SPECIAL FEATURE
NOVEMBER
Edenbridge Fireworks
Cosy Season
As November begins, familiar traditions return; with Bonfire Night and the excited panic of Christmas looming, the month offers a chance to get a head start on the festive season while cherishing the last of the autumn months.
Every year, Bonfire Night sees the county ablaze with traditional parades and burning stakes, and the Edenbridge Firework Extravaganza( edenbridgebonfire. co. uk), Kent’ s most famous bonfire celebration, is not to be missed. Held on the nearest Saturday to 5 November( the date of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605), falling this year on Saturday 7 November, the event will run from 6pm- 10pm. Beginning with a torch-lit procession through Edenbridge town with carnival floats, costumed walking parties and marching bands, the event is then moved to the local recreation ground where food and drink stalls will be set up alongside Kent’ s oldest and best traditional fireworks display.
Heading into the festivities, Christmas markets begin to take place across the county, with the annual Tenterden Christmas Market( mytenterden. co. uk) running from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November. A yearly favourite for locals and tourists alike, the shopping experience brings Kent-based creatives to the twinkling high street of Tenterden, with live music and lots of festive entertainment across the market days.
Christmas shopping continues with the Rochester Christmas Market( visitmedway. org), which will run this year from Tuesday 24 November to Sunday 13 December. The market is regarded as one of the UK’ s premier festive events and is set in the spectacular Rochester Castle Gardens, with its impressive 11th-century Norman keep as a backdrop. The market takes place over three weeks and attracts a wealth of visitors from across the UK and Europe. Home to more than 120 stalls, explore a range of locally produced crafts, clothing and homeware alongside artisan food and drink, and enjoy toasted marshmallows and spiced mulled cider as a warming refreshment.
Rochester ChristmasMarket
36 • www. insidekent. co. uk