Christmas wishes

With Christmas lights a-twinkling and Santa welcoming families into his grottos, there’s plenty going on across Kent to have you reaching for the tinsel. Angela Cole looks at some of the highlights to look out for from illuminated trails to nostalgic trip

1 WARTIME CHRISTMAS, GILLINGHAM

Experience a wartime Christmas at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 with 1940s-style entertainment and the chance to learn how to lindy hop and cook a Christmas dinner on rations. Visitors can browse vintage market stalls and listen to familiar wartime songs and Christmas carols. Students from Midkent College will be replicating 40s hairstyles, and there will be talks and demonstrations, plus hands-on crafts, and an opportunity to visit Sapper Santa Christmas and receive a traditional Christmas gift. There will be live music from Miss Holiday Swing and on the Sunday the Brompton Military Wives Choir will be singing live. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm. Details at re-museum.co.uk. The magical illuminated trail turns Bedgebury Pinetum into a forest of festive lights. The winter wonderland trail, which runs after dark until Sunday, December 30, has highlights including the Tunnel of Light, with more than a million tiny lights twinkling along a 70m-long immersive walkway under a tree canopy; lanterns and fountains of light and a scented Fire Garden. There will also be artworks from Tilt and Pitaya nestled into the forest landscape. There are also some hidden surprises to look out for, including snowflakes, shimmering

2 CHRISTMAS AT BEDGEBURY, GOUDHURST

stars and gigantic baubles in unexpected places. Tickets are £17 and £10.50 for children or £50 for a family. Under fives and carers free. There are extra costs for some activities. Book by calling 0844

995 1365 or go online at christmasatbedgebury.co.uk

2 ROCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET

The market in the grounds of Rochester Castle makes its final appearance of the festive period from Friday, December

7 to Sunday, December 9, with guaranteed snowfall. After the excitement of last week’s Dickensian Christmas Festival, there’ll be more time to browse stalls and pick up unique gifts and unusual stocking fillers. There will also be live performances, a funfair and a Bavarian food village where guests can buy German Bratwurst sausages, a hog roast and churros. The funfair rides will cost £1 on the Friday. Festivities will be open from noon to 8pm on Friday, and 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Details at medway.gov.uk/christmas

4 FOOD FESTIVAL & CHRISTMAS AT WHITSTABLE CASTLE

Festive foodie goodies will be on offer at Whitstable Castle on Sunday, December 9 for the annual Food Festival. Besides the food there will be fairground rides and face painting at the castle in Tower Hill between 10am and 4pm. There will be music from the Useless Pluckers Ukelele Band and a visit from the Lindley Players panto. There’s also the chance to visit Santa in his grotto if you pre-book at £5 per child. Call 01227 281726 or visit whitstablecastle.com

5 FESTIVE ROLLER RINK, DREAMLAND

If ice skating feels a bit chilly for you, try the Festive Roller Rink where you can skate indoors at Dreamland in Margate. Held in the Roller Disco, you can glide along to tunes from the Frosted FM DJ, between noon and 4pm on Saturday, December 8, and again on Saturdays, December 15 and 22 and Sunday, December 23 and Christmas Eve. Other festive events on at the theme park include a visit from The Snowman and the Snow Dog and a giant snow globe. To find out more go to dreamland.co.uk

n To find out where else to skate across Kent, check out our round-up online of ice rinks across the county and beyond at kentonline.co.uk/whats-on/news

6 WALMER CASTLE TOURS

Get a look at Walmer Castle out of hours with a tour when the rooms are festively decorated.

Tours are on Thursdays December 6, 13 and 20 at 3pm and 6pm. Tickets cost £14 and £10 for ages five to 15. Visit english-heritage.org. uk/walmer to find out more. Nearby Dover Castle’s Second World War Christmas continues this weekend with a trip into the wartime Home Front days on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9. Hear stories about the officer’s’ mess at the castle garrison and help bake some Christmas treats on rations.

There’s also a chance to see a festive falconry show and watch lindy hop dancing. Tickets for the event between 10am and 3pm cost £20 and £12 for ages five to 15. Find out more at englishheritage.org.uk/dover