If you’re looking for something to do with the kids today, why not head up to Rochester this afternoon for Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival.
The festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps from 29 April to 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to wake at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
The programme for today is:
| 5.28am | Bluebell Hill Picnic Area: Awakening of Jack in the Green |
| 10am | Boley Hill Stage: Songwriters’ Den on the Road |
| 10.15am | Walking Tour – starts from Rochester’s Visitor Information Centre |
| 11am | Castle Moat: Splat! – The Sweeps Big Picnic |
| 11am | Castle Gardens Stage: Hopping Down in Kent |
| Crown Freehouse Stage: Mike Deavin | |
| City Wall Wine Bar: Fiddlefit | |
| Boley Hill Stage: The Heart Collectors | |
| Sailing Barge Kitty: Pytchwood | |
| Blue Boar Lane: Pretending People | |
| 11.30am | City Wall Wine Bar: Paul Corcoran (Lo-Fi Waves) |
| 12pm | Castle Gardens Stage: Track Dogs |
| Crown Freehouse Stage: Dance Alley | |
| City Wall Wine Bar Stage: Tree Huggers | |
| Blue Boar Lane: Pretending People | |
| Sailing Barge Kitty: Morrigan | |
| 12.15pm | Crown Freehouse Stage: Hog Eye Men |
| Boley Hill Stage: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage | |
| 12.30pm | Gordon House Hotel: Hot Rats |
| Crown Freehouse: Son of Kirk | |
| Two Brewers: Kelter | |
| King’s Head: The Bounty Hounds | |
| Eagle Tavern: Thee Waltons | |
| Coopers Arms: Ian Petrie & Sue Hudson | |
| Singapora Lounge: The Old Country Crows | |
| Prince of Wales, Strood: Skinners Rats | |
| Ye Arrow: Gypskazz | |
| Good Intent: Singaround | |
| 12.45pm | Crown Freehouse Stage: Tribal Banshees |
| 1pm | Castle Gardens Stage: Tim Edey |
| 1.15pm | Boley Hill Stage: Dance Alley followed by Paul Corcoran (Lo Fi Waves) |
| 1.30pm | City Wall Wine Bar: Pytchwood |
| Blue Boar Lane: Pretending People | |
| 1.45pm | Crown Freehouse Stage: Ash Mandrake |
| 2pm | Man of Kent Alehouse: Hartley Singers |
| Oliver’s Bar & Restaurant: The Rosie Eade Band | |
| Sailing Barge Kitty: HogEye Men | |
| 2.15pm | Walking Tour – starts from Rochester’s Visitor Information Centre |
| 2.30pm | Castle Gardens Stage: Davey Malone & The Longtails |
| 2.45pm | SWEEPS PROCESSION (starts from Star Hill) incl Victorian Sweeps from Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship |
| 3.15pm | Crown Freehouse Stage: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage |
| City Wall Wine Bar Stage: Calgarry | |
| 3.30pm | Boley Hill Stage: Holly Stanford |
| 4pm | Castle Gardens Stage: Brides of Rain |
| Crown Freehouse: Tin Foil Hats | |
| Flippin’ Frog: Tim Edey | |
| Blue Boar Lane: Pretending People |
More information: Sweeps Festival 2017 / Medway Council
