Join Demelza for a packed programme of festive fun

The festive fun kicks off at the Sittingbourne hospice with our annual Elf and Light Trail on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 December, with two slots on each day – 4pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm.

Visitors will enjoy an enchanting elf trail and receive a gift for every participating child along with festive photo opportunities, hot refreshments, luminous light displays, glitter tattoos, a Christmas raffle and much more.

The event will also see the start of Demelza’s popular Santa’s Grotto and elf trail visitors have a chance to book some of the first slots to see Father Christmas this year.

Santa’s Grotto will then be open on select days from Sunday 6 December to Wednesday 23 December. There are 30-minute slots available at different times on select days.

It costs £20 per child, which includes a Christmas craft activity, making reindeer food, meeting Santa and a visit to his toy room to choose their own gift. Adults cost £5 which includes a hot drink and sweet treat.

On Sunday 13 December, your four-legged friends will have a chance to meet Father Christmas at our first ever Santa Paws event.

During 30-minutes of non-stop fun, you will have the chance to snap a photo of your furry friend with Santa, receive a special gift for every dog, take part in a best-dressed competition, enjoy a festive puppuccino, take part in clay paw-print ornament making and see them compete in a fun agility course.

There are four different time slots between 10am and midday and it costs £16 for a dog and up to two people. Additional dogs are £6 and tickets for more people with each booking are £2.

And if that isn’t enough Christmas fun for you, there are a series of carolathon events taking place throughout the county, where school children will entertain shoppers with renditions of festive favourites.

There are still slots for schools to sign up to most of the carolathons or just come along to listen to the songs and celebrate the magic of Christmas while supporting Demelza.

Demelza’s Senior Events Manager, Anna Watson, said: “We’re so excited to have such a packed programme of festive events this year.

“Christmas at Demelza is always a special time and we are delighted to be able to invite our amazing communities into our grounds to enjoy the festive magic.

“There’s something for everyone – whether it’s an event at the hospice or out in the community and even a special event for your furry friends – so please take a look at everything on offer and pop along to support your local children’s hospice.

“Our incredible supporters raise a massive 84% of our funding, including through events like these, and we couldn’t continue to provide the expert care we do without that support.”