tacres@thekmgroup.co.uk

@TomAcresKM

Festive fun comes early to Gravesham this year as the council decrees that Christmas will indeed be every day.

Or at least it will be starting from Friday, November 13, when a huge Christmas lights parade makes its way through Gravesend town centre with bands and costumed school children joining in the fun.

Gravesham mayor Cllr Mick Wenban will lead the youngsters – all carrying homemade lanterns – from St George’s Shopping Centre at 4.30pm, accompanied by dancing Santas and a mobile snow machine, before the big lights switch-on in Community Square.

Last year’s illuminations won second place in a national competition and the £3,000 prize has been spent on lights at the Clock Tower.

The cast of this year’s pantomime, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, will make an appearance during the parade, including EastEnders star Ricky Norwood, who plays the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The festivities get sporty on Saturday, November 21, with a climbing wall, a reindeer rodeo and a snowboard simulator in Community Square. The afternoon ends with a Santa Dash. Registration for that starts at 3.30pm with the race itself at 4.30pm.

Other events take place at Cascades and Cygnet leisure centres all day and into the evening as well as at Meopham Tennis and Fitness Centre and NRG gym.

A week later, on November 28, Windmill Hill will transform into a winter wonderland, culminating with a candlelit parade and light show at 4.30pm led by Father Christmas. There will be live music throughout.

The popular Fayre in the Square makes its return on Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5, with the Mayor’s Christmas Carol Concert on the Friday.

After previous Guinness World Record attempts – which included the most people in elf hats and the most people wearing festive jumpers – the goal this year is get hundreds of people together wearing deely boppers.

Turn up at Community Square at 1pm on Friday, December 11 with a head bopper if you are keen to enter the record books, and be entertained along the way by a DJ, dancing and choir performances, and a rodeo reindeer.

Also on December 11, people will be invited to donate decorations and help dress trees for those who might otherwise miss out.

St George’s Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church will be hosting tree-trimming events that day. The council is providing 5ft trees which people will be asked to decorate. The trees will be donated to charities and families in need.

The following day there will be an arts trail between the two churches with people invited to vote for their favourite tree.

There will also be a Princess and Superhero parade at Community Square on Saturday, December 19.

More events will be added to the Gravesham Christmas Advent Calendar at christmasingravesend.co.uk. The website launches tomorrow (Friday).