Less than a week to go! : The Otford Society

Yes, it’s less than a week now until Otford’s first ever Christmas Fayre & Markets! Proceedings commence on Saturday 19th November at 11am. We’re really excited to welcome everyone and there is a full list of events & attractions below.

Travel and Parking

Otford High St will be closed between the Memorial Hall car park and the duck pond roundabout. We are strongly advising people NOT to drive to this event. If at all possible, leave the car at home and either walk or use public transport, but do check train times before setting out as there are planned engineering works in the area. If you must travel by car there may be space to park at Otford Station or the Memorial Hall car park. Note that charges apply in both places and the Memorial Hall car park in particular is likely to be full early in the day.

Crafts and Gifts

Our wonderful village shops will be open and delighted to serve you throughout the day, a fantastic opportunity to stock up on Christmas gifts! In addition, 21 craft and gift stalls will adorn Otford High Street. Beautiful crafts, hand painted glasses, children’s toys, artwork, eco-jewellery, pets treats, Christmas decorations, scented candles, clothing, up-cycled furniture: these are just some of the things to look out for. A further 8 stalls will be situated inside the Memorial Hall selling everything from delicious sweets, wines, crafts and more! A full list of stalls is below.

Family Activities – at Otford Palace, the Memorial Hall, the Recreation Ground and the Library!

Santa’s elves are working hard converting Otford Palace into his special grotto for the day! He is looking forward to welcoming children & their families into this special setting.
NOTE: If you’ve been disappointed that it booked out so quickly, the good news is that Santa might be making a return visit another weekend. Email events@otfordsociety.org.uk to register your interest so we can let you know if this goes ahead.
BREAKING NEWS: Magic Circle magician Robert Pound is coming to the fair, so watch out for him as you walk around. There will be magic in the air!
Otford Methodist Church will be performing Puppet from an Advent Calendar in the Memorial Hall Hope Room.
A football game (with cash prizes!) will be running in the Club Room.
Silly Billy will be entertaining children in and around the Memorial Hall between 3:30 and 4:30 pm. He is a well-known comedian and entertainer who regularly performs at The Stag Theatre.
A Pin the the Nose on the Reindeer game will be in the Memorial Hall Club Room
Otford Scouts will be running a table-top Treasure Hunt, also in the Club Room
Otford’s Evangelical Church will be showing little ones how to decorate Christmas biscuits, amongst other craft activities, in the Memorial Hall Club Room.
Little Poppets will be painting faces in the Memorial Hall Club Room
With the World Cup around the corner we have a football challenge on the Recreation Ground next to the Memorial Hall
Also on the Recreation Ground the Scouts will be organising ‘Hawk Throwing’ (aka axe throwing) from 11 to 3. All proceeds will go to the homeless charity Porchlight.
At 11:15 there will be a special Christmas storytelling session in the Library, along with some special seasonal craft activities.
Between 2:00 and 4:00 in the Otford Methodist Church Hall “Who Let the Families Out?” provides fun and safe play for children

Music and Entertainment

Otford’s very own Merry Mondays ukelele band will be performing a repertoire of catchy tunes at 12 noon and 2:30 – they are great, don’t miss them in the Players Hall.
The ever popular Miss Vintage will be singing outside the former Crown pub – at 1:00 to 1:30 and 2:00 to 2:30
Local singer/songwriter Peter Gardiner will be singing in the same place from 11:30 to 12:00 and 1:30 to 2:00

Food & Drink

After a full day of shopping and entertainment, you’ll want to treat yourself to fantastic meals, sandwiches, cakes and seasonal treats in our many restaurants, pubs and cafes. Early birds can treat themselves to a delicious bacon roll & pakora roll (Vegan) at the Pond View Café; at Sally’s Cake Emporium you can enjoy a pork, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwich; the Olive Tree Cafe will be serving a special Christmas cupcake; at Hilal Restaurant you can warm up with mulled wine and hot chocolate Baileys. And don’t forget our two great pubs: The Woodman is offering Christmas ales and turkey & a cranberry baguette while The Bull will be serving mulled spicy cider and cranberry & orange gin & Christmas cake gin. All this in addition to the usual food and drink you can enjoy at our great local food and drink outlets.

Christmas Fayre Timetable of Events

10:00 – 5:00 Santa’s grotto (prebooked only)

11:15 Christmas stories and crafts in the library

11:30 Peter Gardiner outside the Crown

12:00 Merry Mondays in the Players Hall

1:00 Miss Vintage outside the Crown

1:30 Peter Gardiner outside the Crown

2:00 Miss Vintage outside the Crown

2:00 to 4:00 “Who let the Families Out?” in the Methodist Church Hall

2:30 Merry Mondays in the Players Hall

3:30 to 4:30 Silly Billy in the Memorial Halls

4:00 Switching on of Otford’s Christmas lights, to the accompaniment of seasonal singing.