Margate Pride
The Margate Pride parade takes place on Saturday, August 13.
From 11am, the Oval Bandstand hosts performances and speeches from local queer artists and allies, including family storytime with drag queen Dame Jame, Boogie bounce dance class with Kanndiss Riley, The Neptunes Choir, Drag Energy workshops with JazBazMaz, Mx Margate performance with huge celebrity judges, then the Social Singing Choir perform. All before the not-to-miss rally with campaigner for LGBTQIA+ rights and founder of LGBT+ History month Sue Sanders, Ronnie from African Rainbow Family, Max from Not A Phase and Rob Yates deputy mayor of Margate.
The bandstand will have a BSL interpreter and also Mobiloo – an attended mobile toilet service with hoist.
Then the parade will leave at 4pm and move along the seafront towards town, ending at the clocktower, with many more events happening all over town to celebrate pride.
Sundowners will have the terrace open all day. The Sundeck has queer disco DJs playing all day til 9pm. Dreamland has a day’s queer programming including Nimmo and Sugababes playing at sunset. Walk around the old town, most businesses have something pride related planned.
After the sunsets the party keeps on going, with locations across town hosting Pride events. Cockles and Muscles at Margate Arts Club is a pride fundraiser with DJs including GalPals, Tolu (Honey Revlon), Lanta, Dorris, Jonjo Jury, Oli Keens. And the after-after-party at the Lido Cliff Bar has KDA and Queer House Party playing til 4am.
Find more at margatepride.org.uk
Thanet Open Studios
Thanet Open Studios returns with 17 sites open showing the work of more than 25 practising local artists and artisans.
Some of the artists are opening their studios for the first time this year and of course some of the regulars are back on the trail.
Over the following weekends in Augusts 13/14th, 20/21st and 27/28/&29th, artists open their studios, galleries and homes to welcome the public and show visitors what they create and how they create their work.
Not all studios are open on the same weekends, so always best to check the guide before visiting. This is an ideal opportunity to meet artists and also perhaps buy direct from them.
There are studios open in Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Margate and Westgate, with everything from textile design to glass art and oil painting to printing.
The best way to plan your tour is to either download the online guidebook, or pick up a printed copy from York Street Gallery in Ramsgate, New Kent Art Gallery in Broadstairs, Eclectic Art in Margate and at Westgate Galleria.
For more information find Thanet Open Studios on facebook here
Escape Experience at The Nayland Rock Hotel, Margate
Runs until September 22
Hosted by 36 Inch Penguin, this is a Site Specific location with Theatre, Story Telling and Escape Room mechanics.
The challenge -The Nayland Rock Hotel once visited by the rich and famous. A downstairs bar, The Crescent Suite, hosted regular meetings of a little known Society. When the hotel closed for renovations in the 1980s the Society and the bar’s landlady vanished without a trace. The Crescent Suite never reopened.
For years rumours persisted of valuable items hidden away in the suite and then, with the death of an American man in 2021, clues came to light of those items whereabouts. The dead man’s children, The Twins, live in the US and can’t come to find them themselves, but with the help of a friendly security guard they can get you inside.
Suitable for Ages 10 and up, under 18’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult
Prices start at £50 for two people for 90 minutes
Book at https://www.36inchpenguin.com/team-3
Picnic in the Garden
Saturday, August 13, from 3pm, Marine Gardens, Margate,
Local business Kookiedoe hosts a picnic in the park. Join the festivities with free tubs of rainbow dough from Kookidoe. Bring a picnic blanket.
Home by the Sea XIV Exhibition
York Street Gallery, Ramsgate, August 10-19
Open Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am-4pm and Sunday 11am-4pm
Joint exhibition by gallery owner Mike Samson and Graham Davies The theme of the exhibition is ‘Seascapes’ in Watercolours and Oils.
Fifty paintings depicting the English coast from Cornwall to Norfolk and many places in between plus new paintings of Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Margate and Whitstable.
Illusions of Order Exhibition
Turner Rowe Art Centre, Harbour Street, Ramsgate, August 9-21
Themes from classic Americana to wildlife pieces, more recently evolving into Abstraction, by Julien Hatswell. Meet Julien at the gallery on Saturday 13th August between 6pm & 8pm.
Opening hours, Tues to Sat: 10am – 5pm and Sun: 10am – 4pm
Overground Underground Ramsgate Tunnels tour
Ramsgate Tunnels is hosting a guided walk above and below ground this Saturday (August 13).
Hidden entrances and features of interest above ground will be pointed out along the way and below ground participants will follow in the footsteps of those who rushed for cover during the Second World War, descending into the Tunnels via an original public entrance.
The Tour starts outside The Sailors Church, Military Road, Royal Harbour, Ramsgate at 11:30am and finishes at the entrance to Ramsgate Tunnels, Marina Esplanade, at around 2.30pm.
Those taking the tour will be required to climb multiple sets of stairs and descend a 2.5 metre secure steel ladder during the tour. Physical fitness and mobility is essential. The tour is only suitable for those aged 12 and above. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets and further information are available online at: https://ramsgatetunnels.merlintickets.co.uk/product/E000025
Minion: Rise of Gru (U)
Palace Cinema, Broadstairs
In the heart of the 1970s, amid a flurry of feathered hair and flared jeans, Gru (Steve Carell) is growing up in the suburbs. A fanboy of a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6, Gru hatches a plan to become evil enough to join them. Luckily, he gets some mayhem-making backup from his loyal followers, the Minions.
Upcoming shows
Friday 12 August 4pm
Saturday 13 August 4pm
Sunday 14 August 2pm
And various screenings until August 18
KAB Super Hero run
Hundreds of superheroes will be running around Margate on Sunday, August 14 in aid of Kent Association for the Blind.
The Superhero 5K, 10K and Fun Run is back at Margate Football Club and ready to raise funds for the sight-loss charity.
Starting and finishing at Hartsdown Park, the 5K and 10K course will take in the coastline views of Margate. The family fun run, which covers 1-mile around the adjacent park, will be full of surprises and obstacles for the runners.
KAB’s Superhero Run is organised by Sporting Events UK, runners in the 5K and 10K run will benefit from chip timing and everyone will receive a brilliant medal.
Hunter’ from The Gladiators TV Show will be joining the event again to get the runners warmed up and ready to take on the challenge. He’ll also be joined by Gladiator ‘Panther’ and will be available for photos throughout the day. There will be plenty to do for all the family at the superhero village at Margate Football Club, including stalls and games to keep visitors and runners entertained.
The event will have a mixture of runners of different abilities, including people who are sight impaired.
The event is from 9am-1pm. If spaces are available people can sign up on the day for the 5k or 10k before 9.30am and for the fun run before 10.30am.
5k Entry fee: On-the-day – £20 (subject to space)
10k Entry fee: On-the-day – £25 (subject to space)
Fun Run: £4.50 per entry
For more information, visit https://www.kab.org.uk
Music at The Oval Bandstand and Lawns
Sunday, August 14, doors and bar open 1pm-5pm, music 2pm-4pm from Project F
Free entry
Music at Broadstairs Bandstand
Saturday, August 13 – Blake Sonnet
Sunday, August 14 – City of Canterbury Band
Both days from 2.30pm-4pm
Looking Back exhibition
Looking Back by photographer Keris Eyton-Williams at the Eclectic Gallery in Margate from now until September 2
Were you, or do you know, someone who lived in or visited Margate in 1970/71? Fifty-two years have brought many changes since the British seaside holiday was the number one choice for families. Do you have memories from under those long-gone boardwalks?
Come and turn back the clock and have a nostalgic glimpse of times gone by with the images by Keris.
Framed and mounted prints, cards and books of the images are available to buy.
Eclectic Gallery is at 6 Broad Street, Margate. Opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 11am – 5pm.
And one for today (August 12)
It’s the last day of Broadstairs Folk Week with music, family shows, craft fair and more.
The concert venue is at the Festival Arena in the Memorial Recreation Ground, next to Broadstairs train station.
The Folk Week Dance venue is the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Fordoun Road and Victoria Gardens will host the craft and music fair, which has free entry, and will be open from August 6-12,10am -9pm daily.
The bandstand will host the ever-popular – and free- Hobby Horse Club with the madcap Hooden Horses and Clarence the Dragon, as well as Morris dance displays and music every evening.
The Folk Week Box Office will be at the Festival Arena, Memorial Rec: August 5-12, from 10am to 10pm.
All festival tickets available at the box office in advance or on the door if not sold out – concert tickets, workshops, dances – all available as well as Souvenir Programmes.
There are more details and online booking on the website at www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk.
