As the warmer days arrive and summer beckons, The Arts Society Malling is taking a well-deserved break! Our fantastic 2025-2026 season has now concluded, and we're officially pressing pause on our regular "What's On" feature for July and August.

This summer hiatus is the perfect time for us (and hopefully for you!) to relax, recharge, and enjoy the beautiful weather. But don't worry, our committee is already hard at work behind the scenes, busy curating and confirming a truly spectacular programme for our NEW SEASON which begins on 10th September!

South East Open Studios

SEOS returns from Friday 5th to Sunday 21st June 2026, and will be celebrating a huge milestone – 30 years of showcasing creativity across the South East.

SEOS brings together the work of hundreds of contemporary artists and makers around parts of Kent and East & Mid Sussex. Each year in June, artists and makers open their working studios to welcome the public.

Every type of work is on show – sculpture, glass, jewellery, painting, wirework, woodwork, photography, textiles, and more – for visitors to view, purchase or commission. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet makers and artists, and enjoy being part of your local artistic community!

Maidstone Museum

Young Artist Award Exhibition 2026

To Sat 20th Jun 2026 - All Day

See this year’s fabulous entries to this exciting bi-annual award that was open to all young artists, up to 25 years old, living in the South East of England.

The aim of this award is to give young artists the chance to win the prestigious Young Artist Award and a platform to exhibit their artworks within the County Town’s museum, in the temporary exhibition galleries.

The theme for this year’s competition was ‘Place’.

FREE ADMISSION

As You Like It
Library Gardens, EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge School, Tonbridge (Outdoor Performance)
23 May 2026

Production by: HandleBards

Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK. 

Join the troupe  for a fantastically funny bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’. 

What’s the play about? Well - Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, where they bump into Rosalind’s love interest Orlando. However, Rosalind is disguised as a young man. Cue some local Shepherds getting involved and the stage is set for a wild ride of wooing, hilarious mistaken identity and the odd wrestling match. 

Tickets:   £17 Early Bird until 23rd March, £22  On The Door.

The Red Shoes, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
Tue 31 March ‐ Sat 4 April 2026

Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes has captivated audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its powerful tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a fierce struggle between the two men who inspire her passion.

Tickets from £36

Othello - NT Live
EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge School, Tonbridge
7th & 16th March 2026

Shakespeare’s OTHELLO rages to life like never before in a new production starring David Harewood OBE (Homeland, Best of Enemies), Toby Jones OBE (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Detectorists), Caitlin FitzGerald (Succession, Masters of Sex), Vinette Robinson (Boiling Point) and Luke Treadaway (A Street Cat Named Bob). 

Directed by Tony Award-winner Tom Morris OBE (War Horse, Dr Semmelweis, The Grinning Man) with music by PJ Harvey, this epic story of manipulation, jealousy and toxic masculinity explores the darker side of power, rage and desire. Filmed live at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London especially for the big screen.

Tickets £16

1984
Trinity Theatre, Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JP

Thu 26 March 2026, 7:30pm

Award winning Box Tale Soup present a stunning new adaptation of Orwell’s dystopian classic. Known for their ingenious sets and slick storytelling, Box Tale Soup’s unique puppetry becomes a striking metaphor for Orwell’s chilling vision of power and control.

The year is 1984, perhaps – it is impossible to tell for certain. We are being watched, Big Brother is everywhere, truth changes daily, and everyone conforms. But for Winston Smith, insignificant cog in the Party’s vast machine, this half-life is not enough. He dreams of freedom, but is he the only one? Dreams can be deadly when rebellion begins with a thought.

Featuring the voices of Sophie Aldred & Joanna Lumley, with Simon Russell Beale as the voice of Big Brother.

Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Official Sell Out Show

Tickets £18.00

The Maidstone Singers 'Come & Sing' Sacred Choral Works
Jubilee Church, Bircholt Road, Maidstone ME15 9XY

Saturday 7th February 2026
14:30 - 20:00

A Come & Sing event with The Maidstone Singers featuring works by Bach, Bruckner, Faure, Franck, Gabrieli,Lotti, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Victoria. A workshop followed by a concert performance at 7.00 pm. Rehearsal and performance £25.00 including score hire and buffet tea. Audience tickets just £5.00. Plenty of parking!

Sleeping Beauty The Ballet
Malthouse Theatre, Malthouse Road, Canterbury, CT2 7JA

Monday 16th February 3pm

The Let’s All Dance Ballet Company is delighted to return with this much-loved ballet for the whole family. Dazzling dancers, Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score and gorgeous costumes bring this glittering classical ballet to life.  A good fairy turned evil by jealousy casts a bad spell on a young princess. But an act of pure love will undo her magic, restoring her heart and bringing peace and harmony to the whole kingdom.

Tickets: Adults £14 Children £12

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra Concert
Maidstone Leisure Centre, Mote Park, Maidstone ME15 7RN
Saturday 31st January 2026
7:30pm - Come early to catch Steve Migden’s Free pre-concert talk from 6.40 – 7.10 pm

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra start the 2026 season with three classics, plus a “bonus”. Beethoven’s Fifth must be the world’s most popular symphony.

It hits you between the eyes with its famous four-note motive, has poise and elegance in the slow movement, and both the scherzo and finale piledrive Beethoven’s emotional message home. How different is Dvořák’s Czech Suite with its series of beautifully crafted rustic dances? And then again, we’ve Haydn’s classical and joyful Trumpet Concerto, played by the acclaimed Matilda Lloyd, who also brings the “bonus” - operatic aria arrangements from her recent CD, “Casta Diva”.

Dvořák - Czech Suite
Haydn - Trumpet Concerto
Plus operatic arias arranged for trumpet
Beethoven - Symphony No.5

Tickets from £15 - £30

A Kent Christmas: Talk & Folk Songs
Maidstone Museum
Saturday 13th December 2025 - 4-5pm

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit as Dr. Geoff Doel explores the enchanting traditions of Kent through song and storytelling. Experience the magic of Christmas in Kent, brought to life with captivating tales and melodies that will warm your heart and ignite your holiday cheer.

Tickets £5
Booking required – Tickets Available Here - Ticket sales are through the Hazlitt Box office but events are held at the museum

Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle
21 Nov - 31 Dec 2025, 
16:30 - 21:30
Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle returns with new breath-taking Water Fountains Show! Wander through a breath-taking Christmas light trail featuring brand-new installations including a mesmerising Neon Tree, a Meadow of Light, and a dazzling Ribbon Tunnel. Firmly established as one of the best Christmas events in Kent, this after-dark illuminated trail promises to bring festive joy to all who visit.

Tickets £26 for adults.

Something About George: The George Harrison Story

12 November 2025, 7:30pm
Tickets: £29.50

An acclaimed celebration of the life and talent of music legend George Harrison.

The production comes from the same team behind Something About Lennon, which salutes the talent of the late Liverpool icon and fellow Beatle, and Something About Simon which showcases the music of singer-songwriting genius Paul Simon.

Something About George was premiered to acclaim at the Liverpool Theatre Festival in 2021 before winning accolades on its inaugural tour and at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe. It has continued to captivate audiences across the country, including as part of a sell-out show marking the 80 th anniversary of Harrison’s birth, and most recently in an extensive nationwide tour in spring 2024.

West End performer and musician Daniel Taylor returns to front the production and to recount the fascinating story of the man dubbed “the quiet Beatle” along with performing his best-known, best-loved hits from across his solo career.

Cranbrook Art Show
Vestry Hall, Cranbrook
Thurs 6th – Sat 8th November

The Cranbrook Art Show returns to the stunning Vestry Hall, showcasing a stunning selection of new talent and familiar names such as West End House Gallery based in Smarden. The show is now in it’s 30th year and has built a reputation for excellence and with a range of styles and genres, it really does deliver a show with something for everyone. Entry is free and a warm welcome awaits as you enjoy the mix of painting, printmaking, ceramics, glass, sculpture and jewellery on show.

Folkestone Book Festival
Thurs 13th – Sun 23rd November

Bringing more than 50 events to the Kent coast this November, headliners include Joanne Harris opening the festival with a return to Chocolat. Plus workshops, political debates, true crime, food writing, spoken word and more make this the festival’s most ambitious edition yet – bold, brilliant and not to be missed.

Shared Stories: Indigenous Connections with Dr Padraig Kirwan
Maidstone Museum
Thu 27th November 2025 - 7pm - 8:30pm 

Discover the Riches of Maidstone Museum’s North American and Indigenous Collection! Dr. Padraig Kirwan from Goldsmith University delves into the wealth of material in the museum’s collection for Thanksgiving. As the Principal Investigator on ‘Sharing Lands: Reconciliation, Recognition, & Reciprocity,’ Kirwan explores connections between Indigenous nations and non-Native communities. Join him for an insightful talk on the museum’s ethnographic collection, its history, and the cultural stories it holds.

Tickets £10
Welcome drink provided – you are welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks in lidded containers.

Booking required – Tickets Available Here - Ticket sales are through the Hazlitt Box office but events are held at the museum

Celia Imrie and Fidelis Morgan in Conversation - a Maidstone Literary Festival event

Sunday 5 October, 4pm–5pm with time for book signing afterwards at the Hazlitt Theatre

TIckets: £14 

Join acclaimed actress and bestselling author Celia Imrie and director and writer Fidelis Morgan for a compelling discussion about their collaboration on Meet Me at Rainbow Corner, a novel inspired by true stories from wartime London. 

Set in 1944, the book follows Dot Gallagher, a young nurse who discovers the vibrant world of Rainbow Corner, a legendary American Red Cross club in Piccadilly where US soldiers and British women found joy, friendship and love amid the turmoil of the Second World War. 
 
Drawing on a treasure trove of letters, diaries and personal memories—including those of Morgan’s own mother, who was engaged three times to American GIs—the novel is a vivid tribute to the unsung women who served, danced, and lived through the war with courage and heart. 
 
In this exclusive event, Imrie and Morgan will discuss the real-life inspirations behind the book, their shared fascination with this extraordinary chapter of history, and the creative journey of bringing these stories to life. This event promises to be full of laughter, discovery and powerful storytelling.

Maidstone Literary Festival: A Word-Lover's Escape

Various venues and ticket prices.
4th-11th October 2025.

Step into a world where stories come to life! Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or simply love a great story, the Maidstone Literary Festival 2025 is your chance to meet the minds behind the magic.

Get ready for captivating talks, unique workshops, and the kind of engaging discussions that will make you look at your bookshelf in a whole new way. From thrilling fiction to fascinating non-fiction, there’s something for every reader.

Join us and be part of the conversation!

Ben Elton: In conversation with David Baddiel

Sevenoaks Bookshop
Mon 6th October

Comedy legend Ben Elton takes the spotlight in a special evening of conversation with David Baddiel, celebrating the release of his first – and only – autobiography, What Has Ben Elton Done…? Witty, unfiltered and revealing, Elton dives into the stories behind The Young Ones, Blackadder, We Will Rock You and more, reflecting on 65 years of life and 45 years in the public eye. Expect a candid, hilarious night with one of Britain’s most influential writers and performers.

Music@Malling runs from 19th-27th September 2025 bringing world class musicians into the heart of the community.  

Highlights include concerts by legendary pianist, Peter Donohoe CBE performing Olivier Messiaen; The London Sinfonietta - Cage and Boulez in words, music and film;  Chamber Domaine performing Bach ’s Brandenburg Concertos plus new works; Stephen Devine at All Saints’ Tudeley with a recital of Bach and his Circle; The Marian Consort at Malling Abbey; The Fidelio Trio performing Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn at Ightham Mote and James Pearson Trio in a tribute to Oscar Peterson. 

Local artist Giles Whithead will also be holding an exhibition at St.Benedict Centre on 25th and 28th September featuring his art inspired by Music@Malling.

With music ranging from Hildegard of Bingen to the present day with 10 world premieres across the programme, talks, exhibitions and outreach - there is something for everyone in this programme.

Full details:  musicatmalling.com

Can’t Stop Carrying On - Hazlitt Theatre’s Exchange Studio on 19 September 2025. 

An ageing film producer has the chance to resurrect his past cinematic successes by revitalising the Carry On franchise with a brand new film. Saucy seaside humour, double entendre and cheeky sexual innuendo. Just what a millennial audience wants, right?

Haunted by past successes, and friends and colleagues long since gone, he determines to secure his legacy and pull off one of the biggest cinematic comebacks of all time – a brand new Carry On film!

But should the past be revisited? Or is the Carry On brand better left alone - the product of a bygone time?

A new play about aging, the human spirit and changing attitudes, and of course an affectionate tribute to the Carry On films, one of the most successful film franchises in British cinema history.

The play is a one hander featuring Carry On film producer Peter Rogers. All other characters are played by the same actor.

Peter says…

 “I wanted to create a play that focuses on these themes using the Carry On films as a framework, told through the eyes of an ageing film producer desperate to keep the film franchise alive. Whilst affectionate in its treatment of the films and recognising their place in both cinema history and in a changing Great Britain, the play does not shy away from the more controversial elements of the franchise. Appearances from key members of the cast – Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Barbara Windsor etc, interweave with producer Peter Rogers’ story which starts at the tail end of the seventies and takes us on a journey into the new millennium. Ultimately, I wanted to create a play that will appeal to audiences whether they are fans of the Carry On films or not.” 

As the warmer days arrive and summer beckons, The Arts Society Malling is taking a well-deserved break! Our fantastic 2024-2025 season has now concluded, and we're officially pressing pause on our regular "What's On" feature for July and August.

This summer hiatus is the perfect time for us (and hopefully for you!) to relax, recharge, and enjoy the beautiful weather. But don't worry, our committee is already hard at work behind the scenes, busy curating and confirming a truly spectacular programme for our 2025-2026 season!

Claude Cahun: Beneath this Mask

French female photographer Claude Cahun’s practice investigates gender and identity.

Cahun achieved posthumous fame for her elusive self-portraits in which she assumed multiple personae. This exhibition contains 42 contemporary giclee prints made from scans of Cahun’s original photographic self-portraits, as the majority of the negatives have been lost.

In these now famous images, Cahun anticipated the performative work of contemporary artists such as Cindy Sherman.

📅 Date: Sat 24th May 2025 to Sat 28th Jun 2025
🕒 Time: All day
📍 Location: Maidstone Museum

Tickets £4.50.

The Maidstone Singers Summer Concert

Philip Stopford's 'Missa Deus Nobiscum', conducted by the composer himself, and Faure's Requiem featuring The Maidstone Singers Extended Choir and TMS Sinfonia with soprano soloist Matilda Dawes.

📅 Date: Sat 21st June 2025
🕒 Time: 7:30pm
📍 Location: All Saints Church, Maidstone, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YE

Tickets £12 in advance, £15 on the door.

Wealden Festival

The 2025 Wealden programme brings together a thrilling cast of speakers, artists and makers for a fleeting midsummer weekend. Talks include Charlotte Molesworth, Marian Boswall & Lucinda Willan on “The Art of Gardening” and Lucy Mangan “Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives.” Alternatively why not try a Pigment & Watercolour Paint Making Workshop?

📅 Date: Sat 21st & Sun 22nd June 2025
🕒 Time: Various
📍 Location: Boldshaves, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent TN26 3RA

See website for event times & ticket prices.

Movie Night: The Boy & The Heron

Immerse yourself in Japanese cinema with the breathtaking film The Boy and The Heron, brought to you by the timeless Studio Ghibli. Welcome drink provided.

📅 Date: 3rd May 2025
🕒 Time: 7:00 9:00pm
📍 Location: Maidstone Museum

Tickets £15. Over 18 only.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

An interactive exhibition featuring artwork from Judith Kerr’s classic. Immerse yourself in the world of Sophie and enjoy a cup of tea with the Tiger!

Judith Kerr deposited her life’s work with Seven Stories in 2008 and this constitutes one of the most significant collections of artwork by a single illustrator in the Seven Stories collection. This exhibition was initially created by Seven Stories as a celebration of 50 years of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, by Judith Kerr. First published in 1968, the book has been enjoyed by thousands of children who have gone on to share it with their own children, and perhaps even grandchildren too.

📅 Date: Saturday 05 April 2025 - Sunday 08 June 2025
🕒 Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
📍 Location: The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2RA

Tickets: Free.

The Royal Ballet & Opera: Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works

Sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre in four distinctive short works. Fool’s Paradise, The Two of Us, Us, An American in Paris: four works showing the remarkable choreographic range of The Royal Ballet's Artistic Associate, Christopher Wheeldon.

📅 Date: 22nd May 2025
🕒 Time: 7:15pm
📍 Location: Maidstone Odeon

Looking to learn a new skill in 2025? Test out your drawing skills with a Manga workshop, led by the award-winning Lana Arkhi. She won the People's Choice Award in 2018. There will be two sessions, one aimed at young people and families, and young aimed at 17+.

📅 Date: Thurs 17th April 2025
🕒 Time: 1:30 – 3pm (age 17+ session.)
📍 Location: Maidstone Museum. (Ticket sales are through the Hazlitt Box office but events are held at the museum.)

Tickets £20

The Maidstone Singers at Allington Castle

"Those we have loved" An evening of choral chamber music favourties. 

A charity event on behalf of 'Building a Dementia Friendly Maidstone' working together to improve the lives of those living with dementia. 

Tickets include a glass of wine on arrival

📅 Date: Saturday 26th April 2025
🕒 Time: 7:00 for 7:30pm
📍 Location: Allington Castle, Castle Road, Allington, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0ND

Tickets £25

Heart of Kent Hospice Concert of Favourite Music

An evening favourite music with Simon Proctor and the Heart of Kent Orchestra.

Treat yourself to timeless classics and crowd-pleasing favourites played by the Heart of Kent Orchestra, conducted by Derek Carden, and performances by the Invicta Grammar School Chamber Choir, the Numama Choir, and solo pianists Oliver Poole and Simon Proctor.

📅 Date: Saturday 26th April 2025
🕒 Time: 18:00 – 20:00
📍 Location: Invicta Grammar School,, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5DS

Tickets £15

Maidstone Museum Observatory Tour

The Victorian housekeeper will guide you up the stairs to the Observatory, only open once a year! Please note this tour consists of 42 steps each way and is very narrow and winding.

📅 Date: Saturday 26th April 2025
🕒 Time: 10:00 – 15:00. Six 30 minute sessions throughout the day.
📍 Location: Maidstone Museum. (Ticket sales are through the Hazlitt Box office but events are held at the museum.)

Tickets £10

Japan: A Floating World in Print

A captivating display of Ukiyo-e prints from the Edo and Meiji print masters.  The prints encompass the genres of beautiful women and dramatic landscapes.  Well known print artists Utamaro, Hokusai and Hiroshige are all represented.

📅 Date: Wed 12th Feb 2025 to Sat 10th May 2025 -
🕒 Time: All Day
📍 Location: Maidstone Museum

Entry £4

Japanese Postcard: Textile Workshop

Be inspired by our Japanese Exhibition and join award-winning Anne Kelly in creating a fabric Japanese Postcard. This workshop will showcase key sewing techniques. If you have any fabric you’d like to incorporate, please bring your stash. This activity incorporates second hand clothing, used fabric and other materials to create an eco-friendly postcard.

📅 Date: Saturday 1st March
🕒 Time: 10:00 – 13:00
📍 Location: Maidstone Museum

Tickets £25

Blackthorn Trust Jewellery Making Workshop

📅 Date: Friday 14th March
🕒 Time: 10:00 – 13:00
📍 Location: St Andrew's Road, (behind Blackthorn Medical Centre), Maidstone, Kent, ME16 9AN

Tickets £5 - Advance booking is essential.
The craft team is running a Jewellery Making Workshop 10am-1pm on Friday 14th March.
This workshop is open to the public – attendees must be aged 19+.
All materials will be provided.

DIG: Imag(in)ing Bigbury Camp

A creative visual exploration of Bigbury Camp, an Iron Age hillfort

DIG (Documentary Imaging Group) presents a creative visual exploration of Bigbury Camp, an Iron Age hillfort located in Howfield Wood, Kent. The site was occupied from about 350BC and may have been stormed in one of the first engagements between the local peoples and the legions of Julius Caesar in 55BC.

Imag(in)ing Bigbury Camp comprises works by artists Mireille Fauchon, Leah Fusco, and Gareth Proskourine-Barnett. These move between ancient and contemporary, natural and artificial concepts of light to speculate on relationships between technology and perception in the interpretation of historic landscapes.

📅 Date: 3rd March - 25th April 2025
📍 Location: North Holmes Road CT1 1QU

Tickets £ Free

Valentines Classics by Candlelight - Indulge in the ultimate Valentine's romantic experience with your loved ones! Join an extraordinary evening of classical music at King Charles the Martyr, featuring the breathtaking Celoniatus Ensemble. Be captivated by Pachelbel's Canon, Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending and other timeless masterpieces

📅 Date: Saturday 15th February
🕒 Time: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Note there is also a show at 8 pm -9pm as well)
📍 Location: King Charles the Martyr Church , Royal Tunbridge Wells
From £20

Picasso: Printmaker 

In addition to his many paintings, sculptures and drawings, Picasso made over 2,400 prints during his career. This exhibition offers insights into Picasso's life through his art, including his complex relationships with women and his partnerships with printers, publishers and other artists. Spanning his entire career, it follows his engagement with different printmaking techniques and his changing approaches to making art.

The British Museum holds by far the UK's largest and most representative collection of Picasso's prints.

📅 Date: Until 30th March
📍 Location: British Museum 
£11

NT Live:The Importance of Being Earnest

While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.

Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy.

📅 Dates:  20th & 25th February
📍 Location: Maidstone Odeon

What’s On in December 2024

A selection of events for the festive season…

“Gloria!”
Sunday 8 December 2024 at 6pm at the Pamoja Hall in Sevenoaks School
In celebration of Sir Karl Jenkins' 80th birthday, three choirs - Hurst Green Singers, Vox Populi, and Vox Anima Chamber Choir - will perform Jenkins' Gloria, accompanied by a large orchestra, alongside other works by Mozart and others.

Heart of Kent Hospice Christmas Concert
7th December, Maidstone Girls Grammar School, 7pm - 9pm
Enjoy a cosy evening of candlelit Christmas music performed by Maidstone Wind Symphony, Maidstone Choral Union and Maidstone Voices. The candlelight concert will feature medleys of popular carols alongside magical contemporary Christmas music. With mulled wine and festive bakes on sale, it’s the perfect winter warmer to get you into the Christmas spirit!

The Landings Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday 23rd November from 11am to 3pm.
The Landings, 1A Hazen Road, Kings Hill. Homemade crafts, Christmas gifts & more! All proceeds to charity.

Canterbury Christmas Market,
Fri 15th Nov – Tues 24th December
Featuring German-style wooden huts filled with delightful treats, enjoy mouthwatering food and drink, and immerse yourself in interactive theatre and live music, including a Saturday Shoppers’ Carol Service! 

The Pantiles Christmas Market,
Fri 15th Nov – Tues 24th December
For the first time, The Pantiles will transform into a magical winter wonderland with festive stalls in wooden chalets, live entertainment from musicians and choirs, twinkling lights, a Christmas tree, and a visit to Santa’s Grotto.

Tonbridge Christmas Village
Sun 24th Nov – Mon 23rd December
Experience the festive charm at Tonbridge Castle! Wander market stalls with unique, locally-made gifts.

Rochester Christmas Market
Fri 29th Nov – Sun 15th December
Held in the beautiful Rochester Castle gardens over three weekends, this festive favourite offers over 100 stalls with gifts, crafts, and treats, plus a Bavarian food village, 

Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival
7th – 8th December
Bringing Victorian festivities to Rochester in the form of a Dickensian Christmas. Expect to find street entertainment, readings, song and dance as well as amazing Dickens characters as you explore the literary journey that was the great writer’s life.

West Malling Christmas Festival

Embrace the spirit of giving on West Malling High Street with an afternoon of festive celebration in support of Heart of Kent Hospice.
Sunday 17 November, West Malling High Street, Midday - 5:00pm.
You can look forward to the Christmas light switch-on, local music, entertainment on the live stage, delicious treats, fairground rides and even a visit to Santa's grotto.

Christmas Craft Fair

The Landings, 1A Hazen Road, Kings Hill, Saturday 23rd November from 11am to 3pm.
Home made crafts, Christmas gifts & more! All proceeds to charity.

Folkestone Book Festival

Curated by award-winning author and journalist Sophie Haydock, the Creative Folkestone Book Festival returns bigger, better and brighter than ever. From Thursday 14 to Sunday 24 November, guest speakers at this year’s festival include Ali Smith, David Nicholls, & Rory Cellan-Jones, with many more to be announced.

SEAS

South East Artists (SEAS) is a self-funding and voluntary organisation which promotes, supports and provides a network for our vibrant artistic community in Deal and surrounding areas. SEAS was established in 2004 by a few artists and now has a membership of nearly 100 people, ranging from longstanding professional artists to those who are making a start in the arts.

Postcard Size Art
St George’s Parish Hall, High Street, Deal CT14 6EG
9th November 2024 10 am to 4pm

SEAS return to St George’s Parish Hall for the ever popular event. Over 20 artists exhibit small-scale, original artwork, ready-to-hang: paintings prints, textiles, photography, glass and mosaics. A great opportunity to but some original art for Christmas. All work priced at £30.

seas@pie

Pie Factory Gallery, 5 Broad Street, Margate, CT9 1EW
Two exhibitions spanning four weeks from 14th to 25th  November 2024 then 28th November to 9th December 2024

A wonderful eclectic mix of artwork from new and established SEAS artists. Work includes paintings, drawings, mixed media, glasswork, ceramics and tapestry.

Moments in Time

Maidstone Museum, St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH

25th Sept 2024 – 2nd November 2024

A display of work by Olive Graham-Desnoes in celebration of Black History Month.

Olive Graham-Desnoes was born in Jamaica St Anns and came to England at the age of nine years old to join her family. She was educated here and later studied Fine Art at the West Surrey College of Art & Design. Her artworks have graced many exhibitions as a member of the Caribbean Craft Circle (CCC), the Jamaican Embassy, OBAALA gallery, Air Jamaica Offices and a group exhibition at Festival Hall on the Southbank, London.

Ralph STEADman: INKling

Ralph Steadman has illustrated some of the greatest British novels of all time, including Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland and Animal Farm. A selection of these incredible and award-winning works will be on display, showcasing his mastery of the line and his ability to capture in an image what words alone could never achieve. From 21st September – 17th November at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

Scriptorium: The Illuminated Histories

A spectacular light and sound installation by ‘Luxmuralis’ from 1 - 5 October 2024, at Rochester Cathedral.

This new artwork which incorporates iconic images including many from the British Library and the collections of Rochester Cathedral, brings to life the rich tapestry of Anglo-Saxon artefacts and medieval manuscripts in a spectacle that promises to captivate the senses and ignite the imagination.

From 19 October – 2 November, celebrate 40 years of Canterbury Festival with an extravaganza of music including classical concerts and eclectic gigs, theatre, circus, talks, family events, science and more in the heart of historic Canterbury.

Royal Ballet and Opera continue their big screen series with Alice in Wonderland. At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser…  live in a cinema near you on Tuesday 15th 2024.

National Theatre Live present the Empire Street Production of Prima Facie. There’s another chance to catch Jodie Comer’s (Killing Eve) Olivier and Tony Award-winning performance in Suzie Miller’s gripping one-woman play as it returns to cinemas. 10th October 2024, at the EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge.

Music@Malling brings outstanding music to historic venues in and around West Malling. This year the festival takes place from Friday 20th – Saturday 28th September 2024.

Click to see the full programme.

In addition, there are a host of ‘blockbuster’ exhibitions starting in London this month. No doubt you’ll see them reviewed in the press but to whet your appetite, check out:

Van Gogh at the National Gallery

Monet at the Courtauld

Michael Craig-Martin at the RA

Don’t fancy the travel up to London? The Royal Ballet and Opera are bringing the thrill of world-class theatre back to the big screen from September. The 2024-25 season kicks off with The Marriage of Figaro, live in a cinema near you on Tuesday 10 September 2024.