Rochester Christmas Market
Rochester Christmas Market is set in the spectacular Rochester Castle Gardens and held over 3 consecutive weekends at the end of November and beginning of December.
The market attracts around 250,000 visitors from all over Europe and is one of the best festive events in the UK. Located in the historic Rochester Castle Gardens, with over 120 stalls, the market is Kent's biggest free to enter public Christmas Market.
The focus of the market is to showcase traders with products and festive treats that cannot be found on the High Street. This includes locally produced and sustainable gifts, clothing and homeware, and artisan goods and foods.
Shoppers can enjoy a variety of festive food and drink on offer within the Bavarian Village, watch live entertainment performed on the bandstand, and enjoy the family funfair.
Dickensian Christmas Festival
The Dickensian Christmas Festival takes place on the 6 and 7 December in 2025 and is free to attend.
The festival will see Rochester transformed into a Dickensian-themed Christmas shopping experience. The event is attended by approximately 70,000 people over the weekend.
The Dickensian Christmas Festival is a perfect way to start the festive season as Rochester glows with the sights and sounds of a Victorian Christmas. This includes carol singers, bell ringers, costumed parades and street theatre with Dickens characters.
