A community event featuring live entertainment, a new lights installation and a fireworks finale will take place next weekend.

The annual Dartford Festival of Lights will return to the High Street on Friday November 17 at 6pm.

The celebrations hosted by Cohesion Plus (CP) will begin with live performances from street acts and local musicians.

Samba band Bloco Fogo will play the beats of Rio Carnival while Kings of Dhol will drum their signature fusion sounds from North India.

DDFK will also perform brass renditions of classic songs and a New Orleans-style band, Native Oysters will bring the tunes of Mississipi.

A lantern parade by 11 schools from the area will lead the crowd to Central Park to see a new lights display which the public will be able to enjoy across the evening.

The festival will end with a spectacular fireworks show in the night sky at 7pm.

The event will be supported by partners Arts Council England and local business KKB Group.

Creative Director of CP, Gurvinder Sandher said: “The Festival is now in its 14th year which is a wonderful achievement and we are once again proud to be working with Dartford borough on this community celebration which brings together residents from across the borough.

“This year in addition to the lantern parade we will have an array of light installations in and around Central Park which we hope everyone will enjoy as well as the fireworks finale.”