Events
There are many fun family events across the borough each month.
Hosting an event
If you would like to add an event to this page, please e-mail your details to Leisure Services.
If you are planning to hold any event, there are a number of organisations that you, as the event organiser, need to request permission from and consult.
Country Park events
Events take place in Haysden Country Park and Leybourne Lakes Country Park throughout the year.
View our Country parks events booklet.
Tonbridge Events
Please download our poster of events in Tonbridge in 2018.
Rotary Club of Tonbridge events
The Rotary Club of Tonbridge run a number of events as listed on their newsletter.
Summer Band Concerts
A series of free summer concerts will be taking place on the Bailey Lawn at Tonbridge Castle and everyone is welcome to come along.
The concerts, which will be performed by a mixture of amateur and professional bands, have been organised by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and will take place between 3pm and 5pm. There is no need to book a ticket – people can just turn up on the day and enjoy the music, bring a picnic or take advantage of the stalls on site.
Every Sunday will feature a different band:
- 29 July – Jon Hamilton Big Band
- 6 August – Second Wind Jazz Band
- 12 August – Invicta Jazz Orchestra
- 2 September – Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Concert Band
The Hildenborough Women’s Institute will be selling cakes alongside Mochafella who will be selling tea and coffee. Ice cream and traditional sweets will also be available.
WW1 Event - 18 & 19 August
Put it in your diary now! An event that will educate and entertain, and be like nothing Tonbridge has seen for a century. In and around the Castle, visitors will see a replica Great War tank, soldiers and nurses of the period, a search dog, horses, and First World War artefacts, all to the sound of music from the time. Tonbridge 100 in conjunction with Tonbridge historical society will be a visual experience of life one hundred years ago. More participants are expected to be announced, so come to the Castle and step back in time. Entry is free, with donations to the Poppy Appeal.
We hope you can join us to remember those that have gone before us, and those who continue to serve.
Further details on the Tonbridge 100 Poppy facebook events page at www.facebook.com/events/376642232852698/
Illyria - Hound of the Baskervilles - 28 August
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Who killed Sir Charles Baskerville? Can anyone prevent the same fate befalling the young Sir Henry Baskerville? Is a monstrous hound really roaming Dartmoor? Why is someone systematically stealing Sir Henry’s shoes? And how does a ghostly hound manage to leave vast paw-prints and other unwelcome evidence of its existence?
The original and greatest literary detective of them all, Sherlock Holmes, and his assistant Doctor Watson, tackle the most baffling case of their careers in this faithful, cheeky but chilling adaptation...
Enjoy the Open Air Theatre on the Castle Lawn, bring a picnic or take advantage of the stalls on site.
For tickets visit https://www.illyria.co.uk/hound-of-the-baskervilles
Medieval Fair - 8 & 9 September
Step back in time at Tonbridge Castle's Medieval Fair 10am- 5pm. Free Admission.
(Further details to follow)
Heritage Open Days - 6 Sept - 16 September
Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Read the 2018 brochure for full details.
It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture. Organised by volunteers – usually property owners or managers – for local people, Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event, attracting some 800,000 people annually.
The Heritage Open Days Partnership gives central co-ordination and additional voice to the event which is made possible by funding and support from English Heritage. Locally this event has been co-ordinated by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council in partnership with The Malling Society and Tonbridge Civic Society. Tonbridge Art Group, Tonbridge Civic Society, Tonbridge Historical Society, Tonbridge Parish Church Bell Ringers and members from the Jane Austen Society (Kent branch) will be exhibiting at Tonbridge Castle throughout the weekend.
For more details, visit www.heritageopendays.org
Tonbridge Town Teams Dragon Boat Race - 9 Sept
Dragon Boat Race Watergate, River Medway, Tonbridge, Kent
The 6th Tonbridge Dragon Boat Race
Dear Dragons,
Welcome Dragons past and prospective! The 6th Tonbridge Dragon Boat Race will be held on Sunday 9th September 2018. For six years now the Tonbridge Town Team has hosted what many feel to be the Tonbridge event of the year. As in previous years, the event relies on the professionalism and expertise of Dragon Boat Events – the company that supply the boats and equipment. On the same weekend the Tonbridge Medieval Fair will be taking place on the Castle lawn and we at the Town Team will be organising stalls along the newly refurbished River Walk.
The Dragon Boat Race will take place in Tonbridge town centre on the River Medway at the Watergate (Big Bridge).
High Weald Walking Festival - 15 Sept - 23 Sept
Explore one of the UK’s most beautiful medieval landscapes at the first ever High Weald Walking Festival, running from 15 to 23 September 2018 and completely free of charge.
The new event will showcase the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty like never before. Experienced and knowledgeable guides will lead a host of inspiring walks suitable for all ages and abilities, with themed routes covering local history, art, literature, wildlife and geology.
Visit www.highwealdwalks.org now to learn more and choose from more than 30 walks throughout the week, spread across the entire High Weald.
Music@Malling Festival 16 Sept - 29 Sept
A festival that brings international artists to historical venues in and around West Malling, Kent. The festival celebrates an eclectic mix of fabulous music. Founded in 2011, Music@Malling has a festival each September featuring the music of contemporary composers alongside classical, jazz, vocal, world and film music: the outreach programme and a number of satellite events runs across the year. Please see the brochure for more information.
Tonbridge Half Marathon (Sunday 7 October)
Organised by the Tonbridge Rotary Club and Tonbridge Lions to raise money for The Bridge Trust and Pepenbury together with other charities supported by Lions and Rotary.
The race starts outside Judd School at 10.00am. There will be some road closures related to this event.
Full details are at www.tonbridgehalfmarathon.co.uk
Tonbridge Rotary Christmas Festival
Sunday 25 November 2018
2.30pm – Entertainment on stage and Christmas Stalls
5pm – Christmas Light Switch On
6pm – Fireworks from Tonbridge Castle
Further details to follow
Theatres
EM Forster Theatre
The Box Office, EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge School, Tonbridge, TN9 1JP
For a full list of shows visp;www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk/home/
Oast Theatre
London Rd Tonbridge Kent TN10 3AN
For a full list of show visit www.oasttheatre.com
Happy Tonbridge
A video has been made in Tonbridge to show off its thriving community and put a bit of happiness into the town. Inspired by Pharrell Williams' number one hit Happy, more than 2,000 happy films have been made worldwide and Tonbridge wanted a slice of the action. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council recognised the film's worth and a Community Enhancement Grant was given to support the launch event. See the full video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEApL1fxZ-U
Jane Austen's Connections to Tonbridge
You can have an MP3 audio guided tour of the monuments in the Church of St Peter & St Paul; these include the tomb of Jane Austen's grandparents, other Austens and people they knew narrated by Louise Jameson. You may also download this guide.
A circular walk of Tonbridge includes local links to Jane Austen. Download a copy of the leaflet.
Farmers' Markets
There are a number of Farmers Markets across the borough.