Festive food and drink, unique gift ideas, carol singers, and Christmas music - even the odd visiting donkey.

Bags of Christmas spirit can be found at a festive market in Kent. We round up those taking place across the county:

Penshurst, Village Hall, High Street

Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2

There will be a vintage Christmas Fair on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2 showcasing vintage homewares, clothes, jewellery, furniture and gifts. There will also be live music from past decades courtesy of Miss Vintage and a pop-up tea room from Dotty about Cake.

The fair at Penshurst Village Hall is from 1pm to 4pm on Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. Entry is £2 and a donation will be made to Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Fremlin Walk, Maidstone

Saturday, November 9 until Sunday, January 5

The traditional market buildings will arrive ready to welcome Maidstone Christmas shoppers at the beginning of November. Packed full of festive gifts and tasty hot food and drink the stall holders will remain at Fremlin Walk until January. To keep up to date with all of its Christmas events visit www.fremlinwalk.co.uk

Sittingbourne town centre

Saturday, November 16

Sittingbourne will switch on its Christmas lights as night falls on Saturday, November 16. The event also includes a Christmas market in the town centre that day which will open from 10am for shoppers. The event runs until 6pm.

Canterbury city centre

November 22 until December 24

The annual Christmas Market in Canterbury is promising to be bigger and better than ever before this year with more stalls, more events and of course the arrival of Santa to his grotto. Get unique gift ideas, snap up seasonal treats and enjoy warming drinks and cocktails in the city centre's picturesque setting.

The market will be open 10am to 5pm Sunday to Thursday, 9am until 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays, but will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve. For a complete list of stalls or to book a visit to see Santa in Whitefriars Square please visit canterburychristmasmarket.co.uk

Tenterden Christmas Market

Friday, November 22 until Sunday, November 24

A street market, fabulous artisan stalls, late night opening, a Christmas lights switch on and festive Nutcracker themed fun parade will make up a busy three-day event in Tenterden.

The market itself will run over all three days alongside lots of other fun family events. For a full run down and exact times click here.

Leeds Castle, Leeds, near Maidstone

Weekends only from November 23 until December 15

The Christmas Market returns to the lawn overlooking the castle, where seasonal gifts, toys and festive decorations and specialist food and drink will be on offer. In the centre of the market visitors can enjoy nostalgic fairground rides on the Victorian carousel or on the big wheel, set to live music.

A yearly admission ticket, which starts from £25 an adult gives free repeat visits for a year.

Chartwell, Mapleton Rd, Westerham TN16 1PS

November 21 until November 24

The Christmas Market at Chartwell will have a vast range of handmade crafts, gifts and food from local businesses. From chocolates to candles, jewellery to hats, there is something for everyone to be found at the National Trust organised event.

The market, running from 10am until 4pm, is free to browse though and normal admission applies to the gardens, exhibition and studio.

Gravesend Borough Market, High Street, Gravesend

Sunday, November 24 (vintage market), Saturday, November 30, Saturday December 7 and Saturday, December 14

The town centre's dedicated undercover market building will be holding one vintage market and three traditional Christmas markets in the run up to Christmas.

Each market in Gravesend will be open between 10am until 4pm. Click here for more details.

Faversham Christmas Markets, Market Place

November 25 and December 9 and 16

The Christmas Markets have become a popular yearly event for Faversham. Pick up gorgeous locally-made gifts and produce, enjoy some festive music and try some food and drink.

With brass bands, carol singing and donkeys there will definitely be something for everyone. More details click here.

Folkestone Christmas Market, Sandgate Road

Friday, November 29 until Sunday, December 22

A new exciting arrival for 2019 is the first Christmas Market for Folkestone. It will be in the precinct near to Debenhams, WH Smith and Costa on Sandgate Road.

Browse the festive gifts and enjoy winter warming festive food and drink. Between Monday and Friday the market will be open 10am until 6pm, on Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm. A number of special events are also being organised to run during the market including live performances, a golden ticket hunt, and Father Christmas will be stopping by on opening weekend.

More details available from folkestonechristmasmarket.co.uk

Rochester Christmas Market

On select dates from Saturday, November 30 until Sunday, December 15

Set in the picturesque Rochester Castle Gardens the market in Medway is always a popular outing with families in the run up to Christmas. Not only can you browse a variety of stalls for unique gift ideas and stocking fillers you can also wander through the Bavarian food village or visit the funfair. There will also be live performances to keep you entertained.

And what's more, there will be a guaranteed snowfall all framed by Rochester's fairytale cathedral and castle.

The market is open on the following dates and times: Saturday, November 30, 10am to 6pm; Sunday, December 1 10am to 6pm, Friday, December 6 from 12noon to 8pm, Saturday, December 7 from 10am until 7pm, Sunday, December 8 from 10am to 7pm, Friday, December 13 from noon until 8pm, Saturday, December 14 from 10am to 6pm, Sunday, December 15 from 10am and 6pm.

Sheerness town centre

Saturday, November 30

The Christmas lights will be switched on in Sheerness on Saturday, November 30. The event also includes a lantern parade and Christmas market. There will be lots for visitors and shoppers to enjoy from 10am until 6pm.

Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks

Saturday, November 30 until Sunday, December 1

A Christmas mini-market is taking place over this opening weekend at Ightham Mote. Across the weekend there will be a mini Christmas Market, with local producer stalls, and Father Christmas will be handing out gifts to children during his visit from 11am until 2.30pm. There will also be the Christmas kids trail, craft activities, and the chance to see the bottom floor of the property decorated for the festive season.

More details and admission charges available here.

Port of Dover, Cruise Terminal One, Dover Western Docks

Weekends from Saturday, December 1

White Cliffs Christmas is back at Dover Western Docks for the fourth year. A Christmas Market will run every Saturday and Sunday from Sunday, December 1. Stay up to date with developments at events.doverport.co.uk

Sissinghurst Castle, Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook

Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24

There is free entry to the market at Sissinghurst Castle. Sample local goods, enjoy live entertainment and keep warm with hot food and drink. Kick start the Christmas shopping with a visit to Sissinghurst on either day to find a large range of stalls selling food, drink, crafts and produce. Everything is taking place between 10.30am and 3pm.

West Malling

Sunday, December 1

Kick start December with a visit to this year's Christmas Festival. The event sees entertainment across the West Malling town centre as the lights switch-on, festive entertainment and Christmas shopping all combine. There will be games, stalls, crafts for sale and plenty of festive food and drink during the afternoon. If you are interested in booking a stall for the event please email stalls@hokh.co.uk

Christmas at The Coachworks, Ashford

Friday, December 6, Saturday, December 7 and Saturday, December 14

Delicious local food and gifts is promised at the festive market within Ashford's new event space. Markets take place on each date between 3pm and 7pm and are being organised by Kent Food Hubs.

Christmas at the Castle, Whitstable Castle

Saturday, Decmber 7 and Sunday, December 8

Whitstable Castle's traditional Christmas Fair is back for 2019. With stalls both inside and outside selling Christmas gifts, holly wreaths, food and drink and the magical Grotto there is lots on offer for all the family. The Orangery Tearooms will also be serving light lunches, mulled wine & mince pies all

Christmas Market at Maidstone Museum, St Faith's St, Maidstone

Saturday, December 7

Find that perfect present inside Maidstone Museum this December. Visitors will be able to browse a range of stalls selling tasty local produce and beautiful handmade gifts.

The event is running from 10am until 3.30pm. All the details here.

Winterland Christmas Market, Dreamland Margate

Select dates between Saturday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 31

Dreamland at Margate has unveiled its Christmas plans for 2019 which include a winter market with festive food and drinks, yuletide crafts, free festive film screenings, Christmas trees, wreath making and more. A selection of rides will also be open at the Thanet theme park and bookings to meet Santa are also open. All the details here.

• For a guide to Kent's Christmas Lights switch-on events please click here
• For everything you need to know about late night Christmas shopping in the county see here