Things to do - Events

Step into Christmas with Kent’s festive calendar

Step into Christmas with Kent’s festive calendar

Want to book panto tickets or find out when your local light switch-on is happening? We’ve got all the need-to-know Christmas dates.

Light up, light up! Kent’s Christmas switch-on events

Light up, light up! Kent’s Christmas switch-on events

Kent’s towns will soon be illuminated by thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. Here’s where you can find your local switch-on event.

Pay tribute to the Armed Forces with Kent’s Remembrance Day events

Pay tribute to the Armed Forces with Kent’s Remembrance Day events

Show your respects to those who have lost their lives in battle at the county’s Remembrance Day services and parades.

Huge fireworks display tops the bill at Diwali celebrations

Huge fireworks display tops the bill at Diwali celebrations

Excitement is building for the return of an extravagant fireworks display held as part of a major religious and cultural event.

Christmas market to return to seaside attraction next month

Christmas market to return to seaside attraction next month

A Christmas market promising a “magical experience” will return to a Kent seaside attraction next month.

Kent’s spectacular fireworks displays

Kent’s spectacular fireworks displays

It’s almost time to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ as Kent’s skies light up with fantastic fireworks displays and bonfire nights.

UK’s oldest scare attraction returns for Halloween

UK’s oldest scare attraction returns for Halloween

The hair-raising mazes feature terrifying live actors and authentic sets to give visitors a scare. Do you dare to enter?

Olly Murs to perform in Kent next summer

Olly Murs to perform in Kent next summer

The cheeky chappy has been named as the first artist to perform in a summer concert series in 2025.

Park to host free Harry Potter-themed day

Park to host free Harry Potter-themed day

Fans of the Wizarding World can take part in Professor Snape’s potions trail and find the golden snitch at a magical free event.

‘Our final Halloween house will go out with a bang’

‘Our final Halloween house will go out with a bang’

A “slightly mad” alarm engineer is creating well-loved Halloween attraction in his front garden for the last time.

Family films coming to cinemas before the end of the year

Family films coming to cinemas before the end of the year

Cosy up at your local cinema this autumn and catch one of these family blockbusters coming to the big screen.

Folk flock to annual festival

Folk flock to annual festival

A popular folk festival returns for its 31st year with Morris dancers, sea shanty singalongs and traditional ceilidh music.

Medieval light show to illuminate Kent landmark

Medieval light show to illuminate Kent landmark

A stunning display of colourful projections, intricate artwork and immersive music is coming to a historic building this autumn.

Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent stars share the stage for town’s panto

Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent stars share the stage for town’s panto

Stars of the small screen will be treading the boards in this year’s festive production of Jack and the Beanstalk in one Kent town.

Danny Elfman to perform live Christmas concert

Danny Elfman to perform live Christmas concert

The award-winning composer will return as the voice of Jack Skellington in a live-to-film concert of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Village fireworks event cancelled due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

Village fireworks event cancelled due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

A village fireworks event raising money for local organisations will not be taking place this year.

Theatre to stay closed for another nine months

Theatre to stay closed for another nine months

A popular theatre will not reopen until after May as contractors continue working to repair the building.

Popular dessert cafe to re-open

Popular dessert cafe to re-open

A dessert parlour which has sat empty in a town centre for years is making a comeback.

Popular fireworks show cancelled again

Popular fireworks show cancelled again

A popular town centre fireworks display will not be going ahead again after a new sponsor failed to come forward.

Attention! Salute to the ‘40s is back in town

Attention! Salute to the ‘40s is back in town

One of Kent’s biggest retro festivals returns with jazz music, swing dancers, 1940s fashion and guided tours.

190-year-old ploughing match returns

190-year-old ploughing match returns

A rural event dating back to the 1800s is back with vintage tractors, farming competitions and animal displays.

Ah, shucks: Our guide to Whitstable’s oyster festival

Ah, shucks: Our guide to Whitstable’s oyster festival

We’ve got everything you need to know about this year’s festival, from traditional seaside activities to where to find the freshest oysters.

Summer lovin’: Grease the musical comes to Kent

Summer lovin’: Grease the musical comes to Kent

The 1950s teen hit is on tour, bringing musical favourites like Summer Nights, You’re the One That I Want and Greased Lightnin’ to theatres.

See more than 100 Shaun the Sheep sculptures on display

See more than 100 Shaun the Sheep sculptures on display

The sculptures were part of an art trail this summer and are now being moved into one place for a weekend before being sold for charity.

Global festival returns to park

Global festival returns to park

An extravaganza of international music, food and dance is coming to Kent town this weekend.

A hopping good time: free beer festival celebrates 35th anniversary

A hopping good time: free beer festival celebrates 35th anniversary

One of Kent’s biggest beer festivals is back, bringing live bands, Morris dancers and local brews to a historic market town.

Christmas market to return at landmark - 200 years after it was scrapped

Christmas market to return at landmark - 200 years after it was scrapped

A festive market first held 600 years ago will return to one of the county’s most famous historic sites for the Christmas season.

Santa set to visit the coast this Christmas

Santa set to visit the coast this Christmas

A festive grotto with elves, workshops and snowball fights is back this winter. Here’s how to get tickets.

Sing-along films to be shown on the big screen

Sing-along films to be shown on the big screen

A touring open-air cinema will bring musicals like Grease and the Greatest Showman to a historic venue.

Paloma Faith to perform open-air concert in Kent

Paloma Faith to perform open-air concert in Kent

The singer-songwriter, best known for hits Only Love Can Hurt Like This and Lullaby, will play a headline show on the coast.

Farming festival to celebrate 10th anniversary

Farming festival to celebrate 10th anniversary

A festival featuring more than 200 vintage tractors, steam engines and classic cars is marking its 10th birthday this year.

Helpful links

Local news