Herne Bay Festival

We love a summer trip to Herne Bay with both sandy and stony beach, the traditional Pier, promenade playground, bandstand, a bit of arcade action and crazy golf but Festival time is extra fun! Herne Bay Festival runs for a week in August every summer. We have dipped in with various activities and events over the last few years but still have more to try!
Like most festivals it changes slightly every year but the most popular events stay year after year. The festival officially kicks off for 2016 on Saturday 20th August with a family fun day. There are various events including live music, arts and craft, face painting, punch and judy, all culminating in the evening Lantern Parade.

For the kids to take part in the Lantern Parade, there a couple of options. For those age 6+ there are various lantern workshops leading up to the start of the festival, they will need an adult with them and trust me you will be very much involved. You need to pre-book your workshop space, it usually lasts most of the day so you'll need a pack lunch. It is great fun and some amazing lanterns are created, this year the theme is Rio Carnival! The last one we did was 'Take to the Skies' theme a couple of years ago and we created fantastic rockets with Animate Arts. For the little ones or anyone who really can't commit to a full on workshop, there is a drop in session on the day of the parade where you can make a mini lantern so you can still take part.

The parade starts at 8pm at Lane End and you make your way along the promenade, around the pier and finish at the clock tower. If you don't want to walk in the parade then secure a spot along the route early and enjoy the show.

After the parade in previous years there has been the big burn! They create a themed effigy on the beach which gets set alight. When the flames die down the fantastic Fireworks start all along the harbour wall. Its late for littlies but is a great evening.

Throughout the week there are various other family events to get involved in. My recommendations would be the 'Monster Crab Catching Competition' which takes place on Sunday 21st at 2pm. Take your crabbing lines and buckets down to the Pier, bait is supplied. The kids love this one, as there is a prize for the heaviest crab caught in each age group!

If you've got some budding builders then get down to the beach (left of the pier) on the 26th August and sign up for the Sand Castle Building Competition from 12:30! Age categories are under 5s, 6-9, and 10+. This year's theme is Rio Carnival so get creative, let your imagination run wild and impress the judges! All equipment is supplied, but you can bring your own.

For other activites like Sand Art Workshops, Clay Workshop, Make a Fairy/Elf House, Art&Craft Day, Kids Mini Golf Competition and Pip the Magic Clown... go to the website or facebook for details! And don't forget the Fire Station Open Day!

If the teens are all too cool, make sure you check out the 'Herne Bay Rocks' contest with them. Bands battle it out in 7 heats across 7 venues. They play throughout the festival culminating in the grande finale on Friday 26th at The King's  Hall.The final weekend also includes 'Herne Bays Got Talent' for all those wannabes, from under 5s to Adults; The finale Fireworks spectacular at The Neptune Arms and the annual Giant Picnic at the Memorial Park on the Sunday but I am assuming that the 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Fundraiser' is the equivalent this year.

It's particularly busy in Herne Bay at festival time so if you can get the bus or the train down its a good idea. We have got the train in previous years, it's about 20 minute walk to the seafront we usually cut through the memorial park. There are various car parks including pay and display car park or meters on the seafront or the central car park has recently changed to pay on exit with first 2 hours free.

There are plenty of public toilets. On the seafront they are located at the bandstand, or past the pier on the opposite side of the road or at the other end of the bay at the King's Hall. There are also toilets at the Memorial Park and next to the central car park adjacent to the council office. I need to go more than the kids so always handy to know where they are, lol!

So pack a picnic, your crab line, buckets and spades, your best singing voice, some creative flair and enjoy your trip to 'the bay'!

Best For: Everyone
Recommend: Picnic, Crab lines, Pennies for the arcade.
Time: 2-8hrs

Minnis Bay

So when the suns out we all love a bit of beach action, (even in the cold with fleeces& wellies) Kent has plenty to choose from! Our nearest sandy beach is the lovely Minnis Bay at Birchington-on-Sea! Now like many beaches on the Kent coast most of it disappears at high tide so you have to be a little bit organised and check the tide table. Don't panic!! There are lots of different websites you can google but the BBC is pretty reliable just remember it's approximate as tide times are for Herne Bay or Margate and Minnis Bay is in between. Click this link Tide Table. The best advice is assume half an hour before high tide their might not be a beach and half an hour later the beach will start returning.

So why Minnis? Firstly it's sand, much appreciated by my kids for sand castle building. Secondly you can park for free all along the road in bays facing the beach or alternatively along the opposite side of the road. If it's really busy then there is a large pay and display car park literally 2 minutes from the beach (April- Oct £3.60 4hrs, £4.50 all day). So not far to carry the massive amount of paraphernalia I always seem to think we need! This is also the location of the public toilets (next to the car park) which are standard council but clean and have a baby change in the Ladies.

There is good access to the beach from the promenade with either steps or slope. The beach itself is very flat so you can see the kids easily at a distance.  During the summer there are life guards on duty at the beach on the weekends from end of May then daily from Mid-July through to September. Reassuring for those of us whose kids are in the sea for a swim the second we blink. At one end of the beach (opposite end to the car park) there is a large tidal paddling pool, great for when the tides right out and for those that like exploring the sea.

When the beach is gone or you've just had enough you could pop along to The Minnis Bar&Restaurant over looking the beach. They have a hut outside for take out hot drinks and Ice creams, we like to sit on the benches on the grass and look out at the sea. You could also take a walk or scoot or bike along the promenade. There is a large play park opposite the beach. It is the slightly outdated council variety, but it does the job.You could also hire a 4 wheeled Surrey bike 4-8 seaters which are good fun, from VCT bike hire vctbikehire. Or hire regular bikes or take your own and cycle the coastal trail towards Reculver.

Unlike larger seaside towns there aren't lots of arcades along the front or trampolines/bouncy castles and other things the kids want you to fork out for. From May to September Dogs aren't allowed on the main beach but can walk the promenade on a lead. There are also sea shore safari' s run by Thanet Coastal project in the school holidays visit their website for further information Events. 

Best for: Everyone
Recommend: Buckets&Spades, Picnic, Bikes or Scooters.
Time: 3-5hrs