27 things to see and do in Thanet, December 10-11

Mother Goose at the Sarah Thorne Theatre

Mother Goose opens at the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs today (December 9).

The theatre’s panto, now in its 11th year, features John Goodrum as the Dame playing alongside Lisa Payne and Ian Crosher to name but three.

The full professional company with live music and members of the Masque Theatre School will begin public performances on Friday 9th December and will continue until New Year’s Eve.

Special Charity Nights and School shows have again been sold out in advance.

Full times and prices are available at www.sarahthornetheatre.co.uk

Tickets are available from Ticketsource on 0333 666 4466 or go to the website www.sarahthornetheatre.co.uk for details of how to book On-line, 24/7.

Calendar Making

Hornby Visitor Centre, Ramsgate Road, Margate. December 10 and 11. Open 10am-2pm

Come along to Hornby Visitor Centre and create your own 2023 calendar or gift it as a Christmas present to someone special! £5pp

Tickets to Visitor Centre: Adult £5, Concession (Senior Citizen, Child 5-15 years) £2.50, Under 5’s FREE, Family (2 Adults and up to 4 Children) £12.50

Margate Tech Club at The Margate School

December 10, 10am to noon.

Margate Tech Club is a free drop-in within a safe and welcoming space where you and your family can explore and play with tech, under the supervision and guidance of helpful experts.

The Tech Club includes a workshop activity, which you can sign up for on the day. Please bring along a laptop if you have one.

Margate Tech Club is free to attend, however, we will kindly ask for donations in order to keep future Tech Clubs running.

Legend Live: A Bob Marley Tribute

December 10, Olby’s Soul Café, Margate. Doors open7pm

LEGEND are seven great musicians and singers dedicated to the life and music of the late, great Bob Marley

The band, led by the charismatic Michael Anton Phillips (Cheesy), will cover the very best of Bob Marley’s timeless classics:

Tickets £15.00 Book now

Margate Old Town Christmas Market

December 10-11, Market Place, 11am to 5pm

Come along and browse all of the local handmade goodies Margate Old Town Christmas Market has to offer!

More than 20 traders including handmade, vintage, artists, pottery, dog treats and so much more.

Coastal Crafty Crew Christmas Fayre

December 11, 10am to 3pm at Quex Small Barn, Quex Park

Handmade crafts

Free entry and free parking. Free mince pies and hot toddy

Ellington Park Ramsgate Christmas fair

December 11, open 10am – 6pm

In association with Friends of Ellington Park get into the Christmas spirit..

Funfair, Live Music, Bookshop, Trains, Beer Tent and a Visit From Santa

Santas on the Run

It’ll be ho-ho-go as a sea of Santas run along Margate’s coastline to raise funds for Pilgrims Hospices on December 11, starting and finishing above the Winter Gardens.

The route will see the Santas pass Turner Contemporary and continue along the promenade towards Westgate before returning for their well-deserved festive medals.

Santas on the Run! is a 3k or 5k fun run event beginning at 11am. Registration is 9.30am.

On the day entry (if capacity is not reached)

Adult: £20

Under 18: £10

Christmas Tree Festival at St George’s Church, Ramsgate

December 9-18. Church open 2pm-5pm

Friends of St George’s present their annual Christmas Tree Festival showcasing an array of decorated trees by local groups and businesses

Raising funds for the church restoration

St Peter’s Church Christmas tree festival

December 9-11

The church will be filled with Christmas trees.

Dec 9, 4pm-6pm Judging of the trees by the mayor, prizegiving and performance by St George’s and St Peter’s Junior Schools choirs

Dec 10, 10am to 5pm church open for viewing the Christmas trees

Musical entertainment from 2pm-4.30pm.

7pm David Lammier plays Christmas melodies on the organ, Glass of wine and mice pie in the interval. Tickets for the concert are £7.50 in advance from the parish office or on the door

Dec 11, 11am to 3.30pm church is open for viewing trees

9.30am Family Praise Service

4pm Christmas Choral Evensong

Donations of £1 from tree festival visitor appreciated, money to be used for church upkeep.

Land Sea and Air exhibition

December 8-13, York Street Gallery, Ramsgate

Local military and aviation artist David Bryant exhibiting paintings and a few surprises along with artist Stephen Beech showing landscape and ship paintings.

Open Tues-Sat, 10.30am to 4pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

The Nursery at Broadstairs College

December 10, 10am until noon, in the main building

Raffle, biscuit decorating, Christmas card making, reindeer food, face painting, a visit from Santa and more. Festive group fun with children at 11.30am.

All free, apart from raffle.

Reading of  ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens

December 11, The Pavilion, Broadstairs. Start time: 3pm

The Dickens Fellowship Broadstairs Branch proudly presents a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

To be performed by the Dickens Declaimers.

Entry is free but there will be a collection on behalf of the NSPCC

Margate Museum Christmas talks

Venue: Magistrate’s Court, Margate Museum, Market Place

Title: “Deck the Halls”

Theme: Find out what King John wanted for Christmas? Which Christmas Song was banned by the Church? Christmas Carols.

Dates: Saturday 10 December and Sunday 11 December (talk repeated)

Time: 2 pm Entry: No ticket required. Free entry with Museum visit or a donation

Christmas Carol Service at Thanet Disabled Riding Centre

December 11, 2pm-4pm

Annual open air Christmas Carol service with farm animals, carols, cakes, raffle and our TDRC ponies in their Xmas outfits! All for a donation!

Thanet Chamber Choir

The Thanet Chamber Choir, with help from Ramsgate’s Holy Trinity C of E Junior School Choir, is giving a concert of carols, seasonal music, and readings – including audience carols – to celebrate this festive time of year.

Come and help us raise the roof at Holy Trinity Church, Broadstairs, CT10 1HQ  on Saturday 10th December at 3.30pm. Tickets (£10, U18 free) are available either from Eventbrite or on the door (subject to availability).

RAF Manston Santa’s Grotto

Open 10th, 11th, 17th – 21st December, 10am-3pm

Will you be on Father Christmas’s naughty or nice list? Take a trip to RAF Manston History Museum to visit him in his grotto

£5 per child to visit Santa’s Grotto (Booking isn’t necessary, but to secure your little one’s place for a present and visit with Santa, contact [email protected])

Museum entry not included (Adult £5/Child £2.50/ Under 5’s Free /Concessions £4/ Carers Free/Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) £15)

St John’s Church Margate

December 9, 10.30am – Carols by pupils  from Holy Trinity and St John’s

December 10, 10am to 4pm, Christmas Tree Festival -(free entry / refreshments available / ”nearly new” stalls for bargain gifts including toys and books plus Christmas decorations and handcrafted items)

Christmas Fayre Fundraiser

December 11, 10.30am to 2.30pm, Millmead Hall, Millmead Road, Margate,

Gifts, tombola, food and drink, stalls. In aid of Lipoedema awareness.

Thanet Classics Christmas Cruise

December 11, 10.30am to 2.45pm

Starting at ending at the RAF Manston Museum! Please use their cafe and support the museum.

Meet at 10:30am to leave promptly at 11.30am
For a planned cruise around Thanet

This year money raised from the raffle and donations will go to charity. FREE TO ENTER. Suggested donation of £5 per car.

Fancy dress and dressed up cars vital! All makes, models and condition of cars welcome over 25 years old.

Cliftonville Voices

An exhibition from a project collecting history and memories of 100 years in Cliftonville

The Cliftonville Voices project launched in May and involved collecting interviews from people across the community about their experiences of living in the area.

The project was commissioned by Cliftonville Cultural Space – the group which has taken on the former Margate synagogue with plans for renovation.

The result is a multi–media, immersive exhibition designed by Oscar-winning graphic designer and filmmaker, Arnold Schwartzman OBE.

Friday 9th, 16th December 4pm – 8pm;

Saturday 10th, 17th December 2pm – 6pm;

Sunday 4th, 11th, 18th December 2pm – 6pm.

Cliftonville Cultural Space (former Margate Synagogue) Albion Road, Cliftonville

Father Christmas at the Caves

Margate Caves, December 3-23

Weekends  11am to 4.30pm and then Monday to Friday 11am to 4.30pm from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December.

The Margate Caves are being transformed into a sparkly subterranean snow-land this Christmas as the great man flies in from the North Pole and sets up his magical and merry wonderland, hidden far below the hustle and bustle of Northdown Road.

The jolly elves will welcome you to the Caves and invite you to explore the subterranean Winter Wonderland, with seasonal selfie points, festive trails and activities. Hark! The Chief Elf will call when it’s time for your visit! You’ll enjoy some time with Father Christmas and the children will receive a special gift. There’ll be a chance to create a Christmas craft to take home, as well as enjoying our subterranean wonderland.
The café will be serving seasonal specials along with sweet treats, and there is range of gifts for all the family available in the shop.

Children will be able to meet the man in red, receive a gift and explore the festively-themed Caves, with the shop and café open for festive themed treats and gift buying!

Tickets are £10 per child including entry to the Caves, a visit to Father Christmas, a craft activity and gift to take away

Up to 2 adults per booking are FREE and no ticket required

Additional adults charged at £4 and will require to pre-book https://www.margatecaves.co.uk/

Father Christmas at Crampton Tower

Crampton Tower, Broadstairs, December 3-18

Journey up the Crampton Tower, through the elves workshop, to visit Father Christmas in his grotto.

1pm-4:30pm Every Saturday and Sunday (3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th December)

Kids of all ages enjoy the model railway layouts and, if the weather allows, they’ll love to ride on the 5-inch gauge miniature railway!

Price £10 per child includes: Visit to Santa’s Grotto, a carefully chosen gift, entry to the museum and one free train ride per paying child (weather permitting)

Accompanying parents and guardians (maximum of 2 per group) gain free entry.

No pre-booking but please come early to avoid disappointment.

Pay desk opens at 12:30pm (Cash Only)

Last admission 4pm or when maximum numbers have checked in,

Hot drinks and children’s play area in the warm waiting room in our main hall.

Tickets £10 per child. https://www.cramptontower.co.uk/

The Elf Express

December 3-24, Quex Park, Birchington

Open 10th & 11th, 17th – 24th December from 10am

All the good boys and girls are invited to board the Elf Express and depart to the Magical Elf Forest where the elves are eagerly awaiting your arrival.

The elves need your help to prepare for the big day and may even reward you with a sweet treat or two.

Enjoy the spectacular Christmas lights whilst heading all the way to the Elf Tower for an interactive theatrical spectacular!

​Marvel at the Elves before journeying down Candy Cane Lane all the way to the Magical Elf Kingdom where Santa and his real life Reindeer will be eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Finish off your tour in Santa’s Toyshop where you will be able to select your gift, but only if you’ve been good this year!

Adult £12.70-£14.70 / Child £21.70 – £24.70 plus booking fee  https://www.theelfexpress.com/

Storytime with Mrs Claus – Kitchen Edition

December 3-24, Quex Park, Birchington

Open 10th, 11th, 17th -24th December 10.30am -6.30pm

Join Mrs Claus in her kitchen at Quex Park, Birchington, this Christmas for a festive story spectacular. Suitable for children of all ages, Mrs Claus will be telling an immersive story with singing, special effects, and Christmas Cheer. The perfect addition to the Elf Express or an individual experience, Mrs Claus Story Time is a Christmas outing not to be missed

StoryTime with Mrs Claus, Kitchen Edition, is a separate experience to The Elf Express and does not include The Elf Express trails or tractor ride. Santa is not present for StoryTime with Mrs Claus, Kitchen Edition, and this experience does not include meeting the Reindeer.

£8 per person  https://www.theelfexpress.com/mrsclausstorytime

Ramsgate harbour

Boat owners and businesses along the Arches in Military Road light up for December