By Karol Steele

Panto season is just around the corner and that goes hand in hand with the Dover district's Christmas Light's switch-on events.

At the Deal lights big switch-on taking place on Thursday, November 24: there will be a disco from 5.30pm followed by a set from the Kingsdown Band at 6pm. Stars of the Marlowe Theatre panto Cinderella will arrive at 7pm to switch on the Christmas lights in the High Street outside St George’s Church and they will push the button at 7.30pm.

The Dover lights switch-on ceremony takes place on Saturday, November 26. There will be entertainment including schools, theatre groups and dance clubs from the town performing from noon until 5.30pm.

There will also be circus workshops and children can get up close to reindeer before the parade from the town hall to the Market Square. Stars from Marlowe pantomime Cinderella will switch on the lights at 5.30pm in the Market Square.

This year's Marlowe panto stars include EastEnders actor and knock-out singer, John Partridge as Prince Charming, Britain's Got Talent's Stephen Mulhern as Buttons, Canterbury Panto regular Ben Roddy as Dandini, Coronation Street's Sue Devaney as The Fairy Godmother, Kate Quinnell as Cinders, local boy Michael Batchelor,who was born in Canterbury, and went to school in Folkestone and Ian Smith as The Ugly Sisters.

Sandwich’s traditional winter carnival brings a splash of colour and life to the dark nights with a parade through the town and lights switch-on at the Guildhall on Saturday, November 26. There will be a fair and stalls, with a fireworks finale on the Quayside.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©