50th opening ceremony artwork

50th anniversary opening ceremony

You are invited to the 50th anniversary opening ceremony on Wednesday 1 October at 5pm, on the slopes between Rutherford and Eliot. The event is free and open to all.

At the opening ceremony you will have the chance to ride the Kent Wheel for stunning views of the University and Canterbury as the sun sets.

At 20.14, a fireworks display will light up the sky over our campus, bringing the opening ceremony to a close.

There will also be a performance by the Kent Salsa Society and live music from Ben Russell and the Charmers and Stranded at the Jivin’ (Keynestock 2013 winners), compered by stand-up comic and Kent alumna Cerrie Hodgson. The History Project students will take you for a walk down memory lane and you can smile for the camera on the red carpet for a free photo-shoot.

During the event we will be holding a big ‘We are Kent’ selfie competition with 50th anniversary merchandise up for grabs.

The opening ceremony will mark the beginning of a year-long programme of special projects and events taking place across the institution, including the University’s postgraduate centres in Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. Take a look at what else is happening by visiting the 50th anniversary webpages.