Hand-picked events from the editor
December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23, & 24 Santa Specials The Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden There are some exciting new additions to the popular Santa Specials this year. Visitors arriving at
DECEMBER
December 5 & 6 Meet Santa! Kent Life, Sandling Come and meet Santa and Twinkle Toes the Elf in their magical Christmas grotto. Craft activity and special
gift for every child, and mince pies for Mum and Dad. 10am-3pm.
December 5 & 6 Christmas with the Goats!
Buttercups Goat Sanctuary, Boughton Monchelsea An evening of Christmas celebrations in the stables! Help tuck in some of the 140 rescue goats at Buttercups in their warm beds of straw for the night, while feasting on mulled wine and mince pies. 4pm-7pm. Admission by donation.
December 5 & 6 Dickensian Christmas Festival, Rochester Rochester’s Dickensian Christmas has been held annually since 1988, which is fitting as Medway held such a special place in Charles Dickens’ life and work. The writer spent five
of his childhood years in Medway from 1817 to 1822. He returned for the last few years of his life,
16 Mid Kent Living Images: Dickensian Festival courtesy of Simon Kelsey
dying at Gads Hill in 1870. The streets will be alive with entertainment, readings, song and dance. Uncover a feast of Victorian delights, familiar fictional characters, parades, carols, stalls and lots of festive shopping. There are lamp-lit parades,
carols to be sung, Father Christmas to be met and even a guaranteed snowfall, framed by Rochester’s fairytale cathedral and castle.
Highlights include the
Seven Poor Travellers Procession, the Grand Parade, a candlelit procession, the open air carol concert, and roaming street performers.
Tenterden station will be greeted by the sound of the Victorian carousel and during the 70-minute journey to Northiam Station, Santa Claus and his elves will visit everyone on the train with their sacks of gifts. Every child up to the age of 12 will receive a present, while those aged 13-15 receive festive chocolates. Early booking is recommended to secure your chosen date through the website
www.kesr.org.uk or by calling 01580 765155. Tickets start from £16.00
December 12
Carols by Candlelight All Saints Church, Maidstone Maidstone Choral Union’s annual Christmas concert, featuring a range of well- known favourites, plus guest performances and brass accompaniment. 7.30pm. Tickets £12. Children and students half price.
December 18 Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone A Christmas Carol was the first public reading that Charles Dickens ever gave
and it was also his last. He performed it over 150
times and the effect on the public was phenomenal. This Christmas, you can experience what it must have been like to be in the audience. The Hazlitt based European
Arts Company is faithfully recreating Dickens’ famous performance of his best-loved and most heart-warming story. A real seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future. 7.30pm. Tickets £13.50, concessions £11.50
December 20 Family Carol Concert Tonbridge School Chapel, Tonbridge Tonbridge Philharmonic choir, conducted by Matthew Willis, leads this popular family carol concert in the atmospheric setting of a candlelit Tonbridge School chapel. £8 Call 01732 353707 to check times and/or cancellations.
DAY OUT FOR THE KIDS
GREAT
GREAT DAY OF FAMILY FUN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64