It’s a bumper weekend for Christmas events in and around Tunbridge Wells! Kick off the season with festive family fun days out and get ready for the big day at one of the many Christmas Markets, with entertainment on offer for all ages to enjoy!
♥ One of our favourite Christmas traditions is to visit Molly Dishwasher on Bells Yew Green Lane (TN3 9BH). Their range of unique, hand-picked gifts for all ages grows every year, and look out for the beautiful wreaths and floral decorations as well as the beautiful Christmas trees! They can deliver your tree within a 5 mile radius too. Open Tuesday to Sunday.
♥ Feel festive at the Frost Fair at The Bell in Ticehurst on 27th November from 11am to 3pm. Browse the stalls and maybe try some delicious food with a glass of your favourite tipple. Shop for Christmas presents or maybe some sneaky gifts for yourself. Enjoy festive singing too.
♥ Get the whole family into the festive spirit with a Christmas-themed crafts event at The Hub in Grosvenor & Hilbert Park this Saturday. Design a reindeer crown, decorate biscuits or make decorations for a Christmas tree – there’ll be lots to do for kids of all ages. We’re heard a rumour that Father Christmas will also be making a special guest appearance! Pop into the Hub (behind the cafe) from 2pm – 4pm. The event is FREE but donations are welcomed to help cover costs.
♥ All are welcome to the Judd School (Tonbridge) Christmas Fair on Saturday 26th from 1pm. Browse the craft stalls, sample festive refreshments, enjoy festive family fun and live music! Free entry, with parking at North Kent College.
♥ THRIVE is a celebration of contemporary dance and a chance to see variety of dance companies from across the region live on the Trinity Theatre stage this Sunday 27th November. A great way to see work from both experienced and beginner dancers alongside performance groups and guest dance companies.
Photo credit: David Sellman
♥ Christmas is a magical time to visit National Trust properties and many start their festive season this weekend. The Knole House rooms, including the Great Hall and Ballroom will be decorated with trees to enjoy and a family Winter Deer Trail can be followed through the impressive parkland. The rooms in Scotney Castle are ready for a rip roaring 20’s inspired Christmas and visitors can step back 500 years ago to a Tudor Christmas at Ightham Mote. See the sights, sounds and smells in the Tudor Chapel, complete with wandering minstrels and costumes for the younger visitors!
♥ The popular Hospice in the Weald Christmas Fair is back from 25th – 27th November. The Hospice gardens will be transformed into a traditional Christmas market, all under cover. Get ready for Christmas at over 40 stalls, whilst enjoying live music, Santa’s grotto (book in advance), refreshments and more! £5 entry, for a very important cause!
♥ Enjoy Christmas in Tenterden from 25th-27th November. Coinciding with the Christmas-lights switch on, with live music, delicious food and shopping at local stallholders and shops!
♥ St Paul’s Church Centre in Rusthall, is hosting a Christmas market on 26th November at 1-14pm, supporting the 3H Foundation charity.
♥ Enjoy a magical and lavish Christmas at Leeds Castle. Trees will be heavily adorned, huge roaring fireplaces will be lit and rooms will be awash with Christmas colours. Peep into the private world of Lady Baillie as she hosts the Christmas party of the season. The party gets started on 26 November and lasts until 3 January.
♥ Chiddingstone Castle Artisan Christmas Fair is on 26th November, 11am – 4pm. Festive gifts at over 70 stalls at the stunning Chiddingstone Castle. Tickets are £7.50 for an adult and children are £4.
♥ Rochester Castle Christmas Market is set in the picturesque Rochester Castle Gardens and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 26th November and Sunday 11th December, plus Friday 2nd & 9th December. Shop from a variety of stalls, experience the Bavarian food village, funfair and live performers.
♥ Take the family to Wilderness Wood on On 26th and 27th November, 3rd and 4th December and 10th and 11th December for a Christmas Fayre. Christmas trees grown on-site will be sale, alongside decorations and gifts made by local artists, wood-fired pizzas, live music, roasted chestnuts and mulled local cider, plus demonstrations by local craftspeople.
♥ Further afield, Wakehurst gardens are hosting their lantern trail again this year, and they’ve dubbed it Glow Wild. Once the sun sets, the gardens come to life with lighting, projections and soundscapes. It’s also home to the tallest living Christmas tree. Glow Wild opens on 24th November and runs until 1st January 2023. Book tickets HERE.
♥ Kick off the festive season by watching a Christmas-light switch-on. Paddock Wood Lights Up is making an evening of it on 27th November, with live music, food stalls and a raffle.
♥ The gorgeous Pashley Manor opens its Christmas shop for 11 days from 24th November. As well as lovely gifts, there will be mulled wine and mince pies.
♥ Get your skates on with The Mermaid Princess and The Sleeping Princess on the ice at SKATE Tunbridge Wells this Saturday and Sunday morning. Hear LIVE vocal performances, pose for photos and be on hand to wake up the Sleeping Princess if she falls asleep. 10-11am and 11-12pm slots available to book now.
♥ Catch Lyle Lyle Crocodile at Hawkurst Kino this Saturday and Sunday morning at 9.50am for just £5.50 each. Feel good factor = 100%!
♥ The Tonbridge Rotary Christmas Festival will be filling the High Street with music, dance, fairground rides and stalls on Sunday from 4-7pm. Closing with a fireworks display at the Castle. Free to attend.
♥ Wow, Tulleys have a Christmas extravaganza this year. The farm is hosting a 3D cinema, ice skating and a Christmas circus. And if that’s not enough, there’s make-a-bear workshops, a magical elven forest, Christmas market and more. Kicking off from 26th November.
♥ Join the National Trust for a Christmas market at Sissinghurst Castle this weekend. You’ll find plenty of stalls with crafts and gifts for sale along with cosy festive lights, live music and warming seasonal drinks.
♥ If you just cant wait any longer for your Panto fix this year, Maidstone’s Hazlitt Theatre is putting on a dreamy version of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty starting on 26th November to 31st December. It promises laughs, songs and even a fire-breathing dragon.
♥ Kick off the festive season by watching a Christmas-light switch-on. Paddock Wood Lights Up is making an evening of it on 27th November, with live music, food stalls and a raffle.