Canterbury Christmas lights switch on 2018

A whopping 118,000 Christmas lights will be switched on in Canterbury next Friday.

The event on November 16 has been moved to a Friday for the first time to both coincide with the opening of the Christmas market and to appeal to families with young children.

The time of the switch-on event - 4pm until 6pm - has also been moved forward slightly to ensure families who are keen to come along and let their little ones enjoy the fun can still get their exhausted offspring into bed at a reasonable hour.

Although the Christmas market in Whitefriars will stay open until 8pm to signal the start of festive celebrations and welcome people keen to stay on and shop or enjoy some festive refreshments including hot chocolate and mulled wine.

Five miles of Christmas lights throughout the city centre are awaiting the grand switch-on event which will take place with cast members from this year's Marlowe Theatre pantomime Cinderella.

Families can expect live music and entertainment from special guests, with the big countdown and light switch-on itself due to take place between 5.30pm and 6pm.

To add to the Christmas cheer, say organisers, Canterbury City Council is providing a free park and ride from 3pm on Friday to help families get into the city centre and buses will run until 9pm back to the sites on the outskirts.

To learn more about the event visit Mycanterbury.co.uk

For a complete run down of Christmas lights switch on events across Kent see here.