Faversham’s Hop Festival celebrates 35th anniversary with live music, Morris dancers and Shepherd Neame beers

A huge festival celebrating local beer, live music and Morris dancers will take over a market town for its 35th anniversary.

Faversham’s Hop Festival will return at the end of August for a weekend of pub gigs, street entertainers, pop-up breweries, food stalls, parades and fairground rides.

Since 1990, the free festival has been a staple of Kent’s summer calendar, pausing only for two years due to the pandemic, and draws thousands of beer enthusiasts and music lovers to the town each year.

This year, the music kicks off on Friday night with a handful of performances taking place at venues such as Standard Quay and The Quay as well as pubs like the Sun Inn, The Anchor and the Railway Hotel.

However, the main event begins on Saturday, with bands playing as early as 10.45am.

Alongside the free music at outdoor stages such as the Hoppers Market Stage in Central Car Park and the Brewery Stage outside the Shepherd Neame Brewery Shop and Visitor Centre, there will also be Morris sides and dance groups popping up all over the town.

There will also be a funfair in the Central Car Park, festival parades featuring costumed characters and entertainers and food stalls along Preston Street and at Standard Quay.

Read Secret Drinker’s review of Hop Festival 2023 here.

Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewer, is once again sponsoring the festival and will be offering the seasonal Late Red ale, the New World XPA from the brewery’s small batch range and the new green hop ale, Hop Pocket, at its bars during the festival.

The brewery, which has been in Faversham since 1698, will have an outdoor bar at its stage on Court Street and the indoor bar at the brewery’s gift shop will also be open.

Many of the town’s Sheps’ pubs, such as the Albion Taverna, the Bull Inn, The Limes and the Market Inn, will be putting on bands all weekend, including local favourites like Hullabaloo and The Chillbillies.

Kent-based producers like Kentish Pip, the Kent Cider Company and Mad Cat Brewery will be pulling pints at their stands, while the CAMRA stall will be promoting its top picks of local ales and the Alexander Centre will have its usual Ale Shed with a range of unique drinks on offer.

The Hop Festival takes place on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, although some pubs will be starting early with live music on Friday, August 30. You can find out more here.

Entry to the festival is free. You can pick up a programme from the Visitors Centre, Alexander Centre, The Bear and the Market Inn for £2.