The Christmas holidays are coming, bringing fun through to the New Year.

Here's what's happening across the county from this weekend onwards:

KNOLE, SEVENOAKS

This weekend is the final one for the festive decorations and activities on Saturdays at the National Trust's Knole when the Great Hall will be decorated for Christmas, with a roaring fire and carol singing in the afternoon. The Tiger Who Came to Tea is also at Knole until Sunday, January 5 in the Orangery, with tiger-themed activities including dressing up, storytelling and a trail in the grounds. There will also be a festive pop-up shop. Workshop and the trail are on top of normal admission. Details at nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS, HEVER CASTLE

Children might get a glimpse of Santa at weekends up to Monday, December 23 at the castle and on Wednesdays to Sundays until Christmas Eve there will be a carousel and vintage fairground stalls (£1 per go), and characters from the Alice in Wonderland themed trail in the grounds and Twilight Evening with the castle grounds lit up until Christmas Eve. To find out more go to hevercastle.co.uk

WINTERLAND MARGATE

Dreamland Margate is feeling festive as it is Winterland Margate on selected dates through until New Year's Eve. There'll be fairy light walks, a festive food and drink market, crafts and free festive film screenings, plus a giant snow globe to climb inside for an extra fee and Frosted FM will play Christmas bangers to skate along to in the Roller Disco. Santa will be in his grotto for the last time this weekend on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 when you can enjoy a one-hour walk-through which includes taking home reindeer food for Christmas Eve and meeting Santa's Elves and help them make it snow. Grotto tickets cost from £22.25. Details at dreamland.co.uk

FATHER CHRISTMAS AT GROOMBRIDGE PLACE

Santa is in his cosy camp at Groombridge Place near Tunbridge Wells until Christmas Eve. There will also be forest fun with wooden bridges, Crusoe’s World and the enchanted forest. You could also see the fallow deer grazing near the forest. Details at groombridgeplace.com

MAGICAL BIRDS & FESTIVE FEATHERS

The state rooms at Leeds Castle near Maidstone have been transformed into a kingdom of birds and festive feathers until New Year’s Day. Displays include a forest of owls to red breasted robins surrounded by snowdrops and a lavishly-dressed banqueting table for a festive feast. In Lady Baillie’s bedroom, spot treasures among the Christmas garlands. Book at leeds-castle.com

HEMPSTEAD VALLEY SHOPPING CENTRE, GILLINGHAM

The traditional grotto with reindeer and a towering Christmas tree and will be open every day until Christmas Eve. Entrance is £5 per child and includes a wrapped gift. Pre-book (with a £1.50 booking fee) at bookfatherchristmas.co.uk

REINDEER CENTRE, BETHERSDEN

The Reindeer Centre’s 150ft undercover grotto with seven animated scenes is open until Christmas Eve. You can also meet the animals and feed the reindeer, and there’s an artificial snow play area. Book at reindeercentre.co.uk

CANTERBURY ON ICE

Canterbury on Ice in Dane John Gardens is open until New Year’s Day. This year, the city council has brought the project in-house, with an enclosed rink catering for 140 skaters at a time. The festive attraction will be open every day except Christmas Day. Children must be aged four and above to skate. Details at canterburyonice.co.uk

THE MALL, MAIDSTONE

The centre's grotto on the upper level is open until Christmas Eve. Each visit costs £5 per child and every child gets a gift. It is open from 11am until 5pm Mondays to Fridays, and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. Details at themall.co.uk/maidstone

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL CRIB

The Crib is back in its usual position outside the South West door of the world famous cathedral for the Christmas season. It is the 20th year that Canterbury Cathedral has had a Crib, after being introduced by Dean Simpson in 1999. Find out more at canterbury-cathedral.org

CHRISTMAS AT DRUSILLAS

If you were hoping to see a sloth for Christmas, you might have to wait 'til 2020. Zookeepers at Drusillas Park in Alfriston have been stunned by the number of bookings they’ve received for their sloth encounters, which are now booked for 2019 and at weekends until the end of May 2020. There's wintry enchantment at the park until Monday, December 23, including Santa in his snowy cottage a Husky Ice Cave when you can meet huskies. The park is open from 10am daily. Find out more at drusillas.co.uk/christmas-events

KENT LIFE, SANDLING, MAIDSTONE

Wrap up in your bobble hat and scarf and venture out for some fresh air at the heritage park in Sandling which is open for the Christmas holidays, from Friday, December 27 to Sunday, January 5 (excluding New Year’s Day), to welcome families with games on the green and farm rides. There will be special sessions to meet some of the farm animals and a chance to hunt for wooden snowmen to claim a yummy treat from the shop. Children are guaranteed lots of laughs at Mrs Back to Front’s Fun Packed Magic Show, an interactive show, which always calls upon lots of volunteers to help sort out her muddles and back to front clothes. Mrs Back to Front will be performing daily at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm. The site is open from 10am to 3pm during the holidays. Find out more at kentlife.org.uk.

FAVERSHAM CHRISTMAS MARKETS

The historic Market Place will be the setting for the final of the town's Christmas Sunday markets with regular stallholders along with traders selling gifts and decorations, plus live music and a brass band. Donkeys from Happy Endings Rescue will also be there. Its last outing is on Sunday, December 22. Details at visitfaversham.org

FATHER CHRISTMAS AT BEWL WATER

Bewl Water's woodland venue has fairground rides, ice skating, crafts and marshmallow toasting on a fire pit for Christmas at the reservoir at Lamberhurst on weekends until this weekend from Friday, December 21 to Christmas Eve. For tickets book at bewlwater.co.uk/christmas.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

There is ice skating in Calverley Grounds until Sunday, January 5, where there are two rinks, with one for the little ones, and Santa in his cabin until Christmas Eve. Book at thelittleboxoffice.com and tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com

Santa is also at Royal Victoria Place with his Arctic forest-styled grotto, through to Christmas Eve. A visit costs £7 per child. Sensory Santa visits will be available on Tuesdays. Details at royalvictoriaplace.com

SANTA, RARE BREEDS CENTRE

Sessions for the magical Christmas experience at the centre near Ashford, which run until Monday, December 23, are almost sold out. There are sessions left on Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20. There will also be a pantomime, Cinderella, in Benson’s Barn, and workshops with Mrs Christmas. Book at rarebreedscentre.digitickets.co.uk

CHRISTMAS AT BEDGEBURY

Bedgebury Pinetum’s hugely popular seasonal lights event is on all the way through to Monday, December 30. This year there is a Vortex Tunnel lit up by tens of thousands of LED light globes; a flotilla of illuminated origami boats on the lake and a water fountain finale to much-loved Christmas classics. Entry is £18 for adults. Book your tickets at christmasatbedgebury.co.uk

SANTA AT HOWLETTS, CANTERBURY

Father Christmas and his merry elves are bringing the festive fun daily until Monday, December 23. Each child will receive a Christmas gift. Entry to Santa’s Grotto is £10 per child with a valid day entry ticket. Book tickets at aspinallfoundation.org/santa

CHRISTMAS AT BLUEWATER

The outdoor, undercover ice rink with its separate children’s rink, located by The Village next to the lakes and under a clear roof, is open through until Sunday, January 5. The ice rink is wheelchair-accessible and there are penguin and seal skating aids available. The Santa’s Grotto welcomes children to a host of characters that will guide them through the story of The Nutcracker until Christmas Eve. Book at visit bluewater.co.uk.

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