Description
Festivals in Kent include the annual Whitstable Oyster Rocks Festival, which celebrates tradition, fun, and flavour as Whitstable honours its historic and cultural connection with oysters. Free fun includes Welly Throwing, Pirate Pottery, Kite Flying, Chalk Art, and Treasure Hunts. There's also a mud tug of war, live music and DJs, food and drink stalls, and grotter building - a miniature oyster-shell grotto, lit from within by a candle. Don't miss the fireworks and more magical seaside moments with the Festival Fringe, with local partners hosting events across town.
A Little History
Whitstable’s oyster festival traditions stretch back to the Roman Empire when Julius Caesar’s soldiers developed a taste for Kentish oysters. The town’s oyster heritage was further celebrated in Norman times, with fishermen feasting in the name of St. James of Compostela, the unofficial patron saint of oysters. This iconic, historic Landing of the Oysters Ceremony is described as the soul of the Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival — a tradition dating back to 1657.
Price
Free and ticketed events.
Runtime
12th to 14th September 2025
Highlights
Fireworks: 12th September, 7.30pm-8pm - Long Beach
Landing of the Oysters Ceremony: 13th September, 4pm-5.30pm
Mud Tug O War: 14th September, 11am-12.30pm, Long Beach
Grotters: 14th September, 5.30pm-8.30pm
Times are provisional on our calendar.
Picture Credit: © Whitstable Oyster Rocks Festival.
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Discover more Festivals in Kent guide with Food & Drink Festivals and Family-Friendly Festivals roundups. Plus, discover more Garden of England events under the What's On menu for lots more, and see our Things To Do in Kent category for great attractions and activities in the county. Explore our features in Kent for more guides, themed and seasonal articles and lots more with our Ideas & Inspiration section.
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