Folkestone Harbour Arm to celebrate 10th anniversary with free film screenings, live music and fireworks

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

A tourist attraction is marking its 10th anniversary with live music, open-air film screenings and a spectacular fireworks display.

The team at Folkestone Harbour are rounding off their birthday celebrations with a weekend of free events, open to the public, on the Harbour Arm.

Folkestone’s Harbour Arm has been one of the town’s biggest tourist attractions for 10 years. Picture: Folkestone Harbour Arm

The seaside hotspot opened in 2015 after a £3.5 million refurbishment, which saw the area transformed into a promenade of street food stalls, bars, restaurants and cafes.

The site was originally the railway station for the Folkestone-Boulogne Ferry and was also used as a working fishing harbour.

However, over the past decade, it has become a popular spot for seasonal events, such as an annual Christmas market and Oktoberfest-style beer festival, as well as live music and an outdoor screen.

The Wünder Harbour, a Bavarian-style festival, is one of the attraction’s seasonal events. Picture: Folkestone Harbour

This week, the attraction has been celebrating the past decade with a series of events, which culminate in a weekend of family-friendly festivities.

Today (Friday, May 30), visitors can catch an outdoor film screening of Pirates of the Caribbean, learn how to make pizza with a live cooking demonstration and get a free meal for kids at seafood restaurant Little Rock.

The following day, on Saturday, May 31, there will be a community beach clean, live music from the Native Oysters Band and South By Zero, and a showing of 1947 film Temptation Harbour, which was filmed on location at Folkestone Harbour.

The celebrations will round off on Sunday, June 1 with the Diane Dunn Trio, who play jazzy versions of well-known songs, and a 35 minute fireworks finale from 9.15pm.

The harbour is home to street food stalls, an outdoor cinema and a stage for live performances. Picture: Folkestone Harbour

While this weekend will mark the end of the anniversary events, the site will continue to put on concerts, films, food and drink tastings, live sports and family activities throughout the summer. You can find the full schedule here.

The harbour can be accessed on foot from Marine Parade, Harbour Approach Road and the Folkestone Harbour Swing Bridge and is around a 25 minute walk or 5 minute drive from Folkestone Central station.