It’s almost that time of year when Kent’s towns and villages will be adorned with glowing Christmas lights and delightfully festive decorations.

So, grab yourself a mulled wine, brush up on your favourite Christmas songs and get ready to watch the county’s streets sparkle at this year’s switch-on events…

CANTERBURY: The annual light parade will feature stars from the Marlowe Theatre panto, the Bloco Fogo Drumming Band and more than 200 glowing lanterns. As the parade travels through the town, performers will switch on the lights and slowly transform the city into a sparkling festive scene.

Details: Friday, November 15 from the Westgate Towers in Canterbury from 6pm

DARTFORD: Britain’s Got Talent winner and star of the Orchard West Theatre panto, Sydnie Christmas, will be helping crowds get in the festive mood with a live performance. The main stage will also see music from the Orchard Choir, Fleetdown Signing Choir and Taylor Swift and Freddie Mercury tribute acts, and the whole thing will be hosted by Channel 5's Milkshake presenter David Ribi.

Details: Saturday, November 16 at the High Street in Dartford from 2pm

DEAL: Get into the festive spirit with fake snow and a visit from Father Christmas. There’s also plenty of time for the kids to get on the fairground rides and grown-ups to enjoy some live music before the lights are switched on.

Details: Saturday, November 23 at the High Street, outside St George’s Church, in Deal from 5.30pm

DOVER: Local artists and schoolchildren will once again participate in the much-loved light procession as part of Dover’s switch-on event. The parade features large-scale lanterns and glow-in-the-dark decorations, and there’s also live entertainment and a winter-themed food village.

Details: Saturday, December 7 at Pencester Gardens in Dover from 1pm

FAVERSHAM: Crowds are set to flock to Faversham’s marketplace to see the historic town covered in twinkling lights. After the switch-on, the nighttime market will open, serving up tasty food and drink, and there will also be live music and entertainment.

Details: Saturday, November 30 at Faversham Market Place from 5pm

FOLKESTONE: The town’s colourful Creative Quarter will look even more magical during the winter months when it’s adorned with glowing decorations. This year, comedian and Absolutely Fabulous star Helen Lederer will be switching on the lights as part of the Creative Folkestone Book Festival, and there will also be festive music.

Details: Friday, November 15 at the Creative Quarter in Folkestone from 5.30pm

Nominate your favourite family restaurant in this year’s Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards

GRAVESEND: Garage duo Artful Dodger will kick off Gravesend’s Christmas celebrations this year. The Re-Rewind singers will be joined on stage by the cast of The Woodville panto to help illuminate the town, and there will also be performances from the GYG choir, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Harrison Pettman and LED stilt walkers.

Details: Saturday, November 16 at the junction of New Road, the High Street and Windmill Street in Gravesend from 1.30pm

HERNE BAY: There’s plenty of free family fun to be had at this year’s switch-on. There will be entertainment from the Herne School Choir, the Herne Bay Concert Band, Blake Sonnett and more, plus Santa’s grotto, fairground rides, face painting, glitter tattoos, street food stalls and bars selling soft drinks and mulled wine.

Details: Sunday, November 17 at Mortimer Street in Herne Bay from 2pm

MAIDSTONE: Snap a picture of your kids with delightful Christmas characters as they wander the streets during the afternoon. These festive street performers, along with kmfm Breakfast presenters Garry and Chelsea and other members of the kmfm team, will help the crowds get excited for the main event.

Details: Thursday, November 21 at Jubilee Square in Maidstone from 4pm

PADDOCK WOOD: The high street will transformed into a charming Christmas market for this year’s switch-on. There will also be a stage where you can catch local schools, choirs and dance groups performing, fairground rides, raffles and a chance to meet Father Christmas.

Details: Sunday, November 24 at Paddock Wood High Street from 2pm

RAMSGATE: The light switch-on signals the start of a six-week Christmas celebration in Ramsgate this year. The new event, named Ramsgate Lumiere, will start with a short lantern parade, colourful light projections, live music and mince pies at the switch-on and will then continue with weekly events until the New Year’s Eve lantern parade.

Details: Sunday, November 24 at St George’s Church in Ramsgate. Times are still to be confirmed.

SANDWICH: There will be festive market stalls open in the morning and family activities, such as face painting and a raffle, and live music throughout the day. Then, in the evening, there will be a lantern parade and the big switch-on.

Details: Saturday, November 30 at the Guildhall Square in Sandwich from 12 noon

SEVENOAKS: The Mayor of Sevenoaks will make a special appearance at this year’s event to switch on the lights. Crowds can also enjoy live entertainment and street performers, food and drink stalls, fairground rides and a Santa’s grotto.

Details: Saturday, November 30 at Sevenoaks High Street from 3pm

SITTINGBOURNE: If you’re in town early on the day of the switch-on, you can spend some time hopping on and off funfair rides, browsing the market stalls and picking up a festive snack before the sun goes down. Then, the decorative lights will brighten up the streets in the evening from 6pm.

Details: Saturday, November 16 at Sittingbourne High Street from 10am

TENTERDEN: As part of the town’s Christmas market, which runs from Friday to Sunday, the centrepiece, a towering festive tree, will be illuminated. This will signal the start of the season for Tenterden residents, who can also enjoy a stroll around the market stalls and treats like mulled wine and cider and Bratwurst sausages.

Details: Friday, November 22 at Tenterden High Street from 12 noon

TONBRIDGE: The Tonbridge Rotary Christmas Festival will host this year’s switch-on event, which includes a funfair, street food, gift stalls and entertainers. After the lights come to life, crowds can gather to watch a spectacular fireworks display.

Details: Sunday, November 24 at Tonbridge High Street from 2pm

TUNBRIDGE WELLS: Ore Oduba, Strictly champ and star of Aladdin, this year’s panto at the Assembly Hall Theatre, will be switching on the lights with the help of Father Christmas. Our very own kmfm presenters will be hosting the event, which includes live music from Absolute Gospel Choir and the Rock Choir.

Details: Saturday, November 16 at Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells from 12 noon

WEST MALLING: This year’s switch-on is part of West Malling’s Christmas Festival, where visitors can enjoy a whole day of festive fun. There’s music from local artists, family entertainment, treats and seasonal drinks, rides, a Santa’s grotto and delightful decorations.

Details: Sunday, November 17 at West Malling High Street from 12 noon

WESTGATE-ON-SEA: The festive fayre will be setting up shop for the day, bringing with it a great range of Christmas food, drink, gift and craft stalls. There will be two stages brimming with live music and dancers, while families can catch a glimpse of Father Christmas as part of the parade and, of course, the lights will be switched on at the end of the day.

Details: Sunday, December 1 at Station Road in Westgate-on-Sea from 11am

WHITSTABLE: While some of the details are still being ironed out, organisers have confirmed that this year’s switch-on will go ahead and they are encouraging locals to come out and support the event. There will be music at the harbour in the afternoon, mulled wine on sale, a lantern parade and a stunning Christmas tree that will be covered in glittering lights and decorations.

Details: Saturday, November 30 at Whitstable Harbour from 1pm