Festive cheer will spread around west Kent this month as the Christmas countdown officially begins.

Jade Ellis, a finalist in last year’s X Factor, will perform in Maidstone's Jubilee Square next Friday.

She will be joined by Misunderstood, a duo who appeared in dace group Myztikal, which reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2010.

Festivities will start at 4pm, with kmfm presenter Garry Wilson entertaining the crowds.

The stars of Hazlitt Theatre’s panto, Dick Whittington, have the honour of flicking the light’s main switch at 6pm.

Fremlin Walk will turn on its decorations with the help of England rugby star Phil Vickery and kmfm’s breakfast team one week later.

The entertainment starts at 4pm.

X Factor fever will also hit Tunbridge Wells on Thursday, November 14.

A mystery guest from the hit show will perform and switch on the lights at the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre at 6pm.

The star’s identity will be announced by the centre’s Twitter feed, @Royal_Shopper, on Monday at 10am.

Kmfm’s roadshow will be at West Malling’s Christmas Festival on Sunday, November 17, starting at midday.

An ice rink will be in the High Street, and a school choir competition will take place before lights are switched on at 5pm.

Visitors are advised not to bring their cars into the town centre. Instead a free bus service will run from West Malling Station, just off the A228, and Tower View in Kings Hill.

Free parking will also be available at the station’s Kenden car park.

Less than four miles down the road Snodland’s Christmas display will be lit up on Saturday, November 30.

Celebrations will start in the High Street at 4.30pm.

The mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Howard Rogers, switches the lights on at 5pm and carols will also be sung by the town’s choral society.

A festival takes place in Tonbridge High Street on Sunday, November 24, between 1.45pm and 6.30 pm and the King and Queen in New Road, East Malling, will turn on its display a week later with entertainment running from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.