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More on KentOnline
With the cost of visits to see Father Christmas, festive markets and pantomimes racking up, what can you do to keep children entertained while not breaking the bank?
We have already looked at how to save on food, gifts and decorations and now we have found some of the best decked out, festive houses to visit that will only cost you the price of petrol – and perhaps a small donation to charity.
Judy and John Parker in Canterbury kick-off this round-up of the best display with their illuminations in Reed Avenue which they have been putting up since November.
They are raising money for the Padua Ward at William Harvey Hospital after one of their nine grandchildren had chemotherapy treatment there.
The pair are also accepting donations such as books, toys or games which can be given to the ward.
Judy said: "It started with just a row of lights and it just grew from there. Now we add something new every year and it takes three or four weeks to put the whole lot up.
"John has built a lot of it himself, including the sleigh and reindeers, as well as other decorations from pool noodles made to look like candy canes.
"The children love it, and we love doing it and seeing how people react.
"Our grandchild was in and out of Padua Ward so we know how amazing the teams there are and we wanted to help other children who need treatment there.
"Thankfully John is happy going up and down ladders because of his previous work, and he has a special platform that makes it all easier.
"He has had two knee replacements but he is up and down there like you would not believe. I do not see us stopping any time soon – we just might have to start putting the lights up earlier as we get older."
The lights are on every night from 6pm to 9pm. You can donate to their fundraiser here.
Paul Knight has spent around four weeks putting together his annual display with his two sons Richard and PJ and the help of family members Chris and Jade.
The 57-year-old said: "There was a gentleman around the corner and he started me off. I said I did not want to do it but I gave in and did it and it has just grown from there.
"I just love it. I need to make people smile and children smile. I am like a big kid really. My boys have helped me this year to put it all up, they have been brilliant.
"We are just going to take a chance even through the electric has gone up."
It is the 19th year the family in Canada Close will be lighting up their house and this time it is in honour of the children's ward at William Harvey Hospital.
This year's display includes figures of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a blow up grotto, Santa and Rudolph and an array of colourful lights.
The Knight's held a light switch-on on December 1. The decorations will be on from 5pm to 9pm until the end of the year.
The Hedges family decorate their home in Wigmore Road for every season and this year is no different as they transform the front ofthe house into Whoville, inspired by Christmas film 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'.
Each year mother and daughter duo, Nicola and Lavinia, collect items from bootfairs and online market places which they can upcycle in their decorations, and also buy rarer ones from America.
This year's decorations include lights, a fireplace, projections of short clips from the film and a Grinch on the roof which was put up with the help of cleaning company Clearwater Kent.
Daughter Lavinia said: "We have been planning this since around May to get it all together and its taken about two weeks to get it up and out. It has been a long process.
"We love the Grinch and the meaning behind it. People spend so much and feel this pressure to but the meaning in the film is about spending time with the family.
"It is more about the people you are with. We are hoping this year's display will be really successful."
The Christmas house will be lit up from dark and the display will stay up until the start of January.
The family will also be collecting donations for children's charity My Shining Star and the local food bank as they do each season. You can donate here.
Their most recent Harry Potter themed Halloween display raised more than £8,500 for the Rainham-based charity.
And they are not the only ones in Gillingham getting involved in the festivities.
Zoe Murphy is hoping to win a UK-wide competition for the largest display in the country with her decorations at her mum Jackie's house in Kingsway, Darland.
She has spent almost £1,000 building her display with her friend Luke Palmer.
Zoe said: "It started off as a hobby as we liked the decorations. We just decided to give it a go ourselves and thought why don't we put it all together and make a display.
"We just loving seeing everyone's faces when they come see it. It is a bit addictive seeing ow much joy it brings people."
Despite having a slight set-back on Friday when someone stole the front of their Coca-Cola truck, the pair's lights will still be on throughout the festive season.
They are also raising money for My Shining Star and collecting foodbank donations. You can donate here.
Kelly Solly and her husband Neil have been planning their display since the beginning of November along with their two neighbours.
The three households decorate their front gardens every year and this time around have included a sleigh, archways, reindeers and lots of lights.
Kelly said she uses LED lights so the price to run the display is "pennies" a day.
She added: "We were willing to take that cost on so the community can enjoy the lights.
"As we were decorating it, there was people walking by getting excited and asking when the switch-on was.
"We absolutely enjoy it. We love doing it and will keep doing it until we move out. It is seeing the faces of people light up."
The group in Rochester Road are also raising money for the ellenor Hospice, in Northfleet, which people are welcome to donate to when they visit.
The lights will be on from 4.30pm until 9.30pm until the end of the month.
A front garden and driveway in Milton Street has been completely taken over and transformed into a winter wonderland with 66 trees and 28,000 lights.
Jip Mctavish and his wife Jayne have been creating their festive scenes for around eight years but said it really took off after 2020.
He joked: "It has got all out of hand. We have to keep doing it or we will have to move."
This year's display – at the junction with Charlton Street – is a bit different to previous years as it includes a walk-through route for visitors. It took four days to put together.
Jip added: "I love where I live and it makes everyone smile. It has just got bigger and bigger. I have sacrificed my parking but it is worth it. I just want to cheer up as many people as possible."
The pair are also raising money to help create explosive hazard awareness playing cards for Ukraine. You can donate here.
Also in Maidstone, 16-year-old Callum Dunne has decorated his house in Queen Elizabeth Road for the third time.
He held a switch-on with his neighbours a few weeks ago which saw the outside of the house lit up in green, red and blue.
The teenager has raised hundreds of pounds each year for charity Homeless Care, which runs a day centre for homeless people and a foodbank, and will be continuing to do so this time around.
And finally, Paul and Lisa Matthews are back for the 13th year running with their display in Romney Road dedicated to the ellenor Hospice.
It is also being used to remember their mother-in-law who passed away a few weeks ago. Paul said: "She loved the lights so we are doing it in her name too.
"It is for the community. I love hearing the kids outside when I am here. We will keep doing it until we cannot any more.
"We enjoy it. I love doing it. It brings us joy to do it and then brings people joy as well. It makes us happy knowing we are making others happy."
This year Paul has created a front room scene complete with a fireplace, Christmas tree, a train, blow up characters and nutcrackers along with a load of lights.
The lights are turned on at 3pm until 10pm everyday and will be up until the start of January.
Do you know of any more festive houses? Comment below so others know where else to visit.
