Although temperatures have dipped to single figures this week, the last thing children on their way home from school expected was snow.

However, that is exactly what came drifting down to the ground outside the Civic Centre on Monday afternoon, much to the delight of children who squealed with excitement.

The snow turned out to be soap bubbles and was used to launch the council’s Christmas programme based on the 12 Days of Christmas.

Day one begins on November 15 when the town’s Christmas lights are switched on.

There will be a festival of light parade and a large bird on stilts, loosely based on a partridge in a pear tree, leading the festival through the town centre.

The lights are switched on in stages, ending with a large Christmas tree being lit up in Community Square.

Other events will take place each Friday and Saturday in the run-up to the Christmas holiday.

There will be competitions and festive fun throughout, including professional entertainers dancing in the streets as lords-a-leaping, craft classes, baking competitions, ice sculptures and charity fund raisers.

Based on Three French Hens, signifying faith, hope and charity, one of the fundraising opportunities is a world record attempt of Santa’s elves collecting for our charity shops on Elf Help Day.

There will be a drumming extravaganza on December 21 starting at 10.30am with Twelve Drummers Drumming in Community Square, a marching band entertaining last minute shoppers, followed by a day’s programme of different bands and groups including the Black Knights, Steel Ambition, Six Years Lost and The Usual Suspects.

Other entertainment throughout the day includes a live nativity scene, a rodeo reindeer and other attractions.

Council leader John Burden said: “By staging the biggest and best range of events we aim to make Gravesend the town centre of choice for Christmas shoppers.

“At a time when some other councils have cut back on the trimmings, like cancelling Christmas lights, we have forged partnerships to expand the offering to families and make this a Christmas to remember.”