Dartford Night Market Shines Despite Winter Weather

The Dartford Night Market returned on Friday 5 December with hundreds of residents braving the wet weather to enjoy an evening of food, crafts, and festive entertainment. The event—produced by Dartford Borough Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus—featured over 30 food and craft stalls, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the town centre.

Despite the particularly poor weather in the second half of the evening, spirits remained high thanks to a lively programme of strolling performers. Audiences were delighted by a giant Santa, naughty elves, a dazzling Snow Queen, fire dancers, a juggler, and a series of musical performances which brought colour and energy to the market.

One of the highlights was the arrival of Santa on his special fire engine, which parked on the High Street and gave out presents to the children in attendance.

Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus, said:

“We were thrilled to work with Dartford Borough Council on this fantastic initiative. The Night Market is a wonderful way to bring the community together, and we were proud to programme such a diverse range of entertainment. Despite the challenging weather, the feedback we received on the night was overwhelmingly positive. I congratulate Dartford Borough Council for their vision and commitment to delivering events that celebrate local culture and create shared experiences for residents. We are keen to deliver more cultural events in Dartford that animate the town centre and support local traders.”