What's On in Ashford
Things to do in and around Ashford: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Ashford Designer Outlet Christmas 2026: Lodge Opens 28 Nov
Ashford Designer Outlet opens Santa's Lodge 28 November at £5 a child. Open 8am to 10pm on Black Friday and Boxing Day, shut Christmas Day; market dates TBC.
Dates for the diary
- Sat 31 Oct Ashford parkrun
- Sat 31 Oct Children's Halloween at the Mill
- Sat 31 Oct Flow Fright Halloween night: sweets for trick-or-treaters
- Sat 31 Oct Fright Night Express
- On now to 31 Oct Flow Fright Halloween graveyard display
- On now to 1 Nov Farmyard Frights and Trick or Treat Delights
- On now to 31 Oct Halloween at County Square
- On now to 31 Oct Fright Night
- Sat 7 Nov Southern Through the Ages gala, Saturday
- Sat 7 Nov The Snow Queen: puppet show and workshop
- Sat 7 Nov Ashford Rugby Club Fireworks Display
- 7 to 8 Nov Southern Through the Ages
More stories
Willesborough
Willesborough Halloween Display: Free Graveyard to 31 Oct
Flow Fright, a free Halloween graveyard in a Willesborough front garden, lights up every evening to 31 October, with sweets for trick-or-treaters 4pm to 9pm.
Christmas
Santa's Grotto Ashford 2026: Outlet Lodge £5, Dobbies £15
The Designer Outlet's Santa's Lodge opens 28 November at £5 a child, with no gift. Dobbies opens 22 November at £15 to £17; Rare Breeds Centre £29 a child.
Ashford
Ashford Pantomime 2026: 16 Dec to 2 Jan, Tickets From £17
Jack and the Beanstalk runs 16 Dec to 2 Jan at Brake Hall, Ashford School: every show time, the two already sold out, and tickets from £17, family £70.
Tenterden
Tenterden Steam Gala: 7 and 8 November, Tickets From £18.50
Southern Through the Ages runs 7 and 8 November from Tenterden Town station. Day tickets are £35 for adults and £18.50 for children, with trains from 10am.
Events
What's On in Ashford: Fireworks 7 Nov, Santa's Lodge £5
Ashford Rugby Club fireworks 7 November, Carnival of the Baubles 21 November, the outlet's £5 Santa's Lodge from 28 November: 29 dated listings, times, prices.
Half Term
October Half Term in Ashford: Two Weeks, Ten Days Out
Kent's half term is 26 to 30 October, but four big Ashford secondaries are off from 19 October. What's on in both weeks: farm Halloween, steam trains, music.
Remembrance
Ashford Remembrance Sunday 2026: Parade 10.50am, 8 Nov
Confirmed for 8 Nov: Ashford Memorial Gardens parade 10.50am, silence 11am, free parking at Elwick Road; Tenterden parade 10.30am, A28 closed 10.25 to 11.40am.
Christmas
Rare Breeds Centre Christmas: Santa From £29 a Child
A Truly Magical Christmas at the Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch runs weekends from 28 November and daily 19 to 23 December. Child £29 with a gift, adult £18.50.
Ashford
Passenger Q&A in Folkestone 29 Oct, With an Ashford Short
Passenger screens at 7.30pm on Thursday 29 October at the Silver Screen, Folkestone, with its Ashford co-writer in person and a new short shot in Ashford first.
Ashford
Ashford Fireworks 2026: Rugby Club Display Sat 7 November
Ashford Rugby Club fireworks are on Saturday 7 November at Kinneys Fields: gate and display times, advance and on-the-gate prices, and where to park nearby.
Ashford
Ashford Christmas Lights: Carnival Set for 21 November
Carnival of the Baubles is Saturday 21 November 2026, 12pm to 8pm, with a Day of the Dance theme and the giant disco turtle back. Parade time and route are not out yet.
Tenterden
Tenterden Christmas Market 2026: 19-22 Nov, Open to 7pm
Tenterden Christmas Market runs 19 to 22 November and stays open to 7pm Thursday to Saturday, the organiser confirms. Four days, down from ten last year.
Tenterden
Tenterden Santa Specials 2026: Some Dates Now Sold Out
Tenterden Santa trains run on ten dates from 29 November. Compartments for eight are sold out on 13, 19 and 20 Dec; Silver tables for two are still on sale.