Kevin the Ice Cream Monster Crowned Mascot of Maidstone's Monster Mash

A colourful, ice-cream-loving monster dreamed up by a seven-year-old has been crowned the face of Maidstone's half-term Halloween event, after a competition that drew hundreds of entries from across the town.

Kevin the Ice Cream Monster, designed by primary school pupil Mya Edwards, is now the official mascot of Maidstone's Monster Mash - a weeklong "fun invasion" coming to the town centre over October half-term, including Halloween itself (Sunday 25 to Saturday 31 October). The event, brought to the town by One Maidstone BID and Maidstone Borough Council, will see larger-than-life inflatable monsters take over prominent town centre locations, with a free trail encouraging visitors to look up, look out and join the hunt, alongside further monster-themed activities and local business involvement.

The mascot competition launched in the summer, inviting people of all ages to submit their own monster designs. Judges sifted through hundreds of entries - "colourful creatures with horns, tentacles and plenty of teeth," as the council put it - before settling unanimously on Kevin. Mya said she was "happy and excited" when she found out Kevin had won, adding: "I really enjoyed drawing Kevin because I love ice cream! I am excited to see Kevin and spot all the other monsters around the town at Halloween!" A selection of designs will be turned into large monster vinyls displayed around the town centre, and every original entry will be shown together in a gallery at Creative Maidstone Community Arts Hub during the event.

Michelle Woodland, CEO of One Maidstone BID, said: "Choosing just one winner was incredibly difficult, but Kevin the Ice Cream Monster really captured our attention. He's fun, colourful and full of character." Councillor Stephen Thompson, the council's Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said the event would "bring families into the town centre during the October half-term holidays and showcase the creativity of our local community." Full details of the monster trail and activities are at One Maidstone. Source: Maidstone Borough Council