SPECIAL FEATURE
The Polar Express
DECEMBER
Port Lympne Illuminated
Time to Get Festive!
Winter has arrived- and with it comes Christmas! Although the month flies past with family gatherings and frantic shopping for some, December offers a chance to see some of Kent’ s much-loved towns and attractions decorated with festive cheer and a wealth of familyfriendly entertainment.
Starting off the month in true festive spirit, families can step aboard The Polar Express Train Ride at the Spa Valley
Railway( spavalleythepolarexpressride. com). Running from Saturday 7 November to Wednesday 30 December, families are encouraged to wear their cosiest pyjamas, ready to snuggle up and enjoy a theatrical journey on their way to the North Pole, with golden tickets, joyful music, dancing chefs and, of course, rich cups of hot chocolate. Finishing with a very special visit from Father Christmas as he delivers the first gift of the season, it’ s the perfect way to start December’ s festivities. Moving through the month, a special evening out can be spent at Port Lympne Illuminated( portlympneilluminated. com), which will run from Friday 27 November to Saturday 2 January. In December, you can step into the secret world of Port Lympne, by day a wildlife park and by night a magical world of naturalistic wonder, where nocturnal animals come alive and festive lights line the paths with brandnew installations featuring new species and extending the journey further than ever before. While you’ re there, parents can enjoy a festive afternoon tea while children take a trip to Santa’ s grotto, leaving with a new sense of seasonal awe.
For some last-minute Christmas shopping, the Faversham Christmas Market Weekend( favershamtowncouncil. gov. uk) falls on Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December this year. Held at Market Place and Court Street, the weekend offers a chance to explore a selection of unique gifts crafted by local makers based in Kent; bespoke presents and decorations will line the streets alongside seasonal food and drink stalls, live music and cuddles with the Happy Endings Rescue( happyendingsrescue. org) donkeys; a very close second to Santa’ s reindeer.
An evening in the lead-up to Christmas can only be made better at The Nutcracker. Held at the vibrant yet intimate Gulbenkian Theatre( thegulbenkian. co. uk), this year The Nutcracker will run on Sunday 13 December, with the award-winning Let’ s All Dance ballet company returning for one night with their festive production. Retelling the traditional tale, you will join Clara and the iconic Nutcracker prince on a journey through the Land of Snowflakes and the Land of Sweets for an evening of festive joy.
www. insidekent. co. uk • 37