Faversham International Hop Festival 2013

Faversham's International Hop Festival takes place over the weekend commencing Saturday 31st August. The whole town of Faversham plays host to this traditional festival set in the medieval town's square and surrounding streets and celebrating the olden days of hop picking in Kent.

In addition to the Brewer Stage run by Shepherd Neame, there are 3 stages around the town all providing a range of different music. Not to mention all the pubs in town many of whom also have live music over the weekend.

Line-up

Saturday

Market Place Spitfire Stage
Tanglefoot, Captain Patch & The Mermaid Mollies, Pearly Kings and Queens, Ben Jones and The Rifle Volunteers, Morris Display, Hayley Oliver, Trouser Trumpets, The Blues Duo, and Adrian Nation.

Preston Street Stage
The Assorted, Comic Verse, The Hoots Band, Moroccan Mole +, The Throwbacks, Skatacus, The Soozuns, Sur Les Docks, Lonnie Donegan Jnr.

West Street Masterbrew Acoustic Stage
Faversham Folk Club Showcase, King Size Slim, Atlantic Currants, The Blues Duo, Adrian Nation, Roger Meaney , Labyrinth

Sunday

Market Place Spitfire Stage
DJ Graham the Hat, Project Five, Pearly Kings and Queens, Dance Display, Fester & Sly, Lindey Hop, Unison BenZ, Comic Verse, Carters Alib, Morris Display, Rosco Levee.

Preston Street Stage
Hop Blessing, Cantiana Choir, Rough Common, Comic Verse, Green Diesel, Taking Care of Vegas, CoCo and the Butterfields, Anthrax (UK, Kellys Heroes.

West Street Masterbrew Acoustic Stage
Ukaholics, Funke and the Two Tone Baby, Tombstone Liquor, Stevens' Racket, James Wilson, Labyrinth

More info

As well as live music expect children's entertainers, professional street theatre, stilt walkers, Morris dancing, a craft fare, and ceilidh.

This festival celebrates the old days of hop picking when thousands of Londoners came down to the Kent hop gardens every September for a country holiday with pay, has attracted tens of thousands of people to Faversham's town centre since the first event was staged in 1991.

Procession

The Procession starts at the top of Preston Street. This traditional morning parade consists of morris dancers, entertainers, carnival queens  and occasionally a marching band! It passes down Preston Street, into Market Street and ends at Court Street around 11:30 am. Pedestrians are asked to leave the procession via Partridge Lane

Festival goers are expected to gather on the evening of Friday, and local pubs and restaurants will play host to live music.

Accommodation

This event does not have camping but there are a number of hotels, hostels and guest houses in the area.

More info

For more information, see the Hop festival website.

More information will be here when available.

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