Rochester Sweeps’ Festival is a celebration of the coming of spring, and as May Day was also the traditional holiday for chimney sweeps or Climbing Boys as they were officially known, the two aspects have combined to produce a unique event. Expect lots of music, merrymaking and morris dancing alongside a Jack in the Green fertility figure personified and of course plenty of sweeps. Dancing takes place in the High Street over the whole weekend, and the Castle Gardens have a funfair, real ale and marquees for musicians.

Approximate time at location 5hrs

Expected home time 1745hrs

Expected return time 1700hrs