A hugely popular annual festival by the sea during August around the town of Broadstairs
Broadstairs Folk Week is a hybrid of a greenfield festival in the middle of a town – with a beautiful beach too – making a great family holiday.
There are around 400 events crammed into one week – including workshops for all abilities in music and song, parade, full programme of dances and ceilidhs, Poets’ Breakfast and Craft and Music Fair
The ever-popular official free pub gig programme takes place in pubs around the town.
Headline concerts in 2024 feature Oysterband, Le Vent du Nord, Daphne’s Flight, Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening, Jim Moray, Tim Edey, Jim Causley, Richard Digance, Banter, the Monster Ceilidh Band, Alden Patterson, Jez Lowe, Hill Top Ceilidh Band, Bird in the Belly, Tarren, Harmonia, A J Clarke, Zulu Tradition, Brown Boots Boogie Band, Teilhard Frost, Tin Giants, Wychbury, Bonfire Radicals, Good Habits, Amy Hollinrake Trio.
There’s Family Ceilidhs a Techno Ceilidh, a Gentle Ceilidh and let’s not forget Banter’s famous Fancy Dress ceilidh – this year’s theme is Sci-Fi. If you want to try some moves out, there’s workshops in country dance, Bollywood, European, Belly dance, solo clog, medieval, Lindy Hop and a special callers’ session for children.
You do not need a partner, just go along and have fun. The experienced callers will make it easy and literally point you in the right direction.
The Sarah Thorne Theatre is once again the heart of dance at this year’s Folk Week. It’s a lovely venue with outdoor seating and a small bar, run by the amazing volunteers. Pop in and have a drink, recharge your batteries away from the busy high street, open throughout the day and into the evening.
Don’t forget there’s also 2 special Silent Ceilidhs – one for adults at the Pavilion on the Sands and a Young Folk ceilidh at Retort House. You can’t have more fun in headphones!
At the bandstand, the free Hobby Horse Club attracts hundreds of families who participate in games, singing and dancing with Clarence the Dragon and the festival mascots, the Hooden Horses.
The festival campsite is within walking distance of the town and venues, although there is a free minibus service into town too. It’s a great way of having a holiday by the beach with all the entertainment thrown in!
Address
Broadstairs Folk Week 2024
Venues around the town
CT10
Links