THE COUNTDOWN!

There’s Christmas magic in the air and Kent’s festive lights are getting set to sparkle. Angela Cole looks at where to catch the big festive switch-ons near you this weekend.

1 ASHFORD & THE SNOWDOGS FINALE

The magical arts trail that has captured the county’s imagination, featuring the colourful Ashford Snowdogs, will be saying their final goodbyes in the town centre this weekend. They will get to see the lights switchon take place in County Square Shopping Centre from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday, November 17. And there will be a family fun day leading up to the festivities, with live music on the bandstand and secret stone painting in County Square Kennel. There will also be a meet-and-greet with The Snowman and The Snowdog. You can see all of them together at the Julie Rose Stadium next weekend, before they are auctioned off at the Ashford International Hotel to raise funds for the Pulgrims Hospice.

More details at ashfordsnowdogs.co.uk

2 CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON

More than 100,000 Christmas lights will be switched on in Canterbury with the help of the cast of the Marlowe Theatre’s pantomime, Cinderella on Friday, November 16.

The show stars

Mister Maker, pictured right, Loose Women’s Sally Lindsay and local favourites Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett. The action takes place in St George’s Street between 4pm and 6pm with live music with the big switch-on taking place between 5.30pm and 6pm. There will also be musicians and entertainment and a snow machine. The Christmas market will also open until 8pm. Find out more at Mycanterbury.co.uk

3 WESTWOOD CROSS, THANET

kmfm Breakfast hosts Garry and Laura will be joining The X Factor finalists The Four of Diamonds at the Westwood Cross shopping centre, Broadstairs, between 4pm and 7pm on Friday, November 16.

The pair will be helping to switch on the shopping centre’s Christmas lights just before 6pm, enjoying a performance from the girl band and other bands and groups including Tyber from the Dulaers, and Bjorn Again, and kick starting the Christmas festivities.

The cast from the Theatre Royal panto at Margate, Jack and the Beanstalk, will also be on hand. Last year thousands were at the switch-on to see Garry and Laura present festivities with stars Gabby and Marcel from ITV’S Love Island.

Garry and Laura will also be at the Mall, Maidstone, the following day with the kmfm Street Team for the Christmas grotto opening.

4 GRAVESEND & DARTFORD TOWN CENTRE LIGHTS SWITCH-ONS

Children from local schools will take part in a procession for Gravesend’s lights switch-on on Friday, November 16, which heads through the town before ending up at Gravesend Borough Market for a light show and appearance by the cast of Peter Pan from 5.30pm. To learn more visit visitgravesend.co.uk

Dartford town centre’s switch-on is on Saturday, November 17 from 2.15pm at One Bell Corner, with live music, entertainment and the switch-on at 5.20pm.

5 TUNBRIDGE WELLS & SEVENOAKS LIGHTS

kmfm’s Rob Wills is hosting this year’s event at the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre on Sunday, November 18, with a range of other activities on offer, including a chance to meet the famous cheese-loving duo Wallace and Gromit, see the biggest teddy in town and, of course, the arrival of Santa himself. He lands in the town from noon, accompanied by panto stars Claire Sweeney (below) and Derek Moran, with his Grotto open to visitors until 4.30pm. The lights will be switched on between 12pm and 12.30pm. In Sevenoaks, the festivities happen in the High Street on Friday, November 30 with fairground rides, entertainment and craft stalls.

See our panto chats on Page 19

6 ROCHESTER & SITTINGBOURNE

Rochester’s lights will be switched on on Saturday, November 17, with family entertainment from 3pm. Visitors should look out for the stars of Chatham’s pantomime, Dick Whittington and his cat, who will be making an appearance including Dancing on Ice champ Ray Quinn, pictured left, CBBC presenter Joe Trancini and panto veteran Ian Good. The Christmas lights will be turned on at 5pm. More Medway lights switch-ons are ahead. Visit enjoymedway.org for more. Sittingbourne’s lights are also to be turned on on Saturday, November 17. The town centre is once again looking forward to a switch-on after the cancellation of last year’s event. There will be a Christmas market and music from 11am. The switch-on is between 5.15pm and 5.30pm.