Family-friendly Christmas events: Pantomimes, illuminations, Santa's grotto

In all likelihood, your children have been asking about Christmas since some time around mid-July. Well, finally you can direct that energy at something as we actually head into the festive season.

Thanet always delivers when it comes to putting on events for children, whether it's meeting Santa himself, pantomimes of Christmas light shows. There's so much to do, and these events will get you in the mood as much as them.

We'll be updating this list over the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for even more things to do.

Festive films at High Tide Social
High Tide Social play cafe is putting up a big screen and showing festive movies every Friday in the lead up to Christmas. The programme is Home Alone (Nov 28), The Grinch (Dec 5), Elf (Dec 12) and Polar Express (Dec 19. They'll also be serving up popcorn, nachos, hotdogs and smash burgers and there will be a happy hour on drinks.
Friday, November 28 to Friday, December 19. High Tide Social, 235 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2PJ. £4 per family.

Santa’s Science Sleuthing
Discovery Planet will be taking over Ramsgate Space to get kids involved in a range of festive science experiments. Help get Santa back on track after the Christmas gonks caused chaos by breaking his sleigh ramp, smashing up his snowmen, upsetting Rudolph and toppling the Christmas tree!
Sunday, November 29 from midday and 4.30pm. Ramsgate Space, 17 Albert Court, Ramsgate, CT11 9DN. Free entry.

Christmas at the Caves
Santa Claus will be holed up at Margate Caves in the run up to Christmas. This year’s grotto has a Peter Pan theme, with the caves dressed up with classic scenes from the story. Follow the trail to find Santa and receive your early Christmas gift. 
Saturday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 23. Margate Caves, 1 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 1FG. Tickets £15.95 per child. 

Happy Reading Bookshop
Children’s bookshop Happy Reading in Broadstairs has author and illustrator events every weekend from the end of November right up to Christmas. There are readings, workshops and activities on the schedule with Grace Easton, Natelle Quek, Neal Hoskins, Rachel Tilda Wolf, Inky Willis and shop owner Nicci Rosengarten.
Sunday, November 30 to Sunday, December 21. Happy Reading Bookshop, 30A Reading St, Broadstairs, CT10 3AZ. See the full line up.

Ramsgate Winter Festival
Running from November 30 through to the end of January, Ramsgate Winter Festival features illuminations, a light art trail, workshops, music, family events and much more. There’s a huge schedule of events to brighten up the darker months of winter.
Sunday, November 30 to Monday, January 26. Various venues in Ramsgate. See the full programme. 

Ramsgate Living Advent Calendar
Ramsgate Living Advent Calendar opens its first door at Ramsgate Tandoori on Monday. There’ll be festive fun at a different business or house in the town every day up to Christmas, raising money for Salvation Army Homeless Support. It finishes at the legendary Rubber Chicken House on Kent Place on Christmas Eve.
Monday, December 1 to Wednesday, December 24. Various venues in Ramsgate. Full schedule.

Bleak House Christmas Fair
Bleak House in Broadstairs will be hosting a Christmas fair. Kids cannot only meet Father Christmas and receive a gift but also have a festive train ride. As well as that, there will be live carol performances each day and food from Kebbels.
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 from 11am to 6pm. Bleak House, 2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS. Free Entry.

Aladdin
The Granville in Ramsgate is putting on Aladdin as its pantomime this year. Get on board the magic carpet as Aladdin attempts to win Princess Jasmine’s heart with the aid of his genie friend.
Saturday, December 13 to Wednesday, December 24. The Granville Theatre, Victoria Parade, Ramsgate, CT11 8DG. Tickets from £26.95. 

Dick Whittington
Over in Broadstairs at the Sarah Thorne Theatre, this year’s pantomime is Dick Whittington. Will Dick and his cat make it to London? Only if you go and let him know when there’s someone behind him.
Saturday, December 13 to Saturday, January 10. Sarah Thorne Theatre, Fordoun Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2BN. Tickets from £23. 

Breakfast with Santa
Start your day with Santa at The Pavilion in Broadstairs. As you eat a full English breakfast, the man himself will join you at your table, take photos and lead children in party games.
Saturday, December 14. The Pavilion, Harbour Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1EU. £15 per person. Call 01846 500295 to book.

ELZ & Dame Jame Do… Panto 4 Kidz
Continuing their run of two person musicals, ELZ and Dame Jame turn their attention to pantomime with two performances at CAMP. Mashing up bits of all the classics, from Cinderella to Dick Whittington, with the audience deciding plot twists and making special guest appearances as the story unfolds. There will be an adults-only evening performance.
Saturday, December 20. CAMP, 125 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2QY. Tickets £7.

It’s a Wonderful Life
What would the festive season be without this perennial classic? Continuing the Palace cinema's traditional December screenings of the film, this year they'll be showing a beautifully restored copy.
Saturday, December 20; Sunday, December 21; and Tuesday, December 23. Palace Cinema, Harbour Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1ET. Tickets from £4.

Jingle Bell Rocks!
Brigitte Aphrodite, QuietBoy and Liv Morris will be performing punked up versions of classic Christmas songs in this family-friendly show at ARK.
Saturday, December 20 to Tuesday, December 23. ARK, Albion Road, Margate, CT9 2HP. Tickets £7.50.

Elf, Home Alone and The Grinch
The Carlton cinema in Westgate will be showing family-friendly Christmas movies all day on Christmas Eve. Take your pick of Elf, Home Alone and The Grinch, or settle in for a festive movie marathon.
Wednesday, December 24. Carlton Cinema, 29 St Mildreds Road, Westgate-On-Sea, CT8 8RE. Tickets £3.50.