Gravesham Riverside Festival will be held on Saturday 5 July 2025, with lots of live music and family fun activities.
Visitors to Gravesend’s free Riverside Festival this summer will feel so good when headliner and 1990s and early 2000s chart-topping star Sonique takes to the stage on Saturday 5 July.
First finding fame with dance music act S’Express, Sonique went on to have a string of solo hits including Feels So Good which spent three weeks at number one in the summer of 2000.
Event line-up main stage
The day-long festival on Gravesend Promenade features some of the UK’s leading tribute acts, celebrating the work of Madness, Amy Winehouse, Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Rod Stewart, as well as local band, Gold.
- Get me Gold – Local Act - 11:45 to 12:30
- Badness - 13:15 to 14:00
- Le Freak -14:45 to 15:30
- Sound of the Lioness - 16:15 to 17:00
- Rod Stewart Tribute – 17:30 to 18:15
- Sonique - 19:00 to 20:00
Inviting all to the event, Cllr Deborah Croxton, Gravesham Borough Council’s cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “The Riverside Festival is always a highlight of the summer, and this year’s main stage line-up is stronger than ever.
“At a time when we know families are facing higher than ever household bills, it’s important to us to make the day free for all to enjoy, and the attractions and activities across the site mean there is something for all the family.
“I look forward to seeing everyone there, and let’s keep our fingers crossed for better weather than last year.”
But the festival is about more than just music, with free fun and activities for all ages.
Supporting the event this year is Made in Kent Radio, with Hawa Kassam will be hosting live from the main stage.
Family Fun at Fort Gardens
Fort Gardens hosts free fun for younger family members, with circus shows and skills workshops in the Big Top, fun and games around the bandstand with Centre Stage Parties, creative workshops, garden games, a magician, face painting, and much more besides.
The historic Milton Chantry and New Tavern Fort will be open to visitors on the day between 11 and 5pm.
Active area
In the Active Area some of the free activities to take part in include:
- Football coaching
- Penalty shoot-out competition
- Boxing training
- Laser Tag
- Crazy golf
- Climbing wall
- Bouncy castle
- and more
Fort Gardens hosts free fun for younger family members, with circus shows and skills workshops in the Big Top, fun and games around the bandstand with Centre Stage Parties, creative workshops, garden games, a magician, face painting, and much more besides.
Fun Fair
The funfair will be on site over the whole weekend, between 4pm and 9pm on Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th and between the hours of 12 to 9pm on Saturday the 5th and Sunday 6th July.
Getting there and parking
The Riverside Leisure area is accessible by foot. Parking officers will be patrolling to ensure people do not block the roads.
Are you driving? Milton Place and Ordnance Road car parks will have very limited spaces. Please use other town centre car parks. The next nearest public car parks would be:
- Parrock Street Car Park
- Gurdwara Car Park
On street parking restrictions will be in place as usual and will be enforced.
Please park considerately.