Events Coming Up This Weekend in Kent & Sussex
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, here’s our pick of some great events happening locally to get out and enjoy.
Top Image Photo by Eduardo Dorantes on Unsplash
What’s On This Weekend in Kent, Sussex & London
1st November 2026: London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2026
The RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is steeped in history and watching the run taking place this Sunday is a fantastic experience for spectators – whether you're standing on the roadside waving as the vehicles go by or you're watching them leave from Hyde Park or arrive in Brighton. The route covers 60 miles starting in London's Hyde Park, winding through the lanes of Surrey and Sussex before finishing on Madeira Drive, Brighton. There are two official paddocks along the route where spectators can view the veteran vehicles at close quarters from behind safety barriers – in Hyde Park and Madeira Drive. Watching the vehicles on the move is fantastic fun too, as the route passes through some lovely villages.
1st November 2026: Psychic Fair & Witches Market
Head to Whitstable Castle this weekend, from 10am to 4pm, where a day of guidance, healing and holistic treasures await at the Psychic Fair & Witches Market. Free to attend, and with no need to book, at this event you can enjoy psychic, tarot, rune and aura readings, meet gifted healers and browse a variety of wellbeing stalls offering crystals, books, candles, incense, salt lamps, artwork, natural skincare, jewellery and more. The tea rooms will be open throughout.
1st November 2026: Frida: Day Of The Dead Festival
Make a trip up to London this weekend to the Tate Modern for Frida: Day Of The Dead Festival – a day of music, making, remembrance and celebration. Daytime drop-in workshops run from 10am to 5pm, which are free and open to all ages, with all materials provided (with daytime performances taking place between 12noon and 6pm). Participate in workshops inspired by Frida Kahlo and Día de los Muertos, plus enjoy live performances, a collaborative ofrenda, a colourful procession and activities throughout the building. This is followed by a ticketed exclusive evening of live music, from 7pm to 10pm, with Malphino, Carlos Rene and Coco María. Inspired by Frida: The Making of an Icon and co-curated with selector and radio host Coco María, the festival explores the traditions and cultural significance of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), while celebrating the creativity, resilience and enduring influence of Frida Kahlo.
Until 1st November 2026: Tulleys Pumpkin Festival
Grab a wheelbarrow and find your perfect pumpkin amongst one-and-a-half million pumpkins and gourds at Europe’s Largest Pumpkin Festival, taking place at Tulleys Farm in Crawley. New for 2026, there is the chance to explore The Pumpkin Valley, a new land filled with giant pumpkin sculptures, peaceful ponds and beautiful new places to discover. You will also be able to enjoy street theatre, seasonal street food, bars, coffee and live music, or take in the views from the 33m Observation Wheel. The perfect fall day out for family, friends, couples and dogs too!
26th-31st October 2026: Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival 2026
The much-loved Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival 2026 (TWPF) returns for its seventh year next week. The Festival, led by Festival Director Mehdi Razi, with Hayley Chester and Alison Bundy as Co-Chairs, will celebrate world-class puppetry in all forms, because not all puppets have strings. Mehdi comments: “There are free and ticketed events taking place across Tunbridge Wells and Southborough, including Royal Victoria Place, Southborough Civic Centre, The Forum and The Pantiles. The timing is perfect for families looking for wallet-friendly activities during half term and we are also offering people who book four tickets or more a 15% discount! We are so excited by the quality of our performers bringing influences from across the world this year. The event celebrates its first day with ‘Project Wolf’ delivered by the local talent of Sonny Puppets, alongside members of the Creative Tunbridge Wells Youth Panel. I want to extend a huge thank you to our community - we couldn’t do what we do without the support of our local community and the generous funding from RTW Together BID. Businesses across the borough are welcome to get involved by supporting the festival as Puppet Festival Friends by contacting twpuppetryfest@outlook.com.” To book tickets visit www.ticketsource.com/twpuppetryfestival, for Project Wolf, book at www.tinyurl.com/Sonnypuppets and to find out more, visit www.twpuppetryfestival.org
Until 31st October: Bloomsbury Festival 2026
“A creative explosion of arts, culture and science”, Bloomsbury Festival 2026 is taking place throughout this month in this London quarter. This is the 20th anniversary for this annual festival where for 10 days each October, the streets, parks, museums, galleries, laboratories and public and private buildings of this vibrant cultural quarter play host up to 130 events which attract a significant audience from across London and beyond. The festival brings together artists and academics, scientists and dancers, musicians, publishers and school pupils to make new projects and to inspire and learn from each other. This weekend, why not head on a guided walk entitled Radical Bloomsbury: Hidden Histories of Community, Critique and Change on Sunday, where you will find hidden stories of abolitionism, scientific critique and social dissent?
From 4th October 2026: Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival
An annual music festival showcasing classical and other related forms of music performed live, the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival offers audiences young and old the chance to see both local, as well as notable international, artists. Concerts include the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra at the Assembly Hall Theatre on 4th October, Roderick Williams and Christopher Glynn at Church of King Charles the Martyr on 10th October, James Kirby on piano at Rose Hill School Theatre on 11th October and The Villiers Quartet with Lucy Cox, soprano, at Church of King Charles the Martyr on 17th October. There will also be a youth workshop on historic instruments at The Finchcocks Charity, Waterdown House, on 18th October. The festival is also continuing its partnership with the Amelia Centre, with a Coffee Concert on Saturday 31st October, featuring Ruth Beedham and Marcus Andrews.
Fabulous Walks & Bike Rides in Kent & Sussex
Now is a great time to explore our corner of the country with family and friends. If you’re looking for a lovely location to enjoy a walk while admiring the stunning landscape that surrounds us, check out our list of numerous beautiful spots to head to. From National Trust grounds to National Trails, strolls through the woods to hidden corners of our counties, there’s lots to choose from. And for those looking to cover more ground on two wheels, we’ve got a selection of bike rides to enjoy too. (Image Index Digital)
Unusual museums in Kent, Sussex & London
Looking for a fun day out? Our corner of the country offers a whole host of unique venues to both educate and entertain all the family. Whether you want to find out more about sunken treasures or learn all there is to know about crabs, our coast has many fascinating local stories to tell. If you’re a fan of model cars, planes and trains, head to The Wonderworks in Margate, or for an insight into aviation in the second world war a trip to Wings Museum is a must. Novel places to enjoy a day out include The Dog Collar Museum and Micro Museum, and for true crime fans plan a trip to The Old Police Cells Museum in Brighton and The True Crime Museum in Hastings. Plus a trip up to London offers the opportunity to see the extraordinary specimen collection of 18th Century surgeon and anatomist John Hunter at The Hunterian Museum, or pop to the award-winning Fan Museum in Greenwich.
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