Welcome to our 2009 Events Programme

Most of the following events are free for garden ticket holders.

Purchase a Family Garden Season Ticket or Garden Season ticket and you and your family could enjoy them all!
And spot the for special Porcupine Club season ticket holder activities for children.

MARCH

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th March
12 noon-4pm

Armada Living History Weekend
Step back in time and take part preparing for the invasion of the Spanish Armada. Help the costumed characters with the preparations and join the local militia. You may need to purchase a House ticket to enjoy all the activities on offer.

APRIL

Spring Holidays
Saturday 4th - Sunday 19th April 12 noon-4pm

Spring Garden Trail and print your own posters
Come and try your hand at making posters on a replica Tudor Common Printing Press and a Spring Trail around the gardens.

Easter Fun
Bank Holiday Sunday 12th & Monday 13th April 2pm-3.30pm
A Medieval Easter Celebration! Storytelling from aardvark productions. Find out the meaning of Easter and why we celebrate with eggs and rabbits!

MAY

Bank Holiday Saturday 2nd – Monday 4th May 9.30am-5.30pm

The Weald of Kent Craft Show
Bespoke crafts for the home and garden displayed in Penshurst Place Park.

For advanced price tickets visit www.ichf.co.uk or call 01425 277988. Joint entrance to the Craft Show and Penshurst Place available.

Sunday 17th May - 11am
Macmillan Charity Walk
Macmillan Cancer Support charity fundraising walk across beautiful Penshurst Parkland. To register visit www.macmillan.org.uk/get_involved.

May Half Term Activities
Saturday 23rd – Sunday 31st May
Wild about the Countryside
Take part in some spring watch countryside activities. Explore the Woodland Trail for signs of wildlife and craft activities in the education room 12noon – 4pm

Bank Holiday Sunday 24th & Monday 25th May 12 noon – 4pm
Kent Wildlife Trust joins us to run mini beast safaris, guided tours around the woodland trail and much more…

JUNE

Glorious Gardens
Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 7th June

A celebration of the historic gardens when the stunning 100 yard peony border should be out in bloom.
Garden Tours with our garden guides Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday at 2pm – £1.50 per person plus normal admission prices.

Saturday 6th June - 2pm
Head Gardener’s Tour

Join our Head Gardener on a walk through the gardens. Find out more about the Herbaceous Border project with a behind the scenes look at the potting area. Tickets £16 including a Penshurst Place Cream Tea - to be booked in advance and available from the Gift Shop or call 01892 870307 or email enquiries@penshurstplace.com

Sunday 7th June 12noon – 4.30pm
Have-a-go croquet on the South Lawn
Join the Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club and see if you can run a hoop! For adults and children.

The Tale of the Magic Bean 2pm – 3.30pm
aardvark productions present a magic story for children with some special bean planting afterwards.

JULY

Sunday 19th July 7.30pm
Don Giovanni from Candlelight Opera
in the Baron’s Hall (picnic in the church park from 5.30pm)

Beautifully costumed in 17th century dress. Performance tickets: £24.50 & £29.50. Heritage Ticket £12 - includes access to the house and grounds before the performance, house tour and cream tea. For further information and tickets please call the Candlelight Opera Box Office on 0844 561 1921 www.candlelightopera.co.uk

Please note due to the nature of the venue, seating is not tiered.

Summer Family Fun at Penshurst Place
Saturday 25th July – Sunday 1st September 10.30am-5pm
Our popular traditional Table Top games will be available daily.

Every Sunday (excluding Bank Holiday)
Arthurian myths and legends 2pm-3.30pm
Find out more about Merlin and King Arthur through storytelling from aardvark productions.

Falconry from Huxley’s Birds of Prey Centre 12 noon with flying at 3.30pm
Birds on display on the South Lawn with a chance to help fly the birds.

AUGUST

Sunday 16th August 7pm
Cymbeline

International, professional Theatre Set-Up present Shakespeare's ‘Cymbeline’ in the unique setting of the Baron’s Hall. Tickets £15 for adults, £9 for children, available from end of April by calling (01732) 770929 and (01892) 515675 or visit www.ts-u.co.uk to book online (booking fee applies).

Please note due to the nature of the venue, seating is not tiered.

August Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 30th & Monday 31st August 12 noon-4pm

HENRY VIII
Events in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the accession to the throne of His Majesty, Henry VIII - owner of Penshurst Place from 1521- 1547

Life and times of Henry VIII at battle.
Camp life and an insight into how the army would have lived and fought.

Tudor Music & Dance 1.30pm-3pm
Join Cancionero as they perform songs and instrumental music by Henry VIII and his court musicians and invite you to join in dances fit to set before a king.

Falconry from Huxley’s Birds of Prey Centre 12 noon with flying at 3.30pm
Birds on display on the South Lawn with a chance to help fly the birds.

SEPTEMBER

Friday 11th – Sunday 13th September Fri & Sun 9.30am-5pm
The Weald of Kent Craft Show Sat 9.30am – 5.30pm
Another chance to catch crafts on display and specialist artisans at work. See May Craft Show listing for further details.

OCTOBER

Sunday 11th October 6pm
Dr David Starkey
Penshurst Place is delighted to welcome Dr David Starkey to talk about his latest biography of Henry VIII. Book sales and signing afterwards. Tickets £7.50. Available from our Gift Shop or for credit/debit card bookings call 01892 515675 Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm.

Spooky holiday happenings
Saturday 24th October – Sunday 1st November 12 noon-4pm
Come and join our trail around the gardens with craft activities for all ages.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

Sunday 1st November 1.30pm- 3.30pm
The Mummy’s Tale!
Halloween Stories for children presented by aardvark Productions. Followed by a Spooky Fancy Dress costume competition at 4pm. Prizes for all.

Christmas at Penshurst Place

Gift Shop Open Daily 10.30am-4.30pm.

Refreshments served to our customers throughout the festive season.

Late Night Christmas Shopping
18th, 24th November and 2nd, 8th December 4.30pm-8pm
Do some peaceful shopping in our Gift Shop, with 10% off all purchases made on late night evenings (excluding vouchers and stamps).

Father Christmas makes an early delivery to Penshurst Place

Saturday & Sundays - 5th & 6th, 12th & 13th, 19th & 20th December
11am-12.30 and 1.30-3pm

There will be a charge for this event. Prebooking not required. See press for details nearer the time or contact us on 01892 870307 or email enquiries@penshurstplace.com

Events throughout the season
Harpist Margaret Watson will be visiting us to play in the Baron’s Hall on selected afternoons throughout the summer season.

Penshurst Farmers’ Market is held in Penshurst Place visitor car park the first Saturday of each month; selling top quality, fresh Kentish produce. 9.30am-12 noon.