Castlemas is coming to town, with live theatre, fake snow and a visit from Father Christmas.

The 13-day festive event is set to take over the grounds of Tonbridge Castle from Thursday, December 8 to Tuesday, December 20.

The immersive experience includes a number of activities for visitors of all ages, from drop-in arts and crafts sessions to an outdoor market.

The Igloo Theatre is the main attraction this year and will host a programme of live performances during the Christmas period.

Families can join the Arendale sisters in Frosty Tales, marvel at magic tricks with the Bubble Wizard and get into the panto spirit in the Gingerbread Man.

The programme also boasts a number of other shows, such as burlesque, comedy, musicals, karaoke and more, with the aim to provide something for everyone.

Castlemas is free for visitors to enter, but you can book tickets to one of the experiences, such as the Igloo Theatre shows, in advance here. This will prioritise your entry on busy days.

For those who really want to make the most of their visit, there are several other activities that you can also book.

You can say hello to Father Christmas and his elves in Santa’s Castle, an interactive meet-and-greet experience which is suitable for those with young children. Each child who visits will receive their own teddy bear to take home at the end.

After you’ve met the man himself, you can take a peek inside his workshop and join a daytime arts and crafts session. There are also some adult sessions in the evenings, including pottery painting and DIY Christmas crackers.

The drop-in sessions for children do not need to be booked in advance, but there may be a charge to take part depending on the activity. The adult evening sessions should be booked in advance online here.

If you don’t manage to secure a ticket to any of the experiences ahead of time, you can still turn up on the day and soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

The Mistletoe Town festive market, Jingle Bell Bar and daily snowfall are all free to enter and do not need to be booked.

The market has more than 70 stalls from independent vendors, while the bar serves locally brewed beer and mulled wine with live music until late. The snowfall takes place around the bar and market at 2.30pm and 6.30pm each day, so there is still plenty to do without booking ahead.