2Oct to 7 Nov
Dockyard Ghost ToursOn now
Torch-lit after-dark tours of the Ropery and the slipways, mixing true accounts with ghost stories.
What's on
What's on in Rochester
Dated events for the months ahead, checked with the organisers, with past ones dropping off automatically. Every event has an add to calendar link.
14Oct
Medway Test results dayOn now
Results of the Medway Test for September 2027 secondary entry. Secondary school applications close on Saturday 31 October.
14Oct
The Spice Girls Theatre ShowOn now
A Spice Girls tribute theatre show.
16Oct
Haunt at the FortOn now
A 12A-rated walk-through Halloween experience with spiders, zombies, coffins and clowns.
16Oct to 31 Oct
Operation HysteriaOn now
Fort Amherst's long-running adult Halloween horror experience, now in its 43rd year. Performers may touch guests.
17Oct
A Mouth in Search of a VoiceOn now
Composer Jamie Hamilton and Phaedra Ensemble perform a new work built from recordings of people who stammer.
17Oct to 29 Oct
Halloween Scavenger Hunt, Eastgate HouseOn now
Children follow clues around the old townhouse to find the witches' cauldron and win a badge. No need to book.
17Oct to 8 Nov
Yuck Yard: Barnaby Bilge's Big MessOn now
A messy family Halloween trail around the Dockyard.
18Oct
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
19Oct
Clown ChaosOn now
A Halloween experience for children aged 5 to 10, who learn spells and make potions to banish mischievous clowns.
24Oct
24Oct to 31 Oct
Halloween Trails at the Guildhall MuseumOn now
Find pictures of spooky objects around the museum to spell out a Halloween word.
24Oct to 1 Nov
Castle Crumb Snatchers trailOn now
Find the rats feasting on medieval food around the keep, learn their names and spot what they are eating.
27Oct to 30 Oct
Halloween Crafts at the Guildhall MuseumOn now
Drop-in half-term craft session making a spider or a ghost.
28Oct
Dockyard Mateys TourOn now
A walk round the Dockyard led by two former apprentices who worked there from the 1960s.
28Oct to 31 Oct
Family Ghost ToursOn now
A torch-lit after-hours ghost tour aimed at ages 9 to 15 with an adult. Not recommended for under 7s.
30Oct
Haunted SupperOn now
A three-course seasonal dinner with storytellers sharing Dockyard tales. No jump scares.
30Oct to 31 Oct
Young FrankensteinOn now
Mel Brooks' musical comedy, staged by Three Towns Theatre Company. Age guidance 12+.
30Oct to 1 Nov
An Evening of Classic Ghost StoriesOn now
Classic literary ghost stories read in the old townhouse. Usually sells out.
30Oct to 1 Nov
The Unexplained at Eastgate HouseOn now
Explore the rooms and passages while hearing first-hand accounts of strange events said to have happened there.
7Nov
The Sound of the MoviesOn now
The City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra plays film music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and Shrek.
9Nov
Lunchtime RecitalOn now
A free half-hour lunchtime concert. Just turn up.
12Nov
Country by CandlelightOn now
Country songs from Dolly Parton to Chris Stapleton, sung live by candlelight with a band.
13Nov
Whitney Houston by CandlelightOn now
Kieshia Chun and her band perform Whitney Houston's songs by candlelight.
14Nov
Deck the Halls at Eastgate HouseOn now
The house is unveiled in its Victorian Christmas decorations.
14Nov
Fort Borstal Ramparts and Tunnels TourOn now
A two-hour tour of the ramparts and tunnels of the Victorian fort.
14Nov to 12 Dec
Christmas Crafts and Mrs Claus storiesOn now
Drop-in Christmas crafts, and sessions writing a Christmas story with a quill pen alongside Mrs Claus.
14Nov to 2 Jan
Elf Christmas Trail, Guildhall MuseumOn now
Find the elves around the museum to discover which one has Charles Dickens' missing quill.
15Nov
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
22Nov to 13 Dec
Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Commissioner's HouseOn now
A festive afternoon tea in the Commissioner's House. No Dockyard ticket needed.
25Nov
G4 ChristmasOn now
The vocal group G4 sing carols, sacred pieces and Christmas songs.
27Nov to 13 Dec
Rochester Christmas MarketOn now
Kent's biggest free-to-enter Christmas market, with over 120 stalls, a Bavarian food and drink village and entertainment on the bandstand.
28Nov to 13 Dec
A Christmas Carol at Eastgate HouseOn now
An immersive performance of Dickens' story, staged around the audience in the 16th-century Grand Reception Room.
29Nov
Advent Carol Service and ProcessionOn now
The cathedral's service marking the start of Advent.
5Dec to 6 Dec
Dickensian Christmas FestivalOn now
Rochester's biggest weekend of the year, with costumed parades, carol singers, bell ringers and street theatre. Very busy, especially on the Sunday, so plan travel ahead.
5Dec to 6 Dec
Dickens Festival carol servicesOn now
Four free carol services during the festival weekend.
5Dec to 6 Dec
Dickens at Dusk carolsOn now
Three Towns Theatre Company sing carols in Victorian costume outside Dickens' Swiss chalet.
11Dec to 3 Jan
Cinderella, the Medway pantomimeOn now
Medway's Christmas pantomime, with Zaraah Abrahams as the Wicked Stepmother.
12Dec
Christingle ServiceOn now
A family carol service in which every child receives a Christingle.
12Dec to 13 Dec
Cathedral Christmas Carol ConcertOn now
The Cathedral Choir's ticketed carol concert. It has sold out in each of the past five years, so book early.
18Dec to 19 Dec
A Festival of Nine Lessons and CarolsOn now
The traditional candlelit service of readings and carols.
20Dec
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, the last before Christmas.
20Dec
Children's Nativity ServiceOn now
A nativity service for children of all ages.
24Dec
Christmas Eve at the CathedralOn now
A carol service in the afternoon and the Eucharist of Christmas Night before midnight.
25Dec
Christmas Day at the CathedralOn now
An early Book of Common Prayer Communion and the main Christmas morning Eucharist.
17Jan 2027
Epiphany Carols and ProcessionOn now
A procession with carols for the season of Epiphany.
17Jan 2027
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
21Feb 2027
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
21Mar 2027
Ministry of ScienceOn now
A West End science show with live demonstrations and loud bangs.
21Mar 2027
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
27Mar 2027to 11 Apr
Easter Bunny Trail at Eastgate HouseOn now
Follow the Easter Bunny's story as you explore the house.
18Apr 2027
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
16May 2027
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, held on the third Sunday of every month.
Nothing listed in this category for the weeks ahead. Try Everything.
Every week and every month
Rochester Farmers' Market
Third Sunday of every month, 9am to 1pm
Blue Boar Lane car park, ME1 1PD. Free entry. Local produce and artisan food. More about Rochester Farmers' Market
Choral Evensong at the Cathedral
Sundays 3:15pm · Tue, Thu and Fri 5:30pm
Rochester Cathedral. Free. Sung by the cathedral choirs; on Saturdays at 3:15pm by a visiting choir or said, and Wednesday is said Evening Prayer. Check the music list outside term. More about Choral Evensong at the Cathedral
Cathedral guided tours
Mondays 11am or 11:15am · Tue, Wed and Fri 2pm · Saturdays 11:15am
Rochester Cathedral. £7, under 10s free. About an hour. Entry to the cathedral itself is free. More about Cathedral guided tours
Free guided walking tours
Sat, Sun and Wed 2:15pm until 25 October, plus walks on Christmas Market weekends
Meet at 95 High Street. Run by the City of Rochester Society volunteers, about 90 minutes. More about Free guided walking tours
Gillingham Market
Mondays and Saturdays, 9am to 4pm
Gillingham High Street. Medway Council's general street market, a short drive away. More about Gillingham Market
The big annual dates
Rochester Sweeps Festival
Early May bank holiday weekend
Morris dancers, folk music and chimney sweeps on the High Street, free. 2026 ran 2 to 4 May; 2027 dates not yet announced.
Rochester Castle Live
July
The summer concert series in the castle grounds. 2026 ran 3 to 5 July; the 2027 line-up is not yet announced.
Dickens Festival
Summer
The summer Dickens celebration on the High Street. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Rochester Christmas Market
Late November to mid December
Three weekends in the Castle Gardens, free to enter.
Dickensian Christmas Festival
Early December
Rochester's biggest weekend of the year, free.
Where to check for anything new
Visit Medway
The council's tourism listings: festivals, exhibitions, trails and seasonal events across Medway.
visitmedway.orgRochester Cathedral
Concerts, talks, services and tours. Much of it is free.
rochestercathedral.orgMedway Tickets Live
Shows at the Central Theatre and the Brook Theatre in Chatham, including the pantomime. Box office 01634 338338.
medwayticketslive.co.ukThe Historic Dockyard Chatham
Ghost tours and family events, then Mission Christmas on selected November and December dates, bookable on its site. Closed for winter from 16 November 2026 apart from Christmas events.
thedockyard.co.ukEastgate House and the Guildhall Museum
Trails, ghost stories and Christmas events in two of the High Street's historic buildings.
visitmedway.orgMedway Council events news
Council-run events, markets and announcements, including Christmas in Rochester.
medway.gov.ukEvents checked with the organisers, Medway Council, Visit Medway, Rochester Cathedral, The Historic Dockyard and Medway Tickets Live on 10 October 2026. Farmers' market dates follow its published third-Sunday pattern, as listed by Medway Council. Past events drop off automatically. Always check with the organiser before you travel.