Maidstone Borough Council has announced a range of family, cultural and seasonal events taking place across the borough from October through to January.
The council’s autumn bulletin, issued on 29 September 2026, covers everything from Halloween trails to fireworks nights and a literary festival — essentially making the case that Maidstone and its surrounding attractions are worth a proper day out this season.
The centrepiece of the Halloween programme is Maidstone Monster Mash, running through the town centre from 25 to 31 October. Seven days. A giant monster hunt, large installations, a spooky trail and family activities. Not a bad shout if you’ve got kids to entertain during half-term.
Maidstone LitFest is also coming this autumn, with talks, workshops and performances for all ages. Leeds Castle, Kent Life and Maidstone Museum are all highlighted as destinations for Halloween and spooky season activities, including ghost hunting at the museum.
Kent Life is also hosting a 1940s weekend — billed as “A Victory Harvest” — on 10 and 11 October. And on 22 October, a Black History Month Celebration Day comes to Maidstone town centre, featuring steel pans, music, dance and costumes.
The Mote Park Art Exhibition opens on 26 October and runs to 8 November, showing shortlisted entries from this year’s art competition. Mote Park itself gets a mention as an autumn walking destination for those after seasonal foliage. Which, frankly, it’s rather good for.
Fireworks at Leeds Castle and Kent Life are scheduled across three evenings: 6, 7 and 8 November. Leeds Castle then flips into Christmas mode, with its lights display running from 20 November through to 3 January.
The bulletin also names the Lake Side Lodges at Leeds Castle and Chilston Park Hotel as overnight options for visitors.
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