Rochester Sweeps’ Festival

Where: Rochester, Kent -High Street and various stages around town
When: May Day Bank Holiday Weekend
Time: From 10am Saturday onwards. Procession Monday 2.45

 

Rochester Sweeps’ Festival is a celebration of the coming of spring, and as May Day was also the traditional holiday for chimney sweeps or Climbing Boys as they were officially known, the two aspects have combined to produce a unique event. Expect lots of music, merrymaking and morris dancing alongside a Jack in the Green fertility figure personified and of course plenty of sweeps. Dancing takes place in the High Street over the whole weekend, and the Castle Gardens have a funfair, real ale and marquees for musicians.The Procession on the Monday is the culmination of the festival and it begins at the Castle Gardens, then goes all around town with Jack in the Green. 60 morris sides take part.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 it should be from Saturday 3rd to Monday 5th May. The festival is a three-day-event culminating in the Procession on Monday but with events over the whole weekend.

Click here for more info: https://www.visitmedway.org/events/rochester-sweeps-festival-2024-79679/

Click here for the event’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RochesterSweepsFestival

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