The countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun – there’s only a handful of weekends left until the big day and, before you know it, you’ll be watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks and singing Auld Lang Syne.

To make sure you don’t miss out on a moment of festive cheer over this next month (and to keep the kids from finding that hidden stash of presents), we’ve come up with some great family days out every weekend from now until Christmas.

WEEKEND ONE: NOVEMBER 30 AND DECEMBER 1

Start the day off with a stroll around Rochester Castle’s Christmas Market, which opens for the season on Friday, November 29. The sprawling market has lots of outdoor stalls, fairground rides, mulled wine bars and a Bavarian food village and is the perfect place to pick up some Christmas gifts. It’s open all weekend, so you can visit on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Then, to warm yourselves up in the afternoon, you can take your seats at the Hazlitt Theatre panto, Cinderella, which opens on Saturday, November 30 and runs at the Maidstone venue until New Year’s Eve. Joe Meloy returns as the dame while a cast of local stars shine as Cinderella, Prince Charming, the Fairy Godmother and the Evil Stepsisters.

In the evening, there are some great Christmas light switch-ons to get you in the spirit of the season. You can watch live performances and the lantern parade at Whitstable Harbour, or celebrate the switch-on in Faversham with the late-night market and musical acts. Both events take place on Saturday, November 30.

WEEKEND TWO: DECEMBER 7 AND 8

Watch former Pop Idol singer Gareth Gates and doctor-turned-musical-theatre-star Ranj Singh perform in this year’s Bromley panto, Snow White. The timeless tale opens up at the Churchill Theatre on Saturday, December 7 and runs until Sunday, January 5 2025, with regular morning, matinee and evening performances.

Later that day, Dover will be turned into a twinkling winter wonderland with a light procession that features local artists and schoolchildren carrying large-scale lanterns and glow-in-the-dark decorations through the town. There will also be a festive food village and live entertainment during the day.

Over the weekend, make time to visit Rochester as its annual Dickensian Christmas Festival returns. There will be Victorian decorations, theatrical street entertainment, carol singers and a parade with characters from Dickens’ classic stories. The festival takes place on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8.

Nominate your favourite cosy winter pub or cafe in this year’s Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards

WEEKEND THREE: DECEMBER 14 AND 15

Wrap up warm and head to the coast to visit Christmas World, the festive experience at Margate’s Dreamland. It opens from Saturday, December 14 and sees the vintage fairground transform into a snowy scene with a Santa’s grotto, activities with Santa’s elves, an indoor snowball fight, an electric sleigh ride and food and drink stalls.

That evening, you can catch the opening night of Sleeping Beauty, this year’s panto at Dartford’s Orchard West Theatre. The show will be spreading Christmas cheer from Saturday, December 14 to Sunday, January 5 2025 and stars Britain’s Got Talent winner and Gravesend local Sydnie Christmas.

If you want something a little more traditional, Canterbury Cathedral is welcoming visitors to its Festival of Carols on Sunday, December 15. This heart-warming service includes seasonal music and readings, as well as a living nativity scene acted out by adults and children of the cathedral’s congregation.

WEEKEND FOUR: DECEMBER 21 AND 22

It’s the last weekend before Christmas, but there’s still time to squeeze in some festive fun.

You and your family can start the day by tucking into breakfast with the Naughty Elf. Santa’s mischievous helper will be causing chaos at Marie’s Tea Room in Gravesend, where there will also be create-your-own granola and pancakes and waffles with a range of toppings. The breakfasts run on Saturday, December 21 and Christmas Eve.

Then, if you want to meet the big man himself, the Santa Specials train rides from the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Tenterden are returning for another year. These winter train journeys have been running since 1974 and include a 75-minute steam train ride, presents from Father Christmas, family photo opportunities, free rides on the vintage gallopers and mulled wine for the adults. This is your final chance to hop aboard as the last train rides take place on Saturday, December 21, Sunday, December 22 and Christmas Eve.

Finally, if you haven’t found time to take the kids to the panto yet, Ashford’s Rylance Theatre is putting on its show, Snow White, from Friday, December 20 to Saturday, January 4 2025. Paul Ketley returns as director for another year, while the cast is made up of experienced performers and Kent-based actors.