VISITKENT
Yinka Shonibare MBE ( RA ) Nelson ' s Ship in a Bottle
THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM
1618-2018 : 400 YEARS , THOUSANDS OF STORIES , ONE EXTRAORDINARY PLACE ...
2018 IS THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM ’ S 400TH BIRTHDAY AND THIS SPECIAL MOMENT IN NATIONAL HISTORY IS BEING MARKED WITH THEIR ‘ FESTIVAL 400 ’ CELEBRATIONS . CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF THE WORLD ’ S MOST COMPLETE DOCKYARD FROM THE AGE OF SAIL THROUGH AN EXCITING AND INSPIRING CALENDAR OF EXHIBITIONS , ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS , DON ’ T MISS OUT ON THE CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR MEMORIES IN 2018 AT THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM .
This Easter at The Historic Dockyard Chatham , there ’ s plenty of family fun to have an eggcellent day out ! Celebrations begin with the Festival of Steam and Transport on Easter Sunday and Monday ; it ’ s back bigger and better than ever before with free funfair upon entry !*
New for this year and joining in with the festival fun is the International Food and Drink Festival , brought to you by Zoom events who are providing a pop-up street food experience with a variety of cuisines from around the globe and a mouthwatering focus on Kentish products .
There ’ ll be plenty of live music and street entertainment from acts such as Dizzy O ’ Dare with his giant balloon show , as well as face painters and performances throughout the day from Rock Choir who have over 100 members .
The Steampunks are also back with their imaginative array of fashion and gadgets all inspired by 19th-century industrial steampowered machinery , with an inventor ’ s corner , fairies ’ cave , authors ’ corner and much more .
And of course , it wouldn ’ t be a festival of steam and transport without celebrating classic and vintage vehicles , so don ’ t forget to look in awe at these beautiful motors as well as some familiar ones from the screen such as Mr . Bean ’ s Mini and the 71 Reliant Regal Van from Only Fools & Horses – brought to the festival by Movie Motors . There will also be magnificent steam displays where you can watch the dockyard ’ s locomotives thunder through the streets , or see them in The Railway Workshop .
If you can ’ t make it to the Festival of Steam and Transport , don ’ t worry , just hop on down from the 3rd - 17th April for some egg-tastic family fun . The Captain ’ s Cat is back with an egg-cellent egg hunt that ’ s bigger and better than ever before . Hidden throughout the 80- acre site will be the dockyard ’ s rope eggs just waiting to be found by eager explorers . Pick up your Easter trail upon arrival for clues towards where to find them , then find them all and crack the code hidden within them and you ’ ll get a prize .
All included within your annual ticket , it ’ s family fun not to be missed .
Also running until 17th June is the latest temporary exhibition to open at No . 1 Smithery celebrating The Historic Dockyard Chatham ’ s 400th anniversary – Powerful Tides : 400 Years of Chatham and the Sea . Displaying historical and contemporary artworks from prominent names such as Tracey Emin , John Constable , Eric Ravilious and Yinka Shonibare MBE ( RA ) the exhibition will convey the creativity the dockyard has inspired in artists throughout its 400-year existence .
* Discounts available for advance purchases , The Historic Dockyard Chatham 12-month ticket holders , and for two-day tickets . For more information go to http :// thedockyard . co . uk / whats-on / festivalsteam-transport-2018 .
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