25th Tenterden Folk Festival Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October 2017

TENTERDEN 25TH FOLK FESTIVAL  

Tenterden Folk Festival takes place over four days with folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.

Tenterden, situated in the ancient Weald of Kent, about 12 miles west of Ashford, is an ideal setting for this friendly, family folk festival.  It features one of the widest High Streets in the country lined with historic and listed buildings, numerous friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants and green verges.  

Events:Events at the festival include an English Barn Dance, concerts, sing-a-rounds, music sessions, folk clubs, special shows, a craft fair and street stalls, music stalls, free music and dance stages on the Recreation Ground, Morris dancers, dance displays, procession, showcases, meet the guest spots, workshops, dancers and musicians on the  Kent and East Sussex Railway, events for children and much more besides.

 

Venues and public houses:Festival venues include The Evans Bar and Moulton Hall upstairs in the Tenterden Club, St Mildred’s Parish Church, St Mildred’s Church Hall, The Town Hall, The Saddlery, The Recreation Ground and the High Street,  There are also events in The Woolpack, The White Lion, The Vine, The William Caxton and The Indulgence Cake and Coffee House.

Welcome barn dance:The English barn dance is a regular feature of the festival and is always very popular.  As well as the barn dance there is often a chance to try other forms of traditional folk dancing over the long weekend.    Concerts:The main concerts on Saturday and Sunday are held in the Tenterden Club with smaller acoustic concerts, including concerts on Friday, being held in the Saddlery at The White Lion.  There is a special fundraising concert on Thursday in the Town Hall.  Crafts fair, music stalls, other stalls and also street stalls:The free craft fair and other stalls will be in a large marquee on The Recreation Ground, just off the High Street.  The marquee will act as the venue for the popular free music and dance stages.  There will also be even more street stalls in the High Street.

 

Sing-a-rounds and music sessions:

One of the highlights of Tenterden Folk Festival for many of the participants are the numerous friendly and informal sing-a-rounds and music sessions.  With a choice of four town centre pubs there is sure to be a session that suits your taste going on in at least one of these venues. 

Workshops and meet the guest sessions:

 is a charity formed to preserve and advance public education and appreciation of folk music, song, dance, crafts and traditions as part of the living heritage.  Therefore we offer you a chance to “Meet” some of the guests in informal sessions.  We also offer workshops where you can hear about folk related topics or traditions or improve your own skills. Dance displays:Tenterden is “the Jewel of the Weald” and over the Festival weekend it has even more colour and sparkle than usual as hundreds of Morris men and women and other folk dancers take to the streets of the town centre.  The majority of teams are Morris dance sides of varying styles, from the Cotswold tradition and Black-faced Border style, to clog to garland dancers.  The teams you will see will be both men’s, women’s and mixed sides and come from all over England.  It’s not just Morris you will see as Tenterden is regularly host to teams performing traditional dances from Scotland, Ireland, England, Slovakia and the Appalachian Mountains of North America.  There is also Saturday’s popular procession along the High Street.  

http://www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk/

Tenterden is the so-called 'Jewel of the Weald'

Tenterden is the so-called 'Jewel of the Weald'

Tenterden 

And it's not hard to see why. Its mix of history, shopping and things to do, together with a particularly attractive High Street lined with trees, make this a town to explore without doubt.

Tenterden

For families no visit to the Weald of Kent would be complete without a trip to  ( KESR) The  Kent and East  Railway , Historic  steam train can  be caught from Tenterden .

Where you and your family can take a magical ride to the magnificent Bodiam Castle  

Kent & East Sussex Railway is the country's finest example of a rural light railway

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is the country's finest example of a rural light railway. 

A journey will take through the Jewel of the Weald 

And with the main station in Tenterden Town makes it a great day out for all ages

Regular events are held throughout the year Day out with Thomas, Real Ale Trains, Pensioners Treats to name but a few

Steam trains, disabled facilities, licensed Restaurant (Station Refreshment Rooms), Wealden Pullman Dining, Railway Experiences, Model Railway fun for children, Museum

2017 prices 
Family £34.20 (online*) £38 (ticket office)

2 adults & up to 3 children (15yrs & under) or 1 adult & up to 4 children (15yrs & under)

Adult £16.20 (online*) £18 (ticket office) (16yrs & over)

Child £10.80 (online*) £12 (ticket office)

* When booked before midnight of the preceding day

All tickets include unlimited travel throughout the day, entry to the railway museum and Cavell van




The Kent and East Sussex Railway operate three types of service listed below

Green Service

2 trains in service. Steam hauled services depart Tenterden at 10.40, 1.15 and 3.35, on-train catering and access for wheelchair users. The heritage diesel observation train departs 11.45 and 2.20, sorry this is currently unable to accommodate wheelchair usersRed Service2 trains in service. Steam hauled services depart Tenterden at 10.40, 11.45, 1.15, 2.20 and 3.35, on-train catering and access for wheelchair usersGold Service
3 trains in service, either 2 steam hauled trains and 1 diesel hauled train, or 3 steam hauled trains. Steam hauled services depart Tenterden at 10.45, 11.30, 1.00, 1.45, 3.15 and 4pm, on-train catering. Accommodation for wheelchair users is available on these services 10.45, 1.00, and 3.15. A further train will be either our heritage diesel observation train or a steam hauled train, 12.15, 2.30pm
here are listed the services for April May and June

ACCESSIBLE

The Railway has a specially designed
coach for wheelchair users called 'Petros' which is fitted with ramped access, wide aisles, an accessible toilet and moveable seating. There is full wheelchair access to the shop and restaurant at Tenterden Town Station, and the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum has level access with 42" aisles

Live Music At the Woolpack Tenterden

Live music tonight!

 At the Woolpack in Tenterden . Is Alex Gold from 7.30pm

Booking.com

Tenterden in Kent

Nestling in the heart of the Weald of Kent, Tenterden, rich in history, has largely escaped much modern development and has consequently retained its charm. It has an attractive, broad tree-lined High Street, brimming with interesting shops that have something for everyone.

It is believed that the name Tenterden is derived from the Old English 'Tenet Waraden' which meant a clearing in the forest, belonging to the men of Thanet.

Tenterden was an important wool trading centre in the 13th century and became prosperous. It is difficult to believe today that Tenterden had access to the sea at Smallhythe, since the coastline has altered so much. Using the wood from the Wealden Forest as its source of timber, Smallhythe was a centre for shipbuilding and produced wooden ships that were large for the time. In 1449 Tenterden was incorporated into the prestigious Federation of Cinque Ports, and was able to enjoy all the privilege and status which this position brought.

Dating from the 12th century the the distinctive tower of the Parish Church of St Mildred can be seen from the High Street. To get an insight into the history of Tenterden pay a visit to the local museum which has exhibits spanning one thousand years.

William Caxton, who pioneered printing in England is believed to have been born in Tenterden. The actress Dame Ellen Terry lived at Smallhythe.