Free things to do in Kent with children at Christmas
We all know how costly December can be. And if, between the panto trip, Grotto booking, Christmas food shopping, present buying, Christmas Eve box, Christmas Jumper Day, school collections or teacher presents, you've spent more than enough money but would still like to enjoy a festive activity with the kids, then look no further.
Here is a sackful of free (or very cheap!) things to enjoy with the kids across the county in the run up to Christmas...
Storytelling with Santa, Fremlin Walk, Maidstone
Running until Christmas Eve
Join Santa and his trusty elf Sparkle in the Winter Wonderland Cabin as they bring to life the magic of Christmas with your favourite festive stories.
This wonderful experience on select dates until December 24 is free to enjoy but places must be booked in advance, and spaces are allocated on a first come first served basis with emails sent to confirm bookings. To book your child's session click here.
Take a walk or a car ride to find some Christmas lights
Kids love the lights and displays at Christmas and plenty of homes and businesses make a huge effort in December. You can make an adventure of searching for the best displays in your town or village, or going to a particular house or close that is renowned for its amount of Christmas lights.
Mount Pleasant Close in Lyminge and Hawkenbury Road in Tunbridge Wells are both vying for the title of most decorated street. What do you think?
The Tenterden Illuminations, High Street, Tenterden
Running throughout December
Billed as 'the best Christmas lights display in Kent' the lights in Tenterden are switched on at 3.30pm every day and remain on until 11pm. To learn more, including where to park after 6pm when it is free, click here.
Kent Children's University Winter Challenge
Kent's Children's University has set up a series of winter challenges to keep children aged between five and 14 busy in the run up to Christmas.
A guide to the challenges, which include making a cardboard gingerbread house, design and make a Christmas card and make a decoration for a tree, can all be found here alongside more details on how to join the Kent Children's University.
Visit a garden centre
Some of the best Christmas displays can be found in Kent's garden centres in the run up to Christmas. If you've got a couple of hours of time to spare with the kids why not head out and enjoy everything there is to look at from incredible lights to rafts of special displays of decorations.
Some have ice rinks and festive food stands, others aquariums and other small animals to see and Ruxley Manor in Bexley even has real reindeer making a short visit ahead of the festive season as well as large displays of singing and dancing penguins! And if there should be money in the budget at the end of the afternoon perhaps collectively choose a decoration as a family to take home and hang on the tree, and start a new Christmas tradition you can enjoy year after year.
Santa Saturday, Forum Shopping Centre, Sittingbourne
Saturday, December 21
If the kids have some last minute messages for Father Christmas get along to Sittingbourne's shopping centre on Saturday, December 21. Between 11am and 3pm Santa will be stopping by, meeting youngsters and giving out treats. The event is free and there is no need to book.
Rustic Reindeer Making, Milton Creek Country Park, Sittingbourne
Saturday, December 21
The Friends of Milton Creek Country Park will be getting kids out in the fresh air and building reindeer on Saturday. The materials will be locally sourced and kits cost £5. Children must be accompanied by an adult to take part and the event is outside so wrapping up warm is advised! More details and the time slots available here.
Christmas Tea Barn, Little Fant Farm, Maidstone
Sunday, December 22
Enjoy a hot chocolate in the Christmas Tea Barn at Little Fant Farm. The barn at the Farleigh Lane farm has been lit and decorated for Christmas and is the perfect spot in the Kent countryside to enjoy a winter warmer. It is open 11.30 until 3.30pm for the next two Sundays.
Christmas on the Farm, Rosewood Acres, Denstroude Lane, Canterbury
Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22
Grab your wellies and head to Christmas on the Farm in Dunkirk. Alpacas, sheep, donkeys and chickens will be there to meet you along with hot food, hot chocolate, Christmas trees and a few craft stalls. There is also the opportunity to meet Santa in his grotto and collect a present for an additional fee. Postcode CT2 9LA will take you straight to the farm gate. More details here.
Demelza Festive Family Walk, Rook Lane
Sunday, December 22
Kick off your family's Christmas celebrations with a family festive walk around the lanes of the Sittingbourne hospice.
Gates will open at 4pm with the festive walk leaving at 4:30pm. Walkers should bring a light to walk the lanes and look out for the local Christmas lights and see a special visitor along the route!
A family ticket for two adults and two children is just £5. More information here.
Christmas Town Trail, Faversham Town Centre
Running until Sunday, December 22
Download the map and embark on a festive trail throughout the town centre. If the kids can find all 22 missing letters and complete the name of the Christmas song they could be in with a chance of winning a £50 voucher. Entries must be posted in Santa's Garden at 12 Market Place on either Sunday, December 15 or 22. To get a copy of the trail map click here.
Festive baking
If the weather outside is frightful, throw on the Christmas tunes and have a fun afternoon in the kitchen! Kent-based cookery school Cookies Kitchen has shared a fantastically simple gingerbread recipe perfect for children to have a go at here. It's quick and simple and includes many household ingredients you'll probably already have in your cupboards.
Alternatively most supermarkets are currently selling ready-made gingerbread house kits for as little as £4, which the children can then simply spend the time decorating with icing, sweets and dried fruit.
For more Christmas related news and events for families please visit www.mykentfamily.co.uk
