What to expect at this year’s Rochester Christmas market

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

Kent’s biggest festive fair is back with hundreds of stalls, a German food village and a Ferris wheel where you can take in views of the historic town.

Rochester’s Christmas market is now in its 15th year, making it one of the longest-running seasonal markets in the county.

The Christmas market in Rochester is back for its 15th year. Picture: Medway Council

This year, the market opens on Friday, November 29 and will then be open each weekend, from Friday to Sunday, until Sunday, December 15.

It’s open 10am to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays and is completely free to enter.

If you want to know what to expect from this year’s market, we’ve got all the details…

SHOPPING

This year, there will be more than 100 stalls sprawling out across the castle grounds. You can pick up gifts, crafts, stocking fillers and artisan treats from local traders and find hidden gems from Kent-based businesses. Each Friday, between 10am to 12pm, there will be two hours of Quiet Shopping Time for those who prefer a calmer shopping experience.

The food village has been extended for this year and is expected to house even more vendors. Picture: Sam Lawrie

FOOD AND DRINK

The Bavarian food village is back for another year with traditional food such as Bratwurst and Belgian waffles. There are also crowd-pleasers like burgers and chips for the kids and a bar selling craft beer, ale, cider and boozy hot chocolates. Dotted around the market are plenty of mulled wine stands, and there are usually some fairground treats such as candyfloss and doughnuts near the funfair rides.

Read our review of Rochester’s Bavarian food village here.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

The market’s live music can often be found on the stage inside the Bavarian food village. There is a small stage where acoustic acts are usually performing, and you might also see Christmas carollers and small choir groups singing traditional festive songs. There’s no programme, so you’ll have to simply see who is playing when you turn up!

The fairground has traditional funfair rides, game stalls and inflatables. Picture: Sam Lawrie

FOR THE KIDS

The vibrant funfair with childrens’ rides, a Ferris wheel and carnival games will once again be setting up shop just below the castle itself. There’s also the children’s Christmas village where you can meet Mrs Claus and Santa’s elves and help craft festive decorations in the workshop. This experience has limited time slots and a separate admission fee, so you might want to book in advance if your kids are keen.