Performing Arts

Every year, some of the biggest names in the arts descend on East Kent for the Canterbury Festival. Although the main programme takes place within the cathedral city, there are fringe events all over the place, from Sittingbourne to Sandwich, via Whitstable and Margate. We've given you a selected list below, but for the full programme and ticket details, visit the Canterbury Festival website.

Here's a day-by-day guide to some of the highlights:

Saturday October 13

Family History and Palaeography Day, 10am, Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Festival Community Parade, 6.30pm onwards, Buttermarket

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Argentine Tango Workshop, 3pm, Lower Hardres and Nackington Village Hall

Kentish Tales, 7.30pm, Theatre Royal, Margate

The Trouser Trumpets and Happy Accidents, 8pm, Canterbury Environment Centre

Monday October 15

Walk: Chilham and Godmersham, 11am, Chilham Village Car Park

John Sergeant, 5.30pm, International Study Centre

Etienne Pradier, 7.45pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

Tuesday October 16

The Shakespeare Experience, 10am, Baptist Church, New Dover Rd, Canterbury

Slava's Snowshow, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Nicola Benedetti, 7.30pm, Cathedral Nave

Wednesday October 17

Wild Fruits Walk, 10am, The Palm Tree pub, Wingmore

The Tempest, 7.45pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

Thursday October 18

Talk: Rosie Boycott, 5.30pm, International Study Centre

Drive-By, 7pm and 9pm, Dreamland, Margate

Locrian Ensemble, 7.45pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

Friday October 19

Alfie Boe, 7.30pm, Cathedral Nave

Rodney Bewes, 7.45pm, Theatre Royal, Margate

Michael McIntyre, 7.45pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

Saturday October 20

Sing Messiah, 1pm, St George's Parish Hall, Deal

A Taste of Dahl, St Peter's Methodist Church Hall,

R. Nureyev Russian State Ballet Academy, 7.45, Theatre Royal, Margate

Morris Dancing Workshop, 10.30am, Dominican Priory, St Peter's Lane

LD Frazier gospel workshop, 3pm, Shirley Hall, King's School

Alan Carr, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Monday October 22

Talk: Robin Knox-Johnston, 5.30pm, International Study Centre

Courtney Pine, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Wasteland Green, 8pm, Canterbury Environment Centre

Tuesday October 23

Walk: Walloons and Huguenots, 10am, Christ Church Gate, The Buttermarket

The Boy Who Drew Cats, 1pm, Festival Club, St Alphege Lane

Talk: Clarissa Dickson-Wright, 5.30pm, International Study Centre

Wednesday October 24

Monster Hits, 2pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

Ardal O'Hanlon, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Picasso and Me, 7.45pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

Thursday October 25

Aesop's Fables, 3pm, Theatre Royal, Margate

Seth Lakeman, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre,

European Union Chamber Orchestra, 7.30pm, Cathedral Nave

Friday October 26

The Bergamo Ensemble, 3pm, St Gregory's Centre for Music, North Holmes Lane

Dinner at Marandolina's, 7.30pm, Riverside Restaurant, Pound Lane

Ennio Marchetto, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Saturday 27 October

International Staff Band of the Salvation Army, 7.30pm, Shirley Hall, King's School

Don McLean, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre

Jenny Eclair, 7.45pm, Gulbenkian Theatre

And this doesn't even scratch the surface. So whatever you enjoy, there is no excuse to say there's nothing to do in Canterbury this month!