Celebrating Gravesham’s rich riverside heritage with a fantastic festival of family events, walks and talks.

10am – 5pm St Andrew’s Quayside – come and join our acrobatic juggling pirates, have your picture taken in the frozen North Pole, take part in a variety of fun workshops in our special ‘igloos’ – your may even see a roaming Polar Bear! Look Out! Add your voice to the legacy sound archive for future generations to learn about our river and you.

Rock your rollocks with music from the deck of LV21

12pm – 6pm – LV21 - 6 amazing shanty crews:- Dazzle The Hog Eye Men, The Silver Darlings, Impressed, Helen North and Black Deep Three.

Talks at the 3 Daws on Saturday and Sunday include local historian Christoph Bull , the leading expert on Captain Francis Crozier BBC historian Michael Smith and the first woman to captain a super yacht through the Northwest Passage, Captain Maewenn Beadle.

Christoph Bull will also be leading two walks on the riverside at 2.30pm each day

The 3 Daws will also be hosting the tale of the Princess Alice Disaster – The Forgotten Dead and a special appearance from the indomitable wife of Sir John Franklin, Lady Jane Franklin – frequently referred to as ‘A Man in Petticoats’!

  • From Greenhithe to Greenland - Illustrated talk by Christoph Bull

    SPOKEN WORD
    Sat 14 Sept 10.30am - Three Daws Pub

    Part of the Franklin Festival, well-known local historian, Christoph Bull will bring to life Sir John Franklin's fatal voyage, from having optimism at Greenhithe to despair in Canada-and how the story has remained fresh to this day. 

    TICKETS

  • Lady Jane Franklin - A Man in Petticoats

    DRAMA
    Sat 14 Sept 12pm & 2pm- Three Daws Pub

    Mrs Jane Franklin requests your pleasure to attend a brief introduction to the world of her husband, Sir John Franklin, a notable hero of Artic exploration.  

    Be prepared to be shocked, stupefied and sprung into action. Meet a formidable Victorian force - ‘a man in petticoats’

    TICKETS

  • Journey with Captain Maiwenn Beadle on Incredible Adventures to the Oceans of the Arctic/Northwest Passage

    SPOKEN WORD
    Sat 14 Sept 1.30pm & 3.30pm- Three Daws Pub

    With carefully tailored, informational and often humorous talks Captain Beadle transports her listeners to the icy edges of the world, beyond the end of the charts. An entrancing mix of adventures as a Master of private yachts, the journeys of the great explorers, glimpses of magnificent wildlife, crashing glaciers and the vibrant colours of local culture intertwine to create a totally enthralling story that rivets the attention.

    TICKETS

  • Walk Along The Tideline - Guided walk with Christoph Bull

    SPOKEN WORD
    Sat 14 Sept 2.30pm - Fort Garden's, Gravesend

    As part of the Franklin Festival, well known local historian, Christoph Bull will take you on a guided walk following The Thames shore from General Gordon's statue to the Town Pier - many forgotten stories recounted.

    Meet at the start of the walk at General Gordon's statue in Gordon Gardens.

    Time duration: 1 hour

    TICKETS

  • The Forgotten Dead

    DRAMA
    Sat 14 Sept 3pm- Three Daws Pub
    Sun 15 Sept 12 pm- Three Daws Pub

    The Forgotten Dead is a short performed story-telling of The Princess Alice Disaster, a tragic sinking of a steamer ship in 1878, resulting in a huge loss of life as passengers returned to London after a day trip to the Kent coastline. 

    TICKETS

  • Captain Francis Crozier – The Franklin Expedition's Last Man Standing

    SPOKEN WORD
    Sat 14 Sept 4.30pm - Three Daws Pub

    An illustrated talk by Michael Smith Polar Historian

    Captain Francis Crozier, a veteran of six Polar voyages, took command of the expedition after the death of Sir John Franklin and led over 100 men in the desperate attempt to escape from the Arctic ice. 

    Crozier only sailed in search of the North West Passage to impress the woman he loved and left behind the only written clue to the disaster. 

    TICKETS

  • Wind, Tide & Oar

    CINEMA
    Sat 14 Sept 6pm - LV21 Lightship
    Sun 15 Sept 6pm - LV21 Lightship

    Wind, Tide & Oar is a compelling exploration of engineless sailing, shot on analogue film over three years. 

    The film delves into the experiences of those who travel solely by harnessing the natural elements alone, following a diverse array of traditional boats and uncovering the unique rhythms and motivations of engineless navigation.

    TICKETS

  • Gravesend - Gateway To The Thames

    SPOKEN WORD
    Sun 15 Sept 10.30pm - Three Daws Pub

    As part of the Franklin Festival, well-known local historian, Christoph Bull will cover the often forgotten links that the town has with The Thames.  Plenty of local connections.

    TICKETS

  • Journey With Captain Maiwenn Beadle on Incredible Adventures to the oceans of the Arctic - Hunting Unicorns

    SPOKEN WORD
    Sun 15 Sept 1.30pm - Three Daws Pub

    With carefully tailored, informational and often humorous talks Captain Beadle transports her listeners to the icy edges of the world, beyond the end of the charts. We start our journey besides the grave of great Arctic Explorer and discoverer of the Northwest Passage, Orcadian John Ray and journey along the traditional Hudson Bay Company trading route to Lancaster Sound  searching for the illusive Unicorns of the Sea, Narwhal. 

    TICKETS

  • The Highway of History - A guided walk with Christoph Bull

    WALK
    Sun 15 Sept 2.30pm - Community Square

    As part of the Franklin Festival, well-known local historian, Christoph Bull will explore how The Thames has influenced the history of Gravesend town. 

    Meet at Community Square to start the walk.

    Time duration: 1 hour

    TICKETS

  • The Franklin Festival Art Exhibition

    ART EXHIBITION

    17th - 29th Sept - St George's Arts Centre

    The Gravesham Franklin Festival is a cultural celebration of the town’s rich riverside heritage. Set to take place on the 14th & 15th September 2024, the festival will be a combination of artist-led activity, heritage walks, talks, community engagement, and will reference our links with the final voyage of Sir John Franklin whose expedition left Greenhithe in 1845 in a beleaguered attempt to discover the Northwest Passage.  

    As part of the overall festival, we have invited artists to submit work on the theme of Arctic and/or Discovery.

    The exhibition show cases the talented and exciting work submitted by artists in celebration of The Franklin Festival.