Maidstone’s Monster Mash runs from 25 to 31 October with a free trail, and a seven-year-old’s ice-cream-loving design has been named its mascot.
Larger-than-life inflatable monsters will appear across Maidstone town centre over the October half-term for a new event, Maidstone’s Monster Mash.
The week-long event runs from Sunday 25 to Saturday 31 October 2026, ending on Halloween. It is being put on by One Maidstone BID, the town centre business improvement district, and Maidstone Borough Council.
Kevin the Ice Cream Monster
The event’s mascot was chosen through a design competition launched in the summer. Judges went through hundreds of entries and picked Kevin the Ice Cream Monster, a colourful furball with a love of ice cream drawn by primary school pupil Mya Edwards, aged seven.
“When I found out Kevin had won I was happy and excited. I really enjoyed drawing Kevin because I love ice cream!” Mya said.
A selection of other entries will be turned into large monster vinyls displayed around the town centre, and every original design will go on show in a gallery at the Creative Maidstone Community Arts Hub during the event.
What to expect
Visitors will be invited to follow a free trail to find the giant monsters, with other monster-themed activities and local businesses taking part, the organisers said. The monsters will start going up on 21 October.
Councillor Stephen Thompson, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said the event “will bring families into the town centre during the October half-term holidays and showcase the creativity of our local community”.
Michelle Woodland, chief executive of One Maidstone BID, said choosing a winner had been “incredibly difficult”. “Kevin the Ice Cream Monster really captured our attention. He’s fun, colourful and full of character,” she said.
Full details of the trail and activities will be published on the One Maidstone website.
Giant inflatable monsters to take over Maidstone town centre this half-term Quiz
5 questions
Sources
- Maidstone Borough Council and One Maidstone BID press release SS/087/2026, 5 October 2026
- One Maidstone: Maidstone’s Monster Mash
Main picture: Andrew Scott Photography. Kevin the Ice Cream Monster designed by Mya Edwards.