Free events: yet another reason to love Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells residents are fortunate in having a year-long schedule of FREE events to enjoy. There are events to appeal to all types of people and all ages.

• ‘TW Food Month’  takes place in September and celebrates local food producers. Next weekend sees the finale of the event which is a Food & Drink festival in Calverley Grounds from 11 till 6pm. There will be cooking demonstrations and talks, Kent Young Chefs, Food Art, the Pink Pavilion featuring local food promoted by ‘Produced in Kent’, including  30+ local ciders & beers, a street food area, vegan food from ‘Steely Good’, crepes by LitBritCreperie and (eat your heart out Mary Berry) a cake competition that you can follow online using the hashtag #RTWCakeOff.
• The Pantiles Markets take place every other weekend  and the next ones are scheduled to be 6/7 Oct & 20/21 Oct. These sometimes take the form of a themed market such as the extremely popular Pantiles Gin Festival and Vintage Markets. Keep an eye out in the local press and for banners around town that announce these special dates in advance.
• Jazz on the Pantiles and Soul Train on the Pantiles run Thursday evenings from May to September . This hugely popular has been running for more than 20 years. You should book a convenient restaurant well in advance e.g. The Tunbridge Wells Hotel or Hattons or the Grey Lady. Bands take to the stage on the Bandstand from 7.30pm. The penultimate evening this Thursday features high-energy music by The Fontanas with Skatonics taking up the last Jazz evening of 2018 on Thursday 27^th Sept.
• On Sunday 30 September, the Festival Of Hope hosted by ‘Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees’ sees a variety of musical performances, delicious home-made food stalls and entertainment for children throughout the day. The charity behind the event help to support families who have arrived in the area via the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.
• A regular Farmers Market with local produce is held on Civic Way outside the town hall on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month with the next one being the 13^th October.
•  A Winter Lantern Parade is scheduled to take place during February half-term 2019. A samba band lead the parade of children who have made winter lanterns at voluntary workshops in schools and the community prior to the event.
• ‘Local and Live’ is a celebration of local, unsigned musicians with live performances day and night over the August bank holiday. This not-for-profit music festival takes place for 4 days in venues such as Calverley Park, the Forum and the Spa Hotel.
• Tunbridge Wells Mela festival celebrates diversity in the community through food, music, dance. This lively event takes place in July in Calverley Grounds.
•  UnFestis a music festival celebrating unsigned local artists It is organised by valued local music venue the Forum and it’s associated pubs The Ragged Trousers and The Sussex Arms on the Pantiles andvenues around the town e.g. The Royal Oak.
• Tunbridge Wells ‘arTWorks’ and South East Open Studios are opportunities to view the work of local artists in their own homes, studios and select venues such as the Town Court Farm art studios on Bayham Road. Visitors have the chance to buy direct from the artists (which often means cheaper prices than you would find in a gallery) and the chance to discuss their craft with them. South East Open Studios is scheduled for 9-23 June 2019.
• Put a date in your diary next year to enjoy seeing the secret side to Tunbridge Wells by visiting normally unseen parts of our public properties during the Heritage Open Days. These are held every September in conjunction with the Tunbridge Wells Civic Society and allows access to behind the scenes at The Opera House, Trinity Theatre, Woodbury Park Cemetery and numerous churches in the town.
• Other free ‘events’ include crunching through the leaves on the Common, scrambling on the Wellington Rocks, playing at the Adventure Park in Calverley Grounds or skateboarding in Grosvenor & Hilbert Park, walking over to Toad Rock in Rusthall or watching the cricket on Southborough common; all of which can be just as much fun as an organised event.

No wonder Belvoir find it so easy to recommend living in Tunbridge Wells. Contact the team on 01892 615333 if you want to view any of our available properties or simply want advice on the best area to live to enjoy any or all of the above.