Enjoy the festive season in Maidstone with our ultimate holiday guide. There's plenty to do and see this year to make your holidays extra special.
One of the highlights is the Christmas Lights Switch-On, which illuminates Maidstone with dazzling displays. The Kent Life's Christmas Experience offers a unique journey into traditional festive celebrations with interactive exhibits and family activities. And definitely don't forget the Maidstone Christmas Fair with its charming stalls and festive treats. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Maidstone
- Christmas Lights Switch-On
- Maidstone Christmas Fair
- Kent Life's Christmas Experience
- Father Christmas at The Friars
- Maidstone Pantomime – Cinderella
- Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
- Santa's Grotto at Notcutts Garden Centre
Maidstone Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Lights Switch-On
What to Expect:
Community-wide countdown and synchronized illumination
Description:
Maidstone's historic town center transforms as thousands gather for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On. The air buzzes with anticipation as the community unites for a synchronized countdown. When the switch is flipped, the entire town center bursts into a dazzling display of lights, illuminating centuries-old buildings and modern storefronts alike. You can join local choirs in singing traditional carols, a custom dating back to the Victorian era in Maidstone. The event also features a special appearance by a local celebrity, chosen to press the ceremonial button.
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Maidstone Holiday Markets and Shopping
Maidstone Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Fusion of traditional and contemporary British crafts
Description:
The Maidstone Christmas Fair showcases the best of British craftsmanship, blending time-honored traditions with modern artistry. Artisans from across Kent display their wares, from hand-blown glass ornaments to artisanal cheeses. The fair, held in the shadow of Maidstone's 14th-century Archbishop's Palace, offers a unique shopping experience. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional craft techniques, connecting the past with the present. The aroma of mulled wine wafts through the air, enticing attendees to sample local beverages. This event has been a staple of Maidstone's holiday season for over three decades.
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Maidstone Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Maidstone Pantomime – Cinderella
What to Expect:
Locally-inspired twist on a classic fairy tale
Description:
Maidstone's annual pantomime breathes new life into the beloved Cinderella story with a distinctly Kentish flavor. The production incorporates local landmarks and folklore, weaving Maidstone's history into the familiar tale. Audiences delight in spotting references to the town's past and present, from the Leeds Castle to the River Medway. The show features original musical numbers that blend traditional panto tunes with contemporary pop hits. Interactive elements encourage audience participation, a hallmark of British pantomime tradition. This performance continues a theatrical legacy in Maidstone that dates back to the 18th century.
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Maidstone Pantomime – Cinderella
Maidstone Other Holiday Activities
Kent Life's Christmas Experience
What to Expect:
Interactive journey through Kent's rural Christmas traditions
Description:
Kent Life's Christmas Experience transports visitors to a bygone era of rural English yuletide celebrations. This immersive event recreates authentic 19th-century farm festivities, complete with period-costumed interpreters. Guests can participate in traditional activities like candle dipping and wreath making using locally sourced materials. The experience highlights Kent's agricultural heritage, showcasing how Christmas was celebrated in the Garden of England's farming communities. A restored oast house, unique to the Kent landscape, serves as a focal point for storytelling about local holiday customs.
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Kent Life's Christmas Experience
Father Christmas at The Friars
What to Expect:
Santa's grotto in a 13th-century monastery
Description:
Father Christmas takes up residence in an unexpected location - the atmospheric ruins of Aylesford Priory, known locally as The Friars. This 13th-century Carmelite monastery provides a truly unique setting for meeting Santa. Children embark on a journey through candlelit cloisters before reaching Santa's cozy grotto. The event intertwines holiday cheer with local history, as visitors learn about the monastery's centuries-old Christmas traditions. You can explore the beautifully preserved medieval architecture while waiting for your turn with Father Christmas. The Friars has been a place of pilgrimage since 1242, adding a layer of historical significance to this holiday experience.
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Father Christmas at The Friars
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
What to Expect:
Eco-friendly wreath making using locally foraged materials
Description:
Maidstone's Christmas Wreath Making Workshop emphasizes sustainability and local flora. Participants learn to create stunning wreaths using materials foraged from Kent's woodlands and gardens. The workshop, led by local botanists, educates attendees about native plant species and their traditional uses in holiday decorations. You'll discover centuries-old techniques for preserving foliage and creating long-lasting arrangements. This hands-on experience connects participants with Kent's natural heritage, reviving a craft that has adorned local homes since medieval times.
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Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
Santa's Grotto at Notcutts Garden Centre
What to Expect:
Santa's grotto integrated with a winter garden showcase
Description:
Notcutts Garden Centre transforms its grounds into an immersive North Pole experience, seamlessly blending Santa's grotto with a showcase of winter horticulture. Children journey through themed garden displays featuring frost-resistant plants and winter blooms before meeting Father Christmas. The grotto itself is adorned with living plants, demonstrating creative ways to incorporate greenery into holiday decor. Visitors can learn about the history of certain plants in Christmas traditions, such as the use of holly and ivy. This unique approach combines the magic of meeting Santa with practical gardening knowledge.
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Santa's Grotto at Notcutts Garden Centre
Nearby Events
Christmas at Bedgebury (Goudhurst)
What to Expect:
Illuminated trail through a National Pinetum
Description:
Christmas at Bedgebury offers a unique after-dark experience in the heart of Kent's National Pinetum. This illuminated trail winds through one of the world's finest conifer collections, creating a striking contrast between natural and artistic beauty. Specially commissioned light installations transform ancient trees into living sculptures. Visitors can warm up with spiced cider while admiring the Pinetum's champion trees, some over 100 years old. The event showcases Bedgebury's role in international tree conservation, blending environmental education with holiday cheer.
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Faversham Christmas Market (Faversham)
What to Expect:
Market in England's oldest market town
Description:
Faversham's Christmas Market capitalizes on the town's status as the oldest market town in England, dating back to pre-Roman times. The event sprawls across Faversham's medieval streets, creating a tapestry of past and present. Stalls showcase local Kentish produce alongside artisanal crafts, reflecting the area's rich agricultural and creative heritage. Visitors can sample Faversham's famous oysters, a local delicacy since Roman times. The market features live performances of traditional Kentish folk music, adding a lively soundtrack to the shopping experience. This event embodies Faversham's unbroken market tradition, spanning over two millennia.
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Bearsted Christmas Fayre (Bearsted)
What to Expect:
Village green transformation and community involvement
Description:
Bearsted's Christmas Fayre centers around the village's picturesque green, temporarily transforming this historic space into a hub of holiday activity. Local residents and businesses come together to create a truly community-driven event. The fayre showcases Bearsted's strong sense of local identity, with many stalls featuring products made within the village itself. Visitors can enjoy Morris dancing performances, a tradition with deep roots in Kent's cultural history. The event also highlights Bearsted's connection to cricket, with the village green's cricket pavilion serving as Santa's temporary residence.
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Aylesford Christmas Market (Aylesford)
What to Expect:
Riverside market with monastic influence
Description:
Aylesford's Christmas Market unfolds along the banks of the River Medway, offering a picturesque setting steeped in history. The market draws inspiration from the nearby Aylesford Priory, incorporating elements of monastic Christmas traditions. Visitors can explore stalls selling locally produced goods, many inspired by medieval recipes and crafts. The event features demonstrations of historical food preparation techniques, giving insight into Christmas feasts of centuries past. You can take a river cruise to view the market from a unique perspective, appreciating Aylesford's riverside heritage.
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Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink (Tunbridge Wells)
What to Expect:
Ice skating in a UNESCO Heritage Site
Description:
Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink offers a unique skating experience within the confines of Calverley Grounds, part of the town's UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rink is set against the backdrop of Decimus Burton's Calverley Park, a prime example of early 19th-century town planning. Skaters glide across the ice surrounded by Georgian and Victorian architecture, creating a striking juxtaposition of winter sport and historical elegance. The event pays homage to Tunbridge Wells' history as a fashionable spa town, where winter socializing was a key part of the season. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the illuminated park while skating under the stars.