EKC Canterbury College celebrates Christmas 2025

At EKC Canterbury College, the festive season is a time to come together and celebrate the achievements of our students and the spirit of our community.  

As the year draws to a close, the campus has been busy with projects that showcase the talent of our learners, from sparkling custom decorations to exciting activities. 

We also opened our doors to the wider public to welcome them to our Christmas Community Celebration, which saw the campus transformed into a winter wonderland.  

Read below to learn more about some of the festivities across College: 

Our budding artists sold festive creations 

Visual Arts students brought their creativity to the heart of Canterbury, selling their work at the Whitefriars Marlowe Arcade, and at Rock Paper Scissors’ annual Christmas Market. 

From badges and notebooks, to cards and more, shoppers could pick up unique pieces starting at just £2, meaning they were perfect for a festive stocking filler. 

Students took charge of the whole experience by running the stalls, talking with visitors, handing out flyers in town, and managing sales. It was a brilliant chance to share their talent with the public and see their hard work appreciated. Over the three days at Rock Paper Scissors alone, the students made over £800. 

The markets featured work from across our Visual Arts courses, including Art and Design, Fashion and Textiles, Graphic Design and Photography. 

Speaking about her work in Whitefriars, Level 2 Art, Design and Textiles student, Alexis, said: “Running the stall is my first work experience opportunity, which is good. It’s nice to see art from across all the courses come together and be sold to the public as well as gain new experiences. I’d love to do more like this in the future.” 

Departments transform ‘The Street’ with festive trees 

‘The Street’ became extra special in the build up to Christmas as every department designed its own unique tree, transforming the space with colour. 

Highlights included Sport and Public Services making a striking statement with a tree surrounded by police tape, and Health and Social Care showcasing their ingenuity by crafting decorations from rubber gloves.  

We welcomed our community for an evening of festive fun 

We opened our doors during the last week of term, welcoming students, staff members, and local families and residents to enjoy a range of festive activities during our annual Community Christmas event.

There were plenty for visitors to get involved in, including arts and crafts sessions in the Refectory and gingerbread decorating in Streetside, which proved popular with younger guests. For those feeling more energetic, a festive assault course in the Main Hall added a fun challenge to the day. 

In the Street, Father Christmas welcomed visitors into his grotto, while Christmas singers performed by the tree, creating a lively and festive atmosphere throughout the event.  

The Street was also home to individual market stalls selling mostly handmade crafts, giving visitors the chance to pick up unique gifts and decorations, including sleighs made from copper piping. 

Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery student Lucy said of the chance to sell departmental work: “The first year students who started in September have been making Christmas trees and little houses out of the wood available in the workshops. 

“It’s my job today to help sell them to raise a little bit of money as a good Christmas project. 

“I’ve really enjoyed being at College and studying here has helped me find my passion and allowed me to grow in new ways, with events like this.” 

The celebrations continued with a Christmas disco, where visitors could end the day with music, dancing and festive joy. 

The event was a great opportunity for us to open our doors to the community, bring people together, and celebrate the creativity and effort of our students and staff members. 

Season’s Greetings and thank you for celebrating with us.  

By exploring our subjects online and applying today, you can join us for next year’s festivities and the chance to see what Christmas 2026 on campus will look like.