Skip to main content
Contact Us Brochure Request Visit Thanet Business
Visit Thanet Logo (3) Visit Thanet
  • Destinations
    • Margate
    • Insider's Guide to Margate Cliftonville
    • Broadstairs
    • Ramsgate
    • Villages
    • Seasonal Coast
    • Green & Sustainable Thanet
    • Our Coast
    • Beaches and Bays Active Coast Calm Coast Curious Coast Family Fun Coast Beach Information
    • Coastal Explorers
    • Coastal Education Resources
    • Beach Group Visits
    • History and Heritage
    • Margate History Broadstairs History Ramsgate History Village History Heritage and Architecture Frontline Thanet
    • Literary Heroes
  • Things to Do
    • See and Do
    • Latest Attraction Opening Hours
    • Find Attractions
    • Entertainment
    • Arts and Culture
    • Galleries and Studios Turner and Margate Kent’s Creative Isle of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate
    • Shopping and Markets
    • Family Fun
    • Escape Rooms
    • Experiences
    • Active and Outdoors
    • Cycling at the Coast Walking the Isle of Thanet It’s all about the Golf Sightseeing Boat and Fishing Trips Sea Swimming and Saunas
    • Coastal Wellness
    • Yoga
    • Parks
    • Seasonal Coast
    • Make a Digital Discovery
    • Audio Thanet
    • Did You Know
    • Creative Isle Community Rail Partnership
    • Wedding Venues
    • LGBTQ+ Thanet
  • Stay & Eat
    • Places to Stay
    • Find Accommodation
    • Eating and Drinking
    • Ice Cream Parlours Thanet's Micro Pubs Afternoon Tea Award Winning Places to Eat Cocktails Galore Vegetarian & Vegan Options Local Produce Roast by the Coast Bottomless Brunch
    Thanet Drinks Cafes 5

    Winter Offers

  • What's On
    • What's On in Thanet
    • Find Events
    • Entertainment
    • Cinemas and Theatres Nightlife Pub Entertainment
    • What's New and Anniversaries
    • Submit Events
    EDITED RF 48

    Find Events

    Easterbunnytrail

    Easter Adventures 

  • Plan Your Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Visitor Information Services
    • Destination Magazine
    • Accessibility Information
    • Dog Friendly
    • Itinerary Ideas
    • Weather and Tide Times
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Brightside Publishing Magazines
    • Travel Information
    • Getting Here Getting Around
    • Visitor Maps
    • FREE CAR PARKING available every Saturday: Mill Lane - Margate, Harold Road - Cliftonville, St Peter's Park Road - Broadstairs and Cannon Road- Ramsgate
    • Learn English
    • Group Visits
    • Why visit with your group? Hidden Gems Group Coach Parking Beach Group Visits Itinerary Ideas
    • Meeting Experiences
    • Winter Offers
  • Meeting Experiences
  • Inspiration

Search our site

Visit Thanet Logo (3) Visit Thanet
Destinations
  • Margate
  • Insider's Guide to Margate Cliftonville
  • Broadstairs
  • Ramsgate
  • Villages
  • Seasonal Coast
  • Green & Sustainable Thanet
  • Our Coast
  • Beaches and Bays Active Coast Calm Coast Curious Coast Family Fun Coast Beach Information
  • Coastal Explorers
  • Coastal Education Resources
  • Beach Group Visits
  • History and Heritage
  • Margate History Broadstairs History Ramsgate History Village History Heritage and Architecture Frontline Thanet
  • Literary Heroes
Things to Do
  • See and Do
  • Latest Attraction Opening Hours
  • Find Attractions
  • Entertainment
  • Arts and Culture
  • Galleries and Studios Turner and Margate Kent’s Creative Isle of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate
  • Shopping and Markets
  • Family Fun
  • Escape Rooms
  • Experiences
  • Active and Outdoors
  • Cycling at the Coast Walking the Isle of Thanet It’s all about the Golf Sightseeing Boat and Fishing Trips Sea Swimming and Saunas
  • Coastal Wellness
  • Yoga
  • Parks
  • Seasonal Coast
  • Make a Digital Discovery
  • Audio Thanet
  • Did You Know
  • Creative Isle Community Rail Partnership
  • Wedding Venues
  • LGBTQ+ Thanet
Stay & Eat
  • Places to Stay
  • Find Accommodation
  • Eating and Drinking
  • Ice Cream Parlours Thanet's Micro Pubs Afternoon Tea Award Winning Places to Eat Cocktails Galore Vegetarian & Vegan Options Local Produce Roast by the Coast Bottomless Brunch
Thanet Drinks Cafes 5

Winter Offers

What's On
  • What's On in Thanet
  • Find Events
  • Entertainment
  • Cinemas and Theatres Nightlife Pub Entertainment
  • What's New and Anniversaries
  • Submit Events
EDITED RF 48

Find Events

Easterbunnytrail

Easter Adventures 

Plan Your Visit Meeting Experiences Inspiration
Contact Us Brochure Request Visit Thanet Business
  1. Home
  2. What's On
  3. Find Events
  4. Rochester Sweeps Festival
DSCF7212
Web Links Location Local station Rochester

Rochester Sweeps Festival

2nd May - 4th May 2026

This vibrant three‑day spring festival attracting thousands with free performances, tradition, and community spirit!

Step into the historic streets of Rochester and experience one of England’s most colourful and lively spring traditions!

Every Early May Bank Holiday, the city bursts into a whirl of folk music, Morris dancing, parades, and the legendary Jack‑in‑the‑Green. It’s a joyful celebration that dates back centuries, when chimney sweeps marked May Day as their one day of freedom and festivity.

 

Image of the Rochester Sweeps Festival

Rochester Sweeps Festival

Useful information for the Sweeps Festival

  • Free Park & Ride Service

    A Free Park & Ride service will operate during the Rochester Sweeps Festival from the University of Greenwich (Medway Campus) by Nu-Venture.

    The first bus will depart at 09:40 and will run every 20 minutes until 17:40.

    The last bus will depart Rochester at 18:45 on Saturday and Sunday and at 18:05 on the Monday.

    Due to limited town centre parking, it is advisable to use this service or travel to the event by public transport.

     

     

    Nu-Venutre
  • Coach Parking Arrangements for Sweeps

    Normal coach parking arrangements will apply for the Rochester Sweeps Festival taking place on 2, 3 and 4 May. 

    All passengers will need to be dropped off and collected from the four dedicated coach bays on Corporation Street (A2) behind the former Visitor Information Centre in Rochester.

    Please adhere to the waiting restrictions in this area to avoid a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for non-compliance and blocking the bays for other coach users.  Strictly 'No Parking' is permitted.

    Once drivers have dropped off their passengers, please proceed to park at Curtis Way Coach Park, located just off the A229 City Way.


    Curtis Way Coach Park
  • Click here to learn more about the history of the Sweeps Festival.

    History of the Sweeps Festival

More details on this event, including the programme will be published shortly.

Location

Open Map

Address

Rochester Sweeps Festival Rochester High Street

Contact

eventsteam@medway.gov.uk

Links

  • Website
DSCF4925
DSCF7639
DSCF5701
Morris Dance
DSCF1487
DSCF4396
DSCF1477
DSCF7212
DSCF1340
TDC 3 towns logo (High Res ).JPG
Contact Us
Visitor Information Centre
The Droit House
Stone Pier
Margate
Kent CT9 1JD
Te: 01843 577577
Email: visitorinformation@thanet.gov.uk
www.visitthanetbusiness.co.uk
Useful Links

Brochure Request Weather and Tides Visitor Maps Group and Travel Trade Learn English We're in the News Visit Thanet Blog
Our Destinations

Margate Broadstairs Ramsgate Villages History and Heritage
Contact Us Privacy Policy Site Accessibility
Official website of Visit Thanet, Thanet District Council.