insideKENT Magazine Issue 81 - December 2018 | Page 21

EVENTS
KENTEVENTS
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CINDERELLA // UNTIL 6 JAN
CHRISTMAS GIFT FAYRE // 1-2 DEC
The ever-popular
Christmas gift fayre
returns until 2nd
December at
Hempstead Valley.
Once again the
malls will be filled
with speciality
stalls, selling a wide
variety of
traditional and unique gifts. Whilst shoppers are visiting this free
event, they can enter a competition for their chance to win a
Christmas hamper.
From 9am. Price: Free
Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, Gillisngham ME7 3PD
www.hempsteadvalley.com / 01634 387076
Don’t miss this year’s fun-filled, family pantomime Cinderella, with a
star-studded cast including Harry Reid (EastEnders), children’s favourite,
Phil Gallagher (CBeebies’ Mister Maker), national treasure, Sally Lindsay
and Marlowe legends, Ben Roddy (Dame of the Year 2017/18) and Lloyd
Hollett. Once again, the show will be written and directed by Paul Hendy
and produced by Evolution, the same team behind the Box Office
smash-hit, Peter Pan (which sold over 100,000 tickets!). The Marlowe
Theatre pantomime has a reputation for being one of the biggest and
best in the country and Cinderella promises to be the most spectacular
show ever so don’t be late for the ball… book today!
Various times. Price: from £10.75
The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS
www.marlowetheatre.com / 01227 787787
LEEDS CASTLE PRESENTS ONCE UPON A TIME AT CHRISTMAS
// UNTIL 1 JAN
This Christmas,
Paddington will
join a selection of
festive stories told
through illustration
as Leeds Castle
presents Once
Upon a Time at
Christmas. See the
magnificent castle
rooms beautifully
displayed with
glittering
decorations and
fragrant pine trees
styled around a
selection of well-
known and much-
loved traditional
winter tales. To
celebrate 60 years since Michael Bond’s first book was published, the
story of Paddington will continue at Leeds Castle this Christmas as
‘Paddington and the Christmas Surprise’ arrives in the Seminar Room.
Continue your journey through the classic Christmas stories as children
and adults alike will recognise characters from The Nutcracker and The
Snow Queen. Be careful not to wake Sleeping Beauty as you explore
the castle and lookout for Scrooge in the depiction of Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol.
Leeds Castle, Maidstone ME17 1PL
www.leeds-castle.com / 01622 765400
CHRISTMAS EVENTS AT COUNTY
SQUARE SHOPPING CENTRE
// 1-22 DEC
Saturday 1st December: Ashford Sings
Choir (12 noon and 1.30pm, Main
Square); Sunday 2nd December:
Christmas balloon modelling and face
painting (10am – 3pm, Main Square);
Thursday 6th December: school choirs
sing for Demelza; Saturday 8th
December: Roving Entertainment –
The Silver Belles (11am – 3pm),
Demelza Danceathon (11am – 1pm);
Sunday 9th December: Christmas
balloon modelling and face painting (10am – 3pm, Main Square);
Thursday 13th December: school choirs sing for Demelza; Saturday
15th December: rock choir (12 noon and 1.30 pm, Main Square); Sunday
16th December: Christmas balloon modelling and face painting (11am
– 3pm, Main Square);
Saturday 22rd December: Roving Entertainment – Giant Reindeer
(11am – 3pm).
Times as above. Price: Free
County Square Shopping Centre, Ashford TN23 1YB
www.countysquareshoppingcentre.com / 01233 634001
THE GROTTO AT PENSHURST PLACE
// 1-23 DEC
Step away from the hustle and bustle
of the high street grotto and discover
Penshurst Place's family-led traditional
festive experience. Walk along the Lime
Walk and observe giant decorations
that will lead you along the pathway.
Step into Father Christmas's Toy
Workshop and make some wonderful
festive crafts to take home, before
getting your face painted. Leave the workshop and head towards Father
Christmas' study and see toy prototypes, design plans and the naughty
and nice lists! Make your way down from the study and discover Father
Christmas' secret Penshurst office, in a location never before seen by
visitors to Penshurst Place! Here the man himself will welcome you
with a gift and a delicious candy cane, before regaling tales of his plans
for Christmas and learning a little more about you.
From 10am. Price: £14.50 per child
Penshurst Place & Gardens, Penshurst TN11 8DG
www.penshurstplace.com / 01892 870307
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
21