Maidstone’s Biggest Community Festival of the Year Makes a Splash
Housebuilder David Wilson Kent has supported this year’s Maidstone River Festival with a £5,000 donation. The funding has helped enable the local community to attend the festival for free and has gone towards entertainment for guests to enjoy. The housebuilder is building homes at ‘The Poppies’ development on Hermitage Lane in Aylesford.
Maidstone River Festival has been a feature of the county for 45 years, with this year’s theme commemorating the Normandy Landings’ 80th anniversary. The event attracts boats from far and wide filling the River Medway’s banks at the town centre, as well as the river being filled with fun water sports and the popular community raft race.
To mark the important anniversary, the illuminated boat parade at dusk has been reinstated, as well as paddle boarders marking the occasion with their own river parade. To close the festival, the Maidstone community can enjoy the free Firmin Firework Spectacular from the top of Fremlin Walk shopping centre.
The festival will raised money for this year’s chosen charities: Heart of Kent Hospice Making a Difference to Maidstone, Young Lives Foundation and Royal British Legion Maidstone and District branch.
David Naghi, Maidstone River Festival Chairman, comments: “The Maidstone River Festival is loved throughout the local community, with this year marking the special occasion of 80 years since the Normandy Landings with a commemoration service which took place in Fremlin Walk in remembrance. To have received ongoing support from David Wilson Kent and other local businesses is very valued by us as it is vital to keeping this free popular community event going.
“This year included water sports, raft races and entertainment from local talent and finally fireworks to end the day! We also welcomed some special visitors this year, including three visitors from Beauvais as guests of the Maidstone Beauvais Twinning Association. Maidstone River Festival was once again the event of the summer in the local area and it was fantastic to see the community together enjoy the sunshine.”
Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at David Wilson Kent, added: “Community events are the cornerstone for any local area, and Maidstone River Festival fully encompasses how important they really are! This year was extra special marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. There was a range of activities taking place throughout the day for everyone, and the river being the centre point of the event showcases the vast amenities in Maidstone.”
David Wilson Kent is currently selling the second phase of homes at The Poppies development in Maidstone, with prices starting from £142,500 for a two-bedroom apartment.
For further details about David Wilson Kent or the new homes at The Poppies call 0330 828 7297 or visit www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/.
