Celebrate the holidays with the Chatham community! Explore our guide for all the events that unite us in festive spirit. Whether you're a Chatham insider or an outsider looking in, this guide helps you create lasting memories.
Among the seasonal highlights is the Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival, where characters from Charles Dickens’s novels come to life. Quaint stalls and festive fun define the Leeds Castle Christmas Market, offering a unique shopping experience. And the Chatham Christmas Lights Switch On is something you definitely don't want to miss as it illuminates the city with holiday cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Chatham
See these and even more events listed below!Chatham Holiday Light Displays
Chatham Christmas Lights Switch On
What to Expect:
Community-driven event with local performers
Description:
Chatham's Christmas Lights Switch On ignites the town with community spirit. Local choirs and dance troupes take center stage, showcasing homegrown talent. The event culminates in a collective countdown as residents gather to illuminate their town. You'll find food stalls offering regional specialties, perfect for warming up on a crisp evening. This switch-on ceremony has been a Chatham tradition for over 50 years, evolving from a simple lighting to a full-fledged community celebration.
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Chatham Christmas Lights Switch On
Chatham Holiday Markets and Shopping
The Historic Dockyard Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Christmas fair set in a maritime heritage site
Description:
The Historic Dockyard Christmas Fair brings holiday cheer to Chatham's naval heritage site. Vintage fairground rides whirl against a backdrop of historic warships, creating a unique blend of nostalgia and nautical history. Artisans showcase traditional maritime crafts, offering visitors a chance to try their hand at rope-making or model ship building. The fair's setting in the 400-year-old dockyard provides a glimpse into the Christmas celebrations of sailors past, with historical reenactors sharing tales of yuletide at sea.
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The Historic Dockyard Christmas Fair
Nearby Events
Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival (Rochester)
What to Expect:
Victorian-era costumed characters roaming the streets
Description:
Rochester transforms into a living Victorian novel during its Dickensian Christmas Festival. Costumed characters from Dickens' works roam cobblestone streets, bringing literary history to life. Visitors can join a guided tour to discover the real-life inspirations behind Dickens' iconic settings. The aroma of roasted chestnuts fills the air as local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts. This event celebrates Rochester's deep connection to Charles Dickens, who spent much of his life in the area and featured the town in several of his works.
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Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival
Leeds Castle Christmas Market (Maidstone)
What to Expect:
Market set against the backdrop of a historic castle
Description:
Leeds Castle provides a regal backdrop for its annual Christmas Market. Stalls brimming with artisanal gifts and local delicacies dot the castle grounds, offering a shopping experience steeped in history. Visitors can explore the castle's lavishly decorated rooms, each telling a story of Christmases past. The market showcases Kent's rich culinary heritage, with local producers offering everything from traditional mead to artisanal cheeses. Leeds Castle, often called the "loveliest castle in the world," has stood for over 900 years and witnessed countless holiday celebrations.
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Rochester Christmas Market (Rochester)
What to Expect:
Market set in a historic cathedral precinct
Description:
Rochester's Christmas Market unfolds in the shadow of its ancient cathedral, blending holiday cheer with centuries of history. Wooden chalets line the precinct, offering a treasure trove of unique gifts and local crafts. The market's Bavarian food village tantalizes taste buds with authentic German cuisine. Visitors can climb the cathedral tower for panoramic views of the market and beyond. Rochester Cathedral, founded in 604 AD, provides a stunning backdrop to this seasonal celebration, connecting present-day festivities to centuries of Christmas traditions.
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Christmas Lights Trail at Bedgebury (Goudhurst)
What to Expect:
Illuminated trail through a national pinetum
Description:
Bedgebury's Christmas Lights Trail transforms the national pinetum into a luminous forest spectacle. Towering evergreens draped in twinkling lights create a canopy of color overhead. Along the trail, interactive light installations respond to touch and movement, inviting playful exploration. You'll encounter singing trees, their melodies echoing through the woods. Bedgebury Pinetum, home to one of the world's finest conifer collections, offers a unique backdrop for this dazzling display, blending natural beauty with artistic illumination.
Website:
Christmas Lights Trail at Bedgebury
Canterbury Christmas Market (Canterbury)
What to Expect:
Market in a UNESCO World Heritage site
Description:
Canterbury's Christmas Market unfolds in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering a shopping experience steeped in medieval charm. Stalls line the cobblestone streets, their wares illuminated by the warm glow of the cathedral. Local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts, from glassblowing to woodcarving. Visitors can sample Kent's famous ales at pop-up taverns throughout the market. The event takes place in the shadow of Canterbury Cathedral, a site of pilgrimage for nearly 1,000 years, adding layers of history to the seasonal celebrations.
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Hever Castle Christmas (Edenbridge)
What to Expect:
Tudor-themed Christmas celebrations
Description:
Hever Castle embraces its Tudor heritage during its Christmas celebrations. The childhood home of Anne Boleyn is adorned with period-appropriate decorations, transporting visitors to a 16th-century yuletide. Falconry displays and archery sessions offer hands-on experiences of Tudor pastimes. You can explore the castle's rooms, each telling a story of Christmas traditions from Henry VIII's time. Hever Castle's Christmas event provides a unique glimpse into how the Tudor nobility celebrated the holiday season, blending historical accuracy with festive cheer.
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Ramsgate Royal Harbour Illuminations (Ramsgate)
What to Expect:
Illuminated boats in a historic harbor
Description:
Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Illuminations paint the night with a nautical glow. Boats adorned with thousands of lights bob gently in the water, creating a floating light show. Visitors can stroll along the harbor arm, enjoying unobstructed views of the illuminated vessels. Local fishmongers offer freshly caught seafood, perfect for a harborside dinner. Ramsgate's Royal Harbour, the only one in the UK, has been a safe haven for sailors since 1821, and this event continues its tradition of welcoming visitors with warmth and light.
Website:
Ramsgate Royal Harbour Illuminations
Faversham Christmas Lights (Faversham)
What to Expect:
Light display in England's oldest market town
Description:
Faversham's Christmas Lights bathe England's oldest market town in a warm glow. Medieval timber-framed buildings serve as a canvas for intricate light displays, highlighting centuries of architectural history. Visitors can join guided walks to learn about the town's rich past while enjoying the illuminations. The event showcases Faversham's strong community spirit, with many displays created by local artists and schoolchildren. This charming town, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, continues its long tradition of communal celebrations with this annual light festival.
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Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink (Tunbridge Wells)
What to Expect:
Ice rink in a historic spa town
Description:
Tunbridge Wells' ice rink glides into the holiday season, set against the backdrop of this elegant spa town. The rink occupies Calverley Grounds, transforming the Victorian pleasure gardens into a winter playground. Skaters can warm up with mulled wine from the rinkside Bavarian Curling Cabin. You'll find vintage fairground rides nearby, adding a touch of nostalgia to the experience. Tunbridge Wells, a popular retreat for royalty and nobility since the 17th century, continues its tradition of leisure and entertainment with this seasonal attraction.
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Whitstable Christmas Fair (Whitstable)
What to Expect:
Seaside Christmas fair with focus on local seafood
Description:
Whitstable's Christmas Fair brings coastal charm to holiday celebrations. The event showcases the town's famous oysters, with local fishmongers offering fresh seafood and cooking demonstrations. Visitors can try their hand at traditional maritime crafts like net-mending and rope-making. The fair's beachfront location provides stunning winter seascapes as a backdrop to the festivities. Whitstable, known for its oyster farming since Roman times, infuses its rich maritime heritage into this unique seaside Christmas event.
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Folkestone Living Advent Calendar (Folkestone)
What to Expect:
Town-wide interactive advent calendar
Description:
Folkestone's Living Advent Calendar turns the entire town into an interactive holiday experience. Each day in December, a new window or door in the town center is unveiled, revealing art installations, performances, or community events. Visitors can follow a trail map to discover each day's surprise, exploring Folkestone's creative quarter along the way. You might stumble upon pop-up concerts, street theatre, or art workshops. This innovative event, inspired by similar concepts in Scandinavian countries, showcases Folkestone's thriving arts scene and community spirit.
Website:
Folkestone Living Advent Calendar
Aylesford Christmas Market (Aylesford)
What to Expect:
Market in a medieval village setting
Description:
Aylesford's Christmas Market unfolds in a picturesque medieval village, offering a step back in time. Stalls line the narrow streets, selling handcrafted gifts and local produce against a backdrop of centuries-old buildings. Visitors can watch blacksmiths and potters at work, demonstrating crafts that have been practiced in the village for generations. The market centers around Aylesford Priory, founded in 1242, where monks still live and work today, adding a touch of living history to the seasonal celebrations.
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Broadstairs Christmas Fayre (Broadstairs)
What to Expect:
Victorian-themed seaside Christmas fair
Description:
Broadstairs' Christmas Fayre brings Victorian elegance to this charming seaside town. Stallholders don period costumes, selling traditional crafts and treats from bygone eras. Visitors can ride in horse-drawn carriages along the promenade, taking in views of the winter sea. The event features Punch and Judy shows, a staple of British seaside entertainment since Victorian times. Broadstairs, a favorite holiday spot of Charles Dickens, infuses its literary heritage into this nostalgic celebration of Christmas past.
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Tenterden Christmas Market (Tenterden)
What to Expect:
Market in a historic wool town with steam train rides
Description:
Tenterden's Christmas Market combines holiday cheer with the town's rich wool-trading history. Stalls line the broad High Street, once used for displaying bolts of cloth, now offering local crafts and seasonal treats. Visitors can ride the Kent & East Sussex Railway's Santa Special, a steam train journey through the winter countryside. The market showcases Tenterden's famous vineyards, with local wineries offering tastings of English sparkling wine. This event celebrates Tenterden's evolution from medieval wool town to modern day "Jewel of the Weald."