14Nov
Deck the Halls at Eastgate HouseOn now
The house is unveiled in its Victorian Christmas decorations.
Christmas 2026
Christmas in Rochester
The Christmas Market runs in the Castle Gardens on three weekends from Friday 27 November, free to enter. The Dickensian Christmas Festival fills the High Street on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, the same weekend as the second market weekend, so expect it to be very busy and plan travel ahead.
14Nov to 12 Dec
Christmas Crafts and Mrs Claus storiesOn now
Drop-in Christmas crafts, and sessions writing a Christmas story with a quill pen alongside Mrs Claus.
14Nov to 2 Jan
Elf Christmas Trail, Guildhall MuseumOn now
Find the elves around the museum to discover which one has Charles Dickens' missing quill.
22Nov to 13 Dec
Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Commissioner's HouseOn now
A festive afternoon tea in the Commissioner's House. No Dockyard ticket needed.
25Nov
G4 ChristmasOn now
The vocal group G4 sing carols, sacred pieces and Christmas songs.
27Nov to 13 Dec
Rochester Christmas MarketOn now
Kent's biggest free-to-enter Christmas market, with over 120 stalls, a Bavarian food and drink village and entertainment on the bandstand.
28Nov to 13 Dec
A Christmas Carol at Eastgate HouseOn now
An immersive performance of Dickens' story, staged around the audience in the 16th-century Grand Reception Room.
29Nov
Advent Carol Service and ProcessionOn now
The cathedral's service marking the start of Advent.
5Dec to 6 Dec
Dickensian Christmas FestivalOn now
Rochester's biggest weekend of the year, with costumed parades, carol singers, bell ringers and street theatre. Very busy, especially on the Sunday, so plan travel ahead.
5Dec to 6 Dec
Dickens Festival carol servicesOn now
Four free carol services during the festival weekend.
5Dec to 6 Dec
Dickens at Dusk carolsOn now
Three Towns Theatre Company sing carols in Victorian costume outside Dickens' Swiss chalet.
11Dec to 3 Jan
Cinderella, the Medway pantomimeOn now
Medway's Christmas pantomime, with Zaraah Abrahams as the Wicked Stepmother.
12Dec
Christingle ServiceOn now
A family carol service in which every child receives a Christingle.
12Dec to 13 Dec
Cathedral Christmas Carol ConcertOn now
The Cathedral Choir's ticketed carol concert. It has sold out in each of the past five years, so book early.
18Dec to 19 Dec
A Festival of Nine Lessons and CarolsOn now
The traditional candlelit service of readings and carols.
20Dec
Rochester Farmers' MarketOn now
The monthly farmers' market, the last before Christmas.
20Dec
Children's Nativity ServiceOn now
A nativity service for children of all ages.
24Dec
Christmas Eve at the CathedralOn now
A carol service in the afternoon and the Eucharist of Christmas Night before midnight.
25Dec
Christmas Day at the CathedralOn now
An early Book of Common Prayer Communion and the main Christmas morning Eucharist.
Getting there
- The station is five minutes on foot from the High Street and the Castle Gardens
- Car parks: all four, with payment codes
- Last train to London Victoria around 00:20
Also at Christmas
- The Historic Dockyard runs Mission Christmas on selected November and December dates; book on its site
- Eastgate House is decorated for a Victorian Christmas from 14 November
- The Guildhall Museum Elf Trail runs to 2 January