Folk Lore Kent

Folk Lore Kent Folk Lore Kent (FLK) celebrates the stories, places, customs and creative communal weirdness of Kent.

Our aim is to enable public access to and engagement with local folklore, including our growing collection of folk objects, a stable of hooden horses, material and digital archives. Our plans include temporary exhibitions, walks and workshops, seasonal activities and ultimately, a permanent folklore centre for Kent. Kent is a county of passage where folklore can be transplanted or locally grown, e

ntangled and grassroots. Folk Lore Kent embraces from the soil activism and inclusive folk practices, old and new, which welcome the broad diversity of the county’s inhabitants. James Frost and Sonia Overall are partners and collaborating artists and researchers with a long-standing passion for folk customs and folklore. We perform with Hoodening and Mumming groups and as beasts in seasonal festivals and community parades. Between us we have been a May Day Maid Marian, a Molly, assorted Mumming characters, danced Border and Cotswold Morris, played processional music and performed as Hooden beasts and their handlers.

10/06/2026
Trudgepig was out herding those beasts alongside Josh the giant as a May Queen at Folk Lore Kent’s May-hem fair in Dane ...
26/05/2026

Trudgepig was out herding those beasts alongside Josh the giant as a May Queen at Folk Lore Kent’s May-hem fair in Dane John Gardens, Canterbury. Thank you Louise Webb for these photos.

24/05/2026
13/05/2026
07/05/2026

Announcing the Folk Lore Kent Mayhem Fair!
Step into a fabulous folkloric experience. We'll be hosting some terrific acts as part of the free celebrations for Canterbury Unlocked on Sunday 24 May.
Join us in the newly reopened Dane John Gardens from 12 noon for a joyous programme of folk entertainment including music from the incredible Goblin Band and local heroes Green Diesel, workshops with Folk Dance Remixed, dancing from Bower Street Morris and guests, wyrd folk tunes from Mat Pringle DJ and and from Trudgepig Folk Theatre. Come and meet the May giant!

Behind the scenes at Whitstable May Day Celebrations - hooden horses at rest and an abandoned bear skin on the beach
06/05/2026

Behind the scenes at Whitstable May Day Celebrations - hooden horses at rest and an abandoned bear skin on the beach

An excellent May weekend with Trudgepig Folk Theatre and friends. We performed George and the Dragon in Rochester Guildh...
05/05/2026

An excellent May weekend with Trudgepig Folk Theatre and friends. We performed George and the Dragon in Rochester Guildhall and herded beasts through the streets at the Sweeps festival on Saturday and Sunday, then hooden-beast-bombed Whitstable's Jack-in-the-Green procession on Monday. Thanks to the dedicated organisers for all their efforts and for the lovely Guildhall museum staff for encouraging our noise and nonsense. Merry May!

Here’s the bash we’re organising with Canterbury City Council. To add to this there’ll be Morris, mumming, maypole and a...
03/05/2026

Here’s the bash we’re organising with Canterbury City Council. To add to this there’ll be Morris, mumming, maypole and a magnificent May giant.

A park reopens in Canterbury as preparations build for a day celebrating the city's public spaces.

26/04/2026

Here’s where you can find us next Monday 4 May! Diehard fans can follow us from the library along the route to the Horsebridge, harbour and castle, or you can find your spot on the way and wave us on! Either way get there early and enjoy the festivities :)

Gorgeous map by

25/04/2026

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City Centre
Canterbury

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