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Thousands enjoy Hop
Festival fun in Faversham

Sweltering September sunshine
helped kick start Faversham’s 21st Hop Festival at the weekend.

The annual celebration saw
thousands flock to the town to enjoy a mix of live music, morris
dancing and food and drink.

Saturday’s warm weather gave
proceedings the perfect start and despite occasional showers on
Sunday, the atmosphere remained lively and bright.

Ernie Warner from the festival’s
organising committee was thrilled to see the town full to the brim
with visitors.

He said: “I’m very proud of all the team
and the way in which everybody came together to make the weekend a
great success.

“There were plenty of people who
turned up to do their shifts as stewards and realised times and
areas where we were short-handed and stayed on to help out above
and beyond their hours. We’re also immensely grateful to our
sponsors, particularly Shepherd Neame, who without their support
the festival just wouldn’t happen.

“The atmosphere was tremendous.
People were merry, they were happy and they were having a great
time. I know how much the town’s businesses really value the boost
they receive from the weekend as well.

“Musically, there’s so much young,
local talent that performs on the stages and has been discovered
through the Hop Festival. They get a great reception from the
crowds and seeing that really makes all the effort or organising
the event worth it.”

See this week's Faversham
News for more pictures and reaction, out this
Thursday.