairs
Concerts
Theatre/Plays
Festivals
Exhibitions
Street Entertainment
Other Events


Also see our Places to Visit page which has details of places of interest

• Markets & Fairs
Rochester Farmers' Market.
9am to 1pm, Corporation Street Car Park.
Dates for 2008: Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 16, Apr 20, May 18, Jun 15, 
Jul 20, Aug 17, Sept 21, Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 21

Record Fair.
10am to 5pm, Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, High Street.
Dates for 2008: Mar 30, Apr 20, May 18, Jun 29, Jul 27, Aug 31, 
Sept 28, Oct 26

• Concerts
Sweeps Festival Concerts - May 2-4
Friday 2nd, Denny Lane and Ruby
Saturday 3rd, Battlefield Band and The Dealers; Ceilidh with the Climax Ceilidh Band
Sunday 4th, Show of Hands and Wheeler Street; Sweeps Ball with the Burlesdon Village Band


Rochester Castle Concerts - July 16-19
Wednesday 16th, Soul Party
Thursday 17th, Jools Holland
Friday 18th, Status Quo
Saturday 19th, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
Information and Bookings

• Theatre/Plays
The Strange World of Cirque Surreal - 18th to 27th July The famous circus visits Jackson's Recreation Ground with it's internationally acclaimed show, "Voyagers".

• Festivals
Sweeps Festival - 3rd to 5th May- Tons of Morris and real ale for the folkie.
Dickens Summer Festival - 31st May to 1st June (Rochester City)
Fuse arts festival (various venues in the Medway Towns) 31st May - 14th June 
The Dickensian Christmas Festival - 6th & 7th December.
An ideal opportunity for buying unique gifts and enjoying the
festive atmosphere.

• Exhibitions
Art & Craft Expo 2008 ( Corn Exchange, Rochester) 5th & 6th April

Plus temporary art exhibitions at the Visitors' Centre and Guildhall Museum  throughout the year.

Easter Egg Hunt (Upnor Castle) 21st-23rd March

University's Boat Race (Kent; Canterbury & Greenwich) 3rd May - from Halling to Rochester 

Dunkirk "little ships" (Chatham Dockyard) 24th - 26th May

Medway Barge Match - 31st May

Medieval Merriment (Rochester Castle) Sept 6th and 7th - Step back in time with a weekend of medieval merriment: 11am, minstrel; noon, archery; 1pm, food; 2pm, storytelling; 3pm, medieval surgeon; 4pm, knights

Heritage Open-Days (various buildings) 13th & 14th Sept 

A Tudor Day Out (Upnor Castle) 14th Sept

Please note: details and dates may change so please check.