Deal's year in festivals and events

Deal has a busy calendar for a small town, and a lot of it is free. Dates shift from year to year, so treat this as a guide to the shape of the year and check the organisers' websites before you plan a trip around a particular event.

Every week: the Saturday market

Deal's market is held every Saturday from 9am to 2pm at the north end of the High Street, and its roots go back to 1699. Expect local fruit and veg, flowers, bread, plants, street food and a good rummage of bric-a-brac and vintage finds. Go early for the best of it, then take your coffee down to the seafront.

Summer Sundays: the bandstand

From May to September, concerts are held every Sunday at the Deal Memorial Bandstand on Walmer Green. The bandstand was built in memory of the eleven Royal Marines bandsmen killed in the 1989 bombing of the Royal Marines barracks in Deal, and the concerts are a much-loved part of summer here. Bring a blanket, find a patch of grass with a sea view and let the bands do the rest.

July: Deal Music and Arts

The town's biggest cultural event is the Deal Music and Arts festival, which brings classical, folk, jazz and contemporary music to venues across Deal, Dover and Sandwich, alongside guided walks, talks, community events and theatre. The 2026 festival ran from 3 to 12 July. Tickets for popular concerts go quickly, so it's worth booking both your seats and your accommodation early.

Early July: the Children's Festival

A free afternoon of family fun on Walmer Green, with activities, entertainment and plenty of space to run about. In 2026 it took place on Saturday 4 July.

Late August: Deal Food and Drink Festival

Free to visit and held on the seafront near Deal Castle, the food and drink festival brings together street food, local producers, live music and a beach bar. In 2026 it ran from 26 to 31 August, finishing on the bank holiday Monday. It's one of the busiest weekends of the year in town.

Early September: vintage buses on Walmer Green

The Deal and Walmer Transport Event, run by the Friends of the East Kent, fills Walmer Green with vintage buses and other classic vehicles, with free rides on heritage buses along local routes. The 2026 event took place on Saturday 5 September, a lovely way to see the area from the top deck of a bus that's older than most of its passengers.

All summer: Betteshanger Park

Just north of town, the former colliery at Betteshanger is now a country park, and through the warmer months it hosts a run of weekend events, from family festivals to live music and charity challenges.

Planning a visit around an event

Festival weekends are when Deal is at its busiest and accommodation books up first. If there's an event you have your heart set on, book your stay as soon as the dates are announced.