by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

A family of penguins and a mechanical hippo will be just a few of the larger than life characters making Maidstone’s streets brighter this Sunday at the town’s lights switch-on.

Hieronymus the hippo, part-animal, part-mechanical, will be parading a puppet show for children while the Penguin Family and samba band Bloco Fogo will be livening up the County town’s streets from noon onwards.

The lights extravaganza, which is one of a number of festive events being held in the town centre on Sunday (November 21) will culminate in the switching-on of the town centre lights by Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Eric Hotson at 5pm.

The street theatre, entertainment and lights have all been organised by Maidstone Town Centre Management.

The Hazlitt Theatre’s pantomime stars for this year’s production, Beauty and the Beast, will also be in the town after 4.30pm.

After the switch-on there will also be music, introduced by kmfm presenter Rob Wills, who will be on hand through the afternoon from 2pm.