City festival celebrates completion of public spaces transformation
A city-wide festival featuring aerial theatre, live music, a folk fair and much more will take place in Canterbury on Sunday 24 May to celebrate the completion of the Westgate Square, Dane John Gardens and story gardens projects.
The special day of free family activities, during the bank holiday weekend, will mark the city’s transformed public spaces following the Connected Canterbury work that has taken place over the last couple of years.
The line up of events across locations including the Dane John, Westgate Square and the High Street, features:
- live music from Hullabaloo, The Native Oysters Band and Goblin Band
- The Great Escape aerial theatre performances at Westgate Square
- Folk Lore Kent’s Mayhem Fair at the Dane John Gardens complete with big top marquee, folk entertainment, live music and crafting and dance workshops
- food markets, pop-up bars and much more
Cabinet Member for Council Services, Culture and Heritage, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “It is genuinely thrilling to be bringing such a vibrant mix of events and pop-ups into these newly-revitalised city spaces, as well as to be able to thank residents for their patience and support during the work.
“We hope not only to entertain, but to spark imagination, to show what is possible and to encourage others to see these squares and gardens as stages in their own right, ready to host the next wave of performances, festivals, and creative life across the city.”
The full line up of events and activities can be found on the event website. They are being complemented by further events taking place in Whitefriars.
Canterbury Unlocked is the first of a series of events in the city this summer as the Connected Canterbury project, paid for by government funding after the council’s successful bid for £20 million, nears an end.
Published: 27 March 2026