In seven weeks it will all be over! The countdown to Christmas starts all across the county this weekend - here’s our guide to the pick of the events.

Ashford

The lights switch-on takes place at 4.30pm on Saturday, November 16, at the High Street Bandstand. Guests include stars from the Marlowe Theatre’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

A 6ft high Thomas the Tank Engine model, which plays music, and the Fat Controller will be in the Park Mall shopping centre all day.

The event will include live music, a festive market and late-night shopping. At 2pm, kmfm will introduce a series of bands at The Bandstand including Ashford Sings!, the Shorncliffe Military Wives Choir and the Salvation Army Band.

For more information visit www.ashford.towntalk.co.uk/events

Bluewater

X Factor’s Jahmene Douglas has been signed up to switch on the Christmas lights at Bluewater on Friday, November 15.

Singing superstar Jahmene will perform hits from his No.1 album Love Never Fails.

Joining in the fun will be Justin Fletcher from CBeebies and breakthrough British band Only The Young.

The musical extravaganza continues with the London Community Gospel Choir who will parade through the mall at 5.45pm with Father Christmas and friends singing acapella.

They will lead everyone out to the light switch-on festivities hosted by TV and radio presenter Toby Anstis and the evening will be brought to a close with a fireworks display.

For more information visit www.bluewater.co.uk/whats-on

Broadstairs

Westwood Cross shopping centre is hosting a Christmas lights spectacular on Saturday, November 16, with Whitstable’s own X Factor star Ben Mills switching on the lights at 5pm.

The fun starts from noon when Santa’s grotto opens, and Ben will also perform a selection of songs.

At 4pm Santa’s parade led by Kent Samba band Bloco Fogo will set off through the mall to the Christmas tree and Santa’s magical grotto.

For more information visit www.westwoodx.co.uk

Chatham

The first Christmas lights switch on in Medway takes place in Chatham High Street on Friday, November 15 when Postman Pat takes time out from his rounds to join in the fun where the High Street joins Meeting House Lane, from 3.45pm with the lights going on at 5pm.

Dartford

Olympic athlete Adam Gemili and comedian Les Dennis will be switching on the Christmas lights.

All the fun takes place in the High Street on Saturday, November 16 at 5pm, with an appearance by Father Christmas himself. For more information visit www.dartford.gov.uk

Folkestone

The Christmas lights switch-on takes place in Sandgate Road at 5pm on Friday, November 22. The event links in with the Lantern Parade festival run by the Creative Foundation.

The parade starts at 5pm and will head from the town centre through the Creative Quarter, which will again be transformed into a festive wonderland as the lights are switched on while the parade winds its way through the streets. A choir will be providing a musical backdrop.

Maidstone

The town will hold its Christmas lights switch-on in Jubilee Square on Friday, November 15. kmfm will be hosting the festivities with live music and entertainment from 4.15pm with Jade Ellis, finalist in last year’s X Factor.

She will be joined by Misunderstood, a duo who appeared in dance group Myztikal,which reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2010.

Cerrie Burnell from CBeebies and star of this year’s Hazlitt panto will also be there. This year marks the unveiling of a new lights display and the switch-on itself takes place at 6pm.

The Christmas lights switch-on at Fremlin Walk takes place on Thursday, November, 21, from 4-9pm, when Father Christmas and his reindeer will arrive by sleigh.

There will also be an appearance from former England rugby star and Masterchef winner Phil Vickery. For more information go to www.visitMaidstone.com/christmas

Rochester

Diags (James Bennewith) and Tom Pearce, stars of ITV2 show The Only Way Is Essex, will switch on Rochester’s lights at 5pm on Saturday, November 16.

There will also be street entertainment from noon and a stage show at the junction of the High Street and Blue Boar Lane.

West Malling

kmfm’s Emma Adam has a busy few days lined up. Emma - who presents the mid-afternoon show from 1pm to 4pm in the week - will be in West Malling on Sunday afternoon, joined by Waterloo Road’s Philip Martin Brown who is in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells.

The kmfm roadshow will be at West Malling’s Christmas Festival on Sunday, November 17 from noon.

An ice rink will be in the High Street, and a school choir competition will take place before lights are switched on at 5pm.

A free bus will run to the town centre from West Malling Station, just off the A228, and Tower View in Kings Hill.