Christmas in Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne and the surrounding villages have so much to offer this Christmas, so come along and enjoy the fun.
Christmas Fairs
Saturday 30th November
Christmas Handmade Fayre - Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Church Street.
13:00 to 15:30 - The finest local artisans with something for everyone. Christmas Crafts and Stalls, homemade preserves, Osborne Books, face painting and glitter tatoos, sweets and cakes, bodycare products, sand art and lots lots more! There will also be a Children's Corner and hot drinks and biscuits will be available too. Entry is FREE.
Christmas Bazaar - Milstead Village Hall
10:00 to 12:00 - Christmas is coming and St Mary and the Holy Cross Church in Milstead is holding a bazaar at the village hall in Rawling Street. Entry is £1 and there will be refreshments, cakes, gifts, paintings by local artists, bric-a-brac and a hamper raffle
Sunday 1st December
Friends of Bredgar School Christmas Fair - Bredgar Village Hall
11:00 to 15:00 - They will be the School choir, children's games, refreshments, cakes, mulled wine, mince pies and much more. Santa will be in his grotto £2.50 (11.30am - 2.30pm). 50p entrance fee per adult
Saturday 7th December
A Newnham Christmas - The George Inn Newnham
17:00 - Join us for a festive celebration in the village of Newnham here at The George Inn. Traditional Christmas Market, light switch on, festive food and drink, roasted chestnuts, Carol singing, LIVE music and a very special guest!!!
Tunstall Festive Food Fayre - Tunstall Village Hall
10:to 13:00 - Enjoy some of Kent's finest produce and meet the artisans who create these wonderful delights. There will be Pickles and Preserves, gift sets and hampers, Craft beers, wines, local honey, breads and patisseries, cheeses, meat game and sausages, pies cakes desserts, confectionary and fudges, Christmas cards and calenders , Teas coffees and savoury bites and a raffle.
Saturday 14th December
Sittingbourne Christmas Artisan Market
10:00 to 16:00 - It's the monthly Sittingbourne Artisan Market today but with a Christmas twist. With festive goods ranging from specialised bakes, cakes, cheese, candles, cards, ales, ciders, confectionery, jewellery and christmas gifts galore. Every purchase is truly bespoke with it's own Homemade, Handmade history. So go and have a browse around the distinctive blue gazebos and get something unique to take home and enjoy for the festive season.
Concert and Carol Services
Monday 9th December
Annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols - Holy Trinity Church
19:00 - This year the choir will be from the Upchurch Choral Society. A buffet supper with a glass of wine or soft drink will be served afterwards in the Church Hall. A donation of £5 is suggested.
Saturday 14th December
Sittingbourne Orpheus Choral Society - 'Christmas Favourites'
19:30 - Bring the family along to enjoy traditional Christmas carols and music with audience participation at Highsted Grammar School. Tickets £10. Under 11's free. Students Under 18 £5. Contact Amanda Boyne: 01795 423854 or email: amanda_boyne@hotmail.com or book online at: www.wegottickets.co./events/486350
Sunday 15th December
'A Singin' Swingin' Christmas Show' with Sue Caroline and The Andy Wall Trio - The Avenue Theatre
19:00 - An intimate Christmas Show celebrating the very best classic Christmas songs and carols, offering a warm traditional evening of glitz and glamour plus a little audience participation. Everything you need to start your Christmas in style! Tickets £10.00 ON SALE NOW! BOOK TICKETS ONLINE (takes you to online booking page - 6.5% booking fee applicable) Box Office:- 01795 471140
Christmas Shows and Events
Saturday 30th November
Christmas Movie Afternoon - Kemsley Primary Academy
3.30pm - Please come join us for a festive film afternoon, drinks, snacks and other festive treats will be available. All profit goes to Macmillan, Sparks & VICTA. Tickets are £2.50, doors open at 3.30pm for a 4pm showing
Sunday 1st December
Jack & the Beanstalk - The Appleyard Avenue of Remembrance
14:00 - Come along and enjoy this family pantomime at The Appleyard on Sunday December 1st for a matinee performance starting at 2pm. This is a professional touring production and the ultimate treat for your children. Tickets Adults £7 / Children £5. Available from The Appleyard office Tel 01795 427852.
Iwade Christmas Lights
16:30 - The Event will start off with a lantern parade from Iwade village hall in Ferry Road to the junction with Grovehurst Road and Sheppey way where the Christmas Tree is. From 4.30pm to 6.30pm a road closure will be in place along the route.
Performances will take place at about 5pm by the Elite Dancers group and Iwade Can Sing Choir is going to be performing traditional and modern festive songs. The actual switch on will be at 5.30pm and Father Christmas will be meeting with the children afterwards.
Friday 6th December
The Avenue Miracle on 34th Street (1994 version) - Avenue Theatre
18.45 - This Family/fantasy film is about a lawyer and a little girl who must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing. Stars Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott.
Tickets available on 01795 471140 (includes FREE mince pies and chocolates), website www.avenuetheatre.co.uk film takes l hour 54 mins.
Sunday 8th December
Breakfast With Santa - Holiday Inn Sittingbourne
9:30 - Our delicious Santa Specials include the chance for your family to join us for breakfast and enjoy the Christmas spirit - with a ho-ho-ho surprise arrival from the big man himself. To book call 01795 412188 or email salesmgr@conistonhotelkent.com
Saturday 14th December
Aladdin and the Pirates - Avenue Theatre
14:00 or 18:30 - Aladdin and the Pirates is a traditional family pantomime performed by the talented children of Creativedge Productions. There'll be two showings, starting at 2pm and 6.30pm. Tickets cost £9.50, or £8.50 for under-14s and over-60s, and can be purchased online at www.avenuetheatre.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01795 471140.
Santa Train Event - Sittingbourne to Sheerness Stations
Join us on our Santa Train Event. 14th December where you can meet Santa and Mrs,Claus, a superhero, have your face painted and join in with some crafts. Activities on board and the chance to meet Santa is all free but you are required to buy your own tickets to travel on the train.
Due to demand we cannot guarantee everyone will meet Santa in person unless you pre-book at Eventbrite and secure one of our free limited tickets. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/santatrain19-tickets-7896241… Book now to avoid disappointment.
The event takes place between 13:48 and 15:43. You can board the train from any of our 5 stations:
Sheerness 13:48 and 14:48
Queenborough 13:53 and 14:53
Swale 13:57 and 14:57
Kemsley 14:01
Sittingbourne 14:25
Sunday 15th December
Christmas Carols and Lunch - The Appleyard
Enjoy a 2 Course Christmas Lunch followed by a festive afternoon of carols by the UKP Band
15th - 24th December
Wizard of Oz Pantomime at Swallows Leisure Centre
Various times 10am 1pm 2pm and 6pm.
STARRING:
Harry Potter’s "PERCY WEASLEY" CHRIS RANKIN as THE WIZARD OF OZ
EASTENDER’s "LUCY BEALE" MELISSA SUFFIELD as DOROTHY GALE
We’re off to see…a wizardly wonderful musical pantomime adventure, The Wizard of Oz!
Join Dorothy Gale as she befriends a brainless Scarecrow, a loveable Tin Man and the cowardly Lion on their quest to thwart the evil powers of the Wicked Witch of the West. With a little help from Glinda the Good Fairy and the almighty and powerful Wizard of Oz, good is sure to conquer evil.
This Christmas treat is fun for all the family from ages 2 to 102! Packed with great songs, brilliant dance routines and plenty of laughter, it’s going to be the best value family-friendly pantomime in town!
Book now and join us on a magical adventure to the Land of Oz!
Tickets From Only £8.00
To Book tickets call the Box Office on 01795 420420
Book online at www.sittingbournepanto.co.uk
Book in Person at The Swallows Leisure Centre.
Friday 20th December
Swale Film Society - 'It's A Wonderful Life' - The Avenue Theatre
19:45 - Guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face, It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmas tradition that's too good to miss! George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all - and it's Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence - who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn't been for all his good deeds over the years.
Tickets £2.50 Members, £4.50 Non Members. BOOK TICKETS ONLINE (takes you to online booking page - 6.5% booking fee applicable). Box Office:- 01795 471140.
Wizard of Oz Pantomime Relaxed Showing
14:00 - Swale Community Leisure are proud to announce that along with the traditional Wizard of Oz Pantomime, there is a relaxed performance at Swallows. The relaxed performance will take place on Friday 20th December at 2pm.
The performance will see lower sound levels, raised lighting levels meaning that attendees are able to leave the performance if needed. The environment is more suitable for those with additional needs or anyone who may benefit from a more relaxed performance. There will be refreshments available to purchase, however your able to bring in any particular snacks/drinks, if required. Entry Price £9
Other Christmas Events
30th November / 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd December
Santa Specials at Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
Trains will depart from Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm.
Bookings are now open for Santa Specials in November/December, pre-booking is essential so that the correct number of passengers can be carried on the train allowing Santa to plan presents and our Catering Team to provide seasonal refreshment
The fare includes the roundtrip from Sittingbourne Viaduct station, departing on the hour, so please arrive at least 15 minutes early to complete your ticket and voucher collection.
After the 15 minute journey to Kemsley Down, Father Christmas leads passengers to the Footplate Café where adults receive their seasonal refreshments and children visit Santa’s Grotto.
One adult must accompany a child visiting Santa – the child will be able to choose a gift from a selection of quality toys.
There will be some time afterwards to venture out and look around Kemsley Down where we have a shop, museum and garden railway.
The train will return to Sittingbourne Viaduct station to complete the entire trip within two hours
Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th December
Tunstall Christmas Tree Festival - St. John the Baptist Church
10:00 to 17:00 - For the 5th year running, Tunstall Church is hosting its magical festival of Christmas trees. Last year saw over 100 trees contributed by schools, charities, businesses and people in the local area celebrating every aspect of Christmas. isitors can expect a similarly amazing variety of wonderful and memorable exhibits this year! Donations to support the church and Young Carers charity will be welcome.
Friday 6th to Wednesday 11th December
Cribs from the World - SS Peter & Paul Church Borden
10:00 to 16:00 except Sunday 11:00 to 16:00 - Borden Church invite you to come and see how Christmas is celebrated around the world through this unique exhibition of cribs. This wonderful display of cribs vary in size from a complete stable and figures carved on the head of a match to a whole village covering a table top. There is something to interest all ages and will definitely be worth a visit.
The cribs will go on display between Friday 6th December - Wednesday 11th December from 10am to 4pm daily (Sunday 11am - 5 pm). Refreshments, raffle and toilets available in Borden Forge on Friday Saturday and Sunday from 10am -3,30 pm.
The exhibition is being held in aid of the Children's Society who are committed to helping disadvantaged children have a better life. What better time to support this worthy cause than during the Christmas season. Contact Mary Whitehead 01795 475754 for details.
Friday 6th to Sunday 8th December
Bobbing Christmas Tree Festival - Saint Bartholomew's Church
12:00 to 16:00 - Bobbing Church is holding its annual Christmas Tree festival -- promising to be a wonderful opportunity for individuals, groups and businesses to come together in promotion and celebration of everything they have to offer. Everyone is invited to join in and offer support, whether that's by helping decorate the Christmas tree or simply heading over and enjoying the festival.
Saturday 7th/14th December
Santa Saturdays at The Forum
11:00 - 15:00 - Were so excited to announced that Santa will be making a stop off for not 1 .. but 2 dates at The Forum!. On the 7th and 14th December from 11-3pm, kids will be able to meet Santa himself and receive a free festive treat. Also Take a selfie in the Santa and Snowman Baubles in the centre and upload to our social platforms using the hashtag #ForumXmasSelfie and two lucky winners will receive a £25 The Works voucher. Head to our Facebook page for more info and get snapping!
Sunday 8th December
The Borden Cristmas Tree Lights Switch On - The Playstool, Borden
15:00 to 17:30 - Come along for mulled wine, mince pies and some fun at this lovely snowy village event all proceeds raised to help support the village fete. There will be fun games, stalls and side shows and dance and singing performances. Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 5.15 followed by carols from Sittingbourne Rock Choir and prayers.
Sunday 15th December
Rustic Reindeer Making
10:00 to 12:00 - You will be making rustic reindeer from kits. Parts will be sourced from local materials and kits will cost £5 each. Spaces will be limited so please book by emailing miltoncreek@swale.gov.uk. We will be working out in the park so please wrap up warm.
If you do require additional information, full details of all these events can be found on our events page.