Rochester Sweeps Festival

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2011 runs from 30/04/2011 to 02/05/2011

Imagine a world 400 years ago where children were used as chimney sweeps. The pay was low, it was a dirty trade and there was little reward for the men who did the job and even less for children.

Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday: the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. The sweeps’ holiday was traditionally held on 1 May each year. Locally, they used to mark the occasion by staging a procession through the streets of Rochester.

The modern day Rochester Sweeps Festival is a colourful mix of music, dancing and entertainment with more than 60 Morris sides and entertainers celebrating throughout the three-day festival.

More information at www.whatsonmedway.co.uk

See more about the Sweeps Festival Concert and the Rochester Sweeps Festival on linked events on this www.kent.co.uk page