New Year New Hobby
Are you looking to start a new hobby, meet new friends or take on a new challenge for 2026? A free event is coming to Dover Maison Dieu on Saturday 17 January, with the chance to meet over 30 local groups and try your hand at a whole range of activities.
The ‘New Year, New Hobby’ event, from 10am-4pm, is inviting residents to come along to meet local groups, clubs and organisations, find out more about volunteering opportunities, and have a go at a whole host of hobbies.
There will be free percussion ‘jam’ sessions with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and a whole range of performances and activities with local groups. The event is being facilitated by Dover District Council and supported by Arts Council England.
A range of activities is set to include the chance to have a go at:
- Card making
- Crafts
- Flower arranging
- History and wildlife volunteering
- Jive, ballroom and line dancing
- Knitting
- Local radio
Performances from local groups will include Sound Waves Community Choir, Temple Ewell Players, Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society, and the Fuddlers dance group.
DDC Cabinet Member for community, Cllr Lynne Wright, said: “This is a fantastic chance for people to find out more about a range of local groups, and to try their hand at a new activity. We hope as many people as possible take this opportunity to come along and try out a new hobby for the new year.”
For more information, including a list of groups taking part and a timetable of performances and activities, please see www.dover.gov.uk/newhobby
Posted on 06 January 2026