With the start of the spring season on the horizon, anticipation is building for the return of a hugely popular annual festival. Rochester Sweeps Festival is entering its 43rd year in 2025 and the dates for the colourful celebration's next iteration have now been set.
Taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the festival will be held between Saturday, May 3 and Monday, May 5 with plenty to look forward to on all three days. Rochester will see its historic cobbled streets brought to life with Morris dancing, musical performances, food vendors, dynamic workshops and more.
Since its inception in 1981, when Medway Council first partnered with the event's founder Gordon Newton to deliver the festival, Sweeps has grown to be "one of the largest May festival celebrations of its kind in the world". The Saturday will feature the largest gathering of Morris dance groups performing eye-catching displays throughout the high street.
Then on Sunday, international folk music and dance will be celebrated, followed by a focus on the great May Day traditions for the final day with the Jack in the Green Parade. Attendees can expect to see many of the town's shops, pubs, bars and restaurants taking part in the festivities and hosting their own May Day entertainment.
Every year, the festival also sees a huge fun fair take over the picturesque Rochester Castle grounds. Complete with rides, food stalls, amusements and games, there's something for the whole family to enjoy.
Attracting an estimated 55,000 visitors across the weekend, it is certainly one of the biggest events in the Kent calendar and one not to be missed, whether you're a seasoned Sweeps attendee or are looking to check it out for the first time. Medway Council is on the hunt for traders, stewards, performers and volunteers to take part in the event, full details on applying for which can be found here.
What is Sweeps Festival?
The long-running Medway tradition combines two different celebrations. First is the coming of spring and, as May Day was the traditional holiday for chimney sweeps, the two occasions have been combined into a wonderful festival for all to enjoy.
Expect to see streets lined with Morris dancers from across the country taking to the town to clatter their clogs and clash their sticks in impressive choreographed displays. There will be live folk bands and parades of chimney sweeps, combined with food and drink stalls, markets, fairground rides and attractions to create this wholly unique experience.
The free-to-attend festival was founded by Gordon Newton, who revived it in 1981 and is still heavily involved today as the dance director. Medway Council runs the festival alongside Gordon, and musical director Doug Hudson.
A spokesperson for Medway Council said: "The Rochester Sweeps Festival is steeped in tradition, brilliantly unique, truly unforgettable and ever so quirky... and we love it. It is one of the largest gatherings of Morris sides in the world, with the streets, parks, bars and pubs of historic Rochester filled with live folk music and dance over this three-day spectacular."
Arriving by bus
From Chatham: Arriva- 133, 140, 141, 190, 191, (193 Sundays) 700; Nu-Venture 151, 172, 173; ASD 197;
From Gravesend: Arriva 190;
From West Malling, Halling and Cuxton: Nu Venture 151;
From Grain, Hoo: Arriva 191 (193 Sundays).
Arriving by train
Rochester train station is roughly a two-minute walk away from Rochester High Street. Strood train station is less than a 10-minute walk away from the high street, and you can plan your full journey through the Southeastern website here.
Arriving by car
Parking is very limited in Rochester, and the surrounding roads are expected to be busy at the time of the festival. It is therefore recommended guests attend via bus or train where possible.
Car parks in Rochester are as follows:
Almon Place, ME1 1LN;
Berkeley House, 5 The Terrace, ME1 1AE;
Blue Boar Lane, ME1 1PD;
Boley Hill, The Precinct, ME1 1SN;
Cathedral Rochester, Northgate, ME1 1LX;
Corporation Street car park, Railway Station, ME1 1NH;
Easons Yard, Doust Way, ME1 1BY;
High Street Furrells, High Street, ME1 1JA;
High Street Station, High Street, ME1 1HY;
King Street, ME1 1YD;
Rochester multi-storey car park, Cory's Road, ME1 1PZ;
Union Street, ME1 1XZ.
Blue badge parking
Blue Badge spaces are available in all public pay and display car parks. Please note, for car parks operating ANPR camera systems, blue badge holders will need to register their vehicle in advance to qualify for free parking and must continue to display their badge when parked.
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