Fremlin Walk in Maidstone offers storytelling with Santa and Christmas films

It may not have signalled the start of the festive season with a big lights switch on. But the countdown to Christmas at a Kent shopping centre is now on, with Santa arriving this weekend to tell stories to tens of youngsters.

The Christmas Cabin in Maidstone's Fremlin Walk opens this Saturday (December 1).

The centre, which scrapped plans for a big Christmas event to turn on its lights in favour of activities throughout December, says visitors should expect a festive period 'like never before' with free family fun including storytelling sessions with Santa and the screening of Christmas films in the run up to December 25.

Magical story telling sessions begin this weekend (December 1) from noon until 4pm when the cabin welcomes Father Christmas and opens its doors to the public for the first time.

Sessions will also take place on Saturday, December 8, 15 and 22 at noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm and also include the handing out of the odd sweet treat!

But booking is essential and families keen to join in should email bookings@frogboxmarketing.com with a name, telephone number, the number of children and adults attending, a preferred date and preferred session time.

You will then receive an email confirming whether you have been successful or not.

Meanwhile, Magical Movies in which Christmas classics including Home Alone and Elf will be shown will start on Thursday, December 6 and then again on December 13, 20, 21 and 23.

And as its the season of goodwill - free popcorn is on offer to all movie goers!

Advance bookings must also be made via email as the cabin is designed for no more than 60 people at a time. To see a full list of the films being shown and what details to include with your booking request please click here.

Fremlin Walk’s centre manager, Lloyd Wright, said “Our traditional Christmas market is always a huge hit with our customers, so it was only natural that we bought it back.

But this year, to really bring Christmas to life, we’re giving our customers lots of fun new activities including Magical Movies and Storytelling sessions with Santa in our brand new Christmas Cabin. We’re really excited for these new additions, and we hope our customers will be too, because there’s nothing we love more than welcoming families to the Centre and watching them have fun over the festive period.”