The festive season is almost upon us, and many will be keen to get their Christmas jumpers on and their decorations up before November is even over.

To get set for your festive activities, follow our guide below for what's on in your area. 

KINGSTON

  • Kingston Christmas Market. November 19 to December 31.

This year, the whole town centre has been transformed into a magical Christmas market spreading throughout the Ancient Market Place and surrounding pedestrianised streets, encapsulating Kingston in glittering festive cheer. All of our market chalets have been selected for their unique giftware, many of which can’t be bought on the high street and with festive food and drink, more entertainment, the annual Eden Craft fair, our new Alpine village and a few other surprises to boot, this Christmas is set to be spectacular. The market will feature two large outdoor bar areas serving up steaming mugs of mulled wine along with classic German-style street food and street entertainment allowing you to really soak up the festive atmosphere.

  • Mayor's Annual Senior Citizen's Christmas party. December 9 from 3pm to 5pm.

Take part in the raffle which will be held on behalf of Momentum, the Mayor’s charitable trust for this year. Momentum is a local charity which supports children with cancer and life limiting conditions. Tickets are free and available now from the Mayor’s office. Make sure apply soon as ticket numbers are limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Applications should be made in writing to:  The Mayor’s Office, Guildhall, High Street, Kingston upon Thames  KT1 1EU or by emailing mayors.office@kingston.gov.uk. Please enclose details of the person(s) wishing to attend, with a full contact address and daytime telephone number.

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ELMBRIDGE

  • Cobham lights switch on. Friday, November 25 at 7pm.

Squire's Garden Centre has donated a tree to this year's lights switch on and will sell trees from 4-9pm. Lights will be switched on at Stoke D'Abernon on December 3.

  • Weybridge Christmas Lights. Thursday, December 1 from 5pm to 7pm at the Christmas Tree, outside LeQuest. 

Join Weybridge Town Business Group and the children from St Charles Borromeo, Manby Lodge, St James’s and St George’s Schools for the parade of lanterns at 5pm. Also included are carols, mulled wine courtesy of Cafe One, a hog roast by the Giggly Pig and late night shopping until 7pm.

  • Lights on – Turning on the Christmas tree lights - Sunrise of Weybridge. December 6 at 3pm.

Everyone is invited to pop down and enjoy live musical Christmas entertainment from local screen and stage star Aimi MacDonald. All will be treated to home-made mince pies and mulled wine before the tree lighting begins. To RSVP, call Sunrise of Weybridge on 01932 871100.

  • Bag your own mini Christmas tree and help the heathland. Sunday 11 December - drop in between 10am and 2pm

Follow signs from Copsem Lane car park, Copsem Lane. Nearest postcode KT10 9HQ. Cost: free

  • Healthy Walk – Merry Meander on Christmas DayWednesday 25 December

Meet Karen and Chris at Lakewood car park, Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1BG. Join us at 10.40 for a mulled wine. Walk starts at 11am and finishes at 12pm. Cost: free

  • Boxing Day Healthy Walk – to Hampton Court for a hot drink with ice. Wednesday 26 December

Meet Karen and Liz at Sadlers Ride car park, Molesey KT8 1ST. Join us for a pre-walk mulled wine at 10.40am. Walk starts at 11am and finishes at 1pm. Cost: free

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EPSOM AND EWELL

  • The Spirit of Christmas - Epsom Christmas lights switch-on at The Market PlaceThursday November 24; 4pm - 8.30pm

Live entertainment throughout including Santa's Grotto in the Clock Tower, Selfie Snow Globe, Soft Play Party Bus, Giant Bouncy Snow Globe, Reindeer Rodeo, Fairground rides, hot food, mulled wine and much more! Funds raised from this year's event will go to two charities - 'Momentum', who support children with cancer and life-limiting conditions and their families and 'The Children's Trust’ based in Tadworth, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury.

  • Ewell Yule. Friday December 2; 5pm - 8pm

The community and the local traders welcome Christmas in traditional style at this annual late night shopping extravaganza. The Council is providing free parking for this event at Dorset House and Ewell High Street car parks from 4pm.

  • Lights on Broadway at Stoneleigh Broadway. Friday December 9

Events and enjoyment for all the family, including the opportunity to indulge in some late-night shopping.

  • Santa Claus and the Christmas Adventure at Epsom Playhouse. Friday 9 December to Christmas Eve

The adventure takes place at Santa's HQ in the North Pole. The Reindeer’s Sat Nav is programmed, the toys are piled high on the sleigh and Santa is ready to go when suddenly chaos strikes! Rudolph is missing and the Elves are up to no good. Will Santa ever deliver the presents?! He needs some help from all the good boys and girls in the audience to help Santa save the day.

  • Aladdin at Epsom Playhouse. Friday 16 December to 8 January

A work of genie-us; this year's spectacular family pantomime is Aladdin, delivering madcap exuberance, mystical titillation and magical mayhem! The Epsom Playhouse pantomime has become a festive tradition for many and this year’s extravaganza, with stunning scenery, outrageous costumes and a fabulous cast is going to be a sensation.

  • Christmas Memorial Service at Epsom Cemetery Chapel. Friday December 16

A service for those who like to remember lost loved ones as Christmas approaches. The service is not a traditional religious service though there will be some familiar Christmas music.

  • International Peace Light Celebration at The Ashley Centre, Epsom. Sunday December 18; 2pm – 2.30pm

Lit from the flame at the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem, the Peace Light travels throughout Europe and the America’s. It is distributed by Scouts and Guides with a message of Peace to their countries for use at ecumenical services.

Epsom Scouts will escort the Pease Light into the Ashley Centre, where it will be welcomed by our Mayor, Councillor George Crawford QPM, and by renowned snooker star Jimmy White MBE. Everyone is invited to share in a short ceremony and to enjoy the hand bells and to sing carols. The light will be taken on to various events in Epsom.

  • Christmas Fair at Bourne Hall, Ewell. Saturday 3 December; 10am - 4pm
  • Epsom Town Christmas Fayre at The Clock Tower, Epsom Market Place. Sunday 27 November; 11am - 4pm

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RICHMOND

  • Meet Santa in Hampton Square. December 4 from 11am to 4pm.

Live music will entertain the crowds, including performances from Tuesday Blue, Blues Café, The Reckless Sleeper, Steve Ling and many more. Children and families will be able to meet live reindeer, play in the snow (thanks to a snow machine) visit Santa and his elves in his grotto and enjoy burgers, mulled wine and mince pies. The event is organised by Richmond Council and Sarah Burley from Bash ltd. The event is free to attend.

  • Normansfield Christmas Craft Fair 2016. November 26, 11am to 4.30pm

For our second year, Normansfield Theatre will become a magical wonderland of Christmas crafts and gifts. We will have approximately 29 stalls selling cards, prints, gifts, ornaments, tableware, food, Christmas decorations, handbags, and so much more. All perfect for a Christmas present. In 2015, we had 500+ visitors. We’ll also have a coffee shop selling delicious refreshments and books, a tombola and a craft area for children to make a Christmas decoration (a small charge per child). Langdon Down Centre, Langdon Down Centre, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS, Tel:0333 1212 300, Email, www.langdondowncentre.org.uk

  • Santa fun run at Bushy Park. Sunday, November 27, 1pm.

Join hundreds of other fun runners strolling, jogging, sprinting or meandering round the beautiful 5k course at Bushy Park and raise money to support the amazing work of the Princess Alice Hospice at the same time. You'll receive a free Santa Suit for over 12's years old and a snazzy Elf Hat for under 12's to wear whilst you take part.

  • Sleeping Beauty at Richmond Theatre. Friday, December 2 to Sunday, January 8.

Olivier Award-winner, Maureen Lipman makes a welcome return to Richmond’s spectacular Panto as the Wicked Fairy. With a catalogue of acting credits for television, stage and film, Maureen is well-known for her roles in films Educating Rita and the award-winning The Pianist. Joining her after two highly successful pantomimes at Richmond will be none other than CBeebies favourite Chris Jarvis in the role of Chester the Jester, returning for a third year in a row, due to overwhelming popular demand.

  • Syon Park Enchanted Woodland. November 18 to December 4 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only) 5pm to 9pm.

The Enchanted Woodland returns to Syon Park on November 18th for its eleventh year. An illuminated trail takes the visitor through the Arboretum and around Capability Brown’s Serpentine River, ending at the sixteenth century Syon House and the spectacular Great Conservatory. Lighting effects range from high-tech to low key, but Head Gardener Topher Martyn says it’s the trees which are the real stars of the show as emphasis is placed on bringing out the textures of bark and the forms of some of our 400 different tree species.

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