EVENTS
© Roslyn Gaunt
25 NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON & CARNIVAL OF THE BAUBLES Elwick Place & High Street , Ashford www . loveashford . com Time : 5pm | Price : Free
Ashford ’ s spectacular Carnival of the Baubles will return once again to light up Ashford Town centre for its big festive celebration !
Grab a sneak peek of the stunning baubles and join in some pre-carnival workshops in a special Bauble Maker Space in County Square Shopping Centre , before the main event parade lights up the town !
Led by Farrah the Fox , the stunning night-time parade , sponsored by Ashford College , and featuring hundreds of school children and community groups will journey from Elwick Place , up Bank Street and towards Lower High Street for a fabulous celebratory ending !
In the build up to the parade , enjoy the Elwick Place Christmas lights switch-on , festive markets , lantern-making workshops , music on the bandstand and street entertainment , while post-parade revellers can continue the fun and festivities at the family-friendly afterparty at Coachworks .
25 NOVEMBER - 1 JANUARY 2024 A NARNIA CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE Leeds Castle , Maidstone www . leeds-castle . com Time : 10am - 5pm | Price : Included With Admission
Step into the magical world of Narnia this Christmas at Leeds Castle .
This Christmas join Leeds Castle for its enchanting festive experience , bringing the beloved story of The Lion , The Witch And The Wardrobe to life . The whole family will embark on a magical journey through the wardrobe as they take in the wonder of Christmas in Narnia .
Be transported into C . S . Lewis ’ s magical kingdom of Narnia and get ready to push through the magical wardrobe full of furs as you begin your walk through adventure ; interact with beloved characters as they come to life over the weekends and school holidays ; be wonderstruck as you ’ re transported into Narnia ’ s snowy woodlands ; sneak a seat on the White Witch ’ s sleigh ; and catch a glimpse of Father Christmas as he and Mrs Beaver teach you combat skills ahead of the battle for Narnia ... All while admiring the beautifully decorated castle with festive trees and displays .
25 NOVEMBER - 24 DECEMBER MISSION CHRISTMAS : THE CLAUSOMETER CATASTROPHE The Historic Dockyard Chatham www . thedockyard . co . uk Time : From 10am Price : Adult £ 14 , Child ( 4 - 15 years ) £ 17 , Child ( U3 ) £ 4.25
Have you ever wondered why The Historic Dockyard Chatham closes every December ? For over 400 years , Dockyard workers past and present have been keeping a heavily guarded Christmas secret .
ED BYRNE
All over the world , dockyards just like this one are on high alert at Christmas time , for deep in the historic dockyard is a secret substation , hidden from plain sight . Here a crew of ingenious elves are stationed , poised to jump into action should Father Christmas run into trouble with his sleigh , need some help with his Santa-Nav or carefully pinpoint a child staying away from home .
This December , you ’ re invited to step into the centre of this secret world and help Mrs Claus save Christmas from catastrophe . The elves are shy and hide from sight yet they are excited that humans will be passing through the sub station BUT some of them have been up to mischief …
Your little ones will need to master the magical skills and learn the elf code before graduating from Elf Academy and solving the mystery of the missing clausometer . Once you ’ ve saved Christmas , your journey will end in a magical meeting with Father Christmas . He ’ ll be so pleased with the help you ’ ve given Mrs Claus , he ’ ll present your little ones with a special gift to take home .
Voted as one the “ best festive days out in the UK ” by The Guardian .
29 NOVEMBER ED BYRNE : TRAGEDY PLUS TIME The Gulbenkian , Canterbury www . thegulbenkian . co . uk Time : 7.30pm | Price : £ 27.50
Come and join Ed as he tests that formula by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs , as one of the UK ’ s favourite TV household names returns to the stage with a brand-new show .
With legions of fans both in the UK and abroad , Ed remains the observational stand-up to see .
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