21 things to see and do in Thanet over the Coronation weekend

El Galeon Photo Swift Aerial Photography

Cliftonville Night Market

May 5, 5pm-9pm The Oval Bandstand & Lawns

Pizza, stalls and music

El Galeon Tall Ship

Now until May 14

A rare chance to get on board and look around the El Galeon Tall Ship.

Open to the public 10am – 8pm every day up until the 14th and moored near the RNLI Station in the centre of the harbour

El Galeón is a tall ship unlike any other – a floating museum with over 3,400 square feet of deck space filled with exhibits for visitors to explore. Galleons were armed merchant vessels employed by the Spanish crown from the 16th through 18th centuries.

Tickets on sale at the ship

£10 Adults

£5 Children between 5-10 years old

Free for children under 5 (must be accompanied by an adult)

£25 Family Package (2 adults and 2 children)

Pharmakons

May 5-9 Pie Factory Gallery, Margate, 11am – 5pm daily

Pharmakons exhibition of contemporary emerging and established artists at Pie Factory in Margate’s Old Town. Explore the exhibition and meet the artists at the private view on Saturday 6th May from 6-9pm. There will be complimentary drinks from local Kent brewery Shivering Sands and a DJ set from Ramsgate’s Extra Normal Records (also known as the brains behind Contra Pop Festival).

Pharmakons includes works that deal with contradictory themes such as trauma/euphoria, innocence/corruption, disorder/order, illness/healing, and purity/decay.

Exhibiting artists include Zara Carpenter, Lupen Crook, Julie Goldsmith, Keziah Greenwood and The Cameron Twins.

Shining Intimacy

May 6, Tom Thumb Theatre, Cliftonville,

Tale of Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams exploring the actor’s craft and how the pair went about ‘colouring in the words’.

Playing with the juxtaposition of the ‘performer’ in public and private, the narrative not only includes Kenneth’s and Maggie’s success, but a sensitive portrayal of issues such as depression, OCD, and the loneliness of Kenneth’s one bedroom flat. Through the use of projections, Tom Marshman examines their characters and considers his own relationship with the late artist Clare Thornton.

Age recommendation: 14+

Content warning: The show includes references to depression and suicide.

8pm start time

Tickets from £12. Book now

Baba Ali, Maruja, The Itch

May 6, Where Else? The Centre, Margate. Doors open at 7:00 PM

Baba Ali is the combined force of American performer and musician Baba Doherty and British guitarist Nik Balchin.

This is an 18+ event (under 18s to be accompanied)

Tickets from £7.50 Book now

May Art Sale

May 6-8, Hold Creative Spaces in Albert Street, Ramsgate. 10am-5pm.

Original art work, paintings, prints, mixed media, collage, photography, cards, sculpture, bespoke furniture, clothing, ceramics, jewellery

A Very Royal Cat Workshop

May 6, Margate Caves, noon-4pm

Festival of Cats presents – zine making, cat toy making, colouring competition with prizes to be won and the usual cat chaos

All ages with no booking required.

Don Letts

May 6, Faith in Strangers, Cliftonville, 10pm-2am

Don Letts, the icon­ic British film­mak­er, DJ, and musi­cian, with a musi­cal jour­ney through his vast knowl­edge of reg­gae, punk, dub, and beyond.

Tickets £16.50 Book now

Weekly Saturday Market

Margate Old Town, open from 11am – 4pm (weather permitting)

Local vintage traders, artists, designers and makers will be available

Summer Sundays Concert: The Zac Schulze Gang

May 7, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns, Cliftonville, 1pm-5pm

Free summer music concert

Open 1pm – 5pm with concert 2pm-4pm

Cliftonville Dog Show

May 8, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns, Cliftonville,

This fun dog show with categories ranging from the best coronation crown to the waggiest tail, every dog is welcome – big, small, pedigree, mutt, young and old – it’s Cliftonville’s celebration of the canine world!

Best in Show is open to all first prize rosette winners for each category.

Bring along your pampered pooch, join in the fun and WIN some prizes!

Categories include:

Best Coronation Crown

Waggiest tail

Best trick

Best behaved

Dog most like it’s owner

Best in Show

Start time is 1pm, please arrive early to register.

Entry fee is £1 per dog.

Why not register your dog for the show and pay online!

Remember you can also sign up on the day!

Judges will award prizes for the most creative crowns and best dogs in each category

Jerusalema Dance Event

May 8, Dreamland Margate, from 11am

Grab your dancing shoes and join the Dream Team for an epic Jerusalema dance fest!

Free to enter and take part, you’ll learn the moves from the awesome team at East Coast Entertains, before taking part in an unofficial attempt to break a world record.

Free to enter, pay per ride. Book now

RockthePav

The Pavilion in Harbour Street, Broadstairs,

From midday on May 8 music fans are invited to celebrate the fifth annual RockthePav showcase that is dedicated to raising funds through donations for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

The line-up features The Rhythm Shack, Starfire 98, The King Johnson Trio and The Joey Bluesbreaker Band ensuring a strong mix of various genres to suit all tastes.

Palace Cinema, Broadstairs

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY 12A

The touching and funny story of Harold Fry (Jim Broadbent), an unremarkable man who sets off on a remarkable journey. Harold lives a life without purpose until he learns an old friend is sick and vows to walk across England to hand-deliver her a letter and save her life.

Now until Thursday 11 May. Details here

Carlton Cinema Westgate

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (PG)

Key Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista

After acquiring Knowhere from the Collector, we find the Guardians working to repair the extreme damage done by Thanos-determined to make Knowhere a safe haven, not only for themselves, but for all refugees displaced by the harsh universe.

May 5-May 11 Details here

Coronation events

Broadstairs

A three-day extravaganza of family activities will take place at Victoria Gardens, on Broadstairs seafront,, from Saturday 6 May until Bank Holiday Monday 8 May, to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort.

Events will kick off at 10am on Saturday 6 May with stalls, attractions and small children’s rides on Victoria Gardens. There will be live music on the bandstand at 2pm with popular band Mixed Emotions and at 7.30pm with Simon Foster and Friends. The day’s event will culminate at 9pm with a Grand Firework display over Viking Bay including a celebratory crown and beacon lighting on the beach, weather permitting.

Sunday will continue with craft and trade stalls on Victoria Gardens.

At noon a Fun Dog Show will take place and dog owners are invited to sign up as soon as possible by contacting the Town Council on [email protected].

Participants will also be able to sign up on the day, subject to maximum numbers.  Medway Brass Band will then provide a ‘Prom’ style concert on the bandstand from 2.30pm.

Residents and visitors are invited to come along and wave a flag, compliments of the Chamber of Commerce, and join in the fun. There will be an opportunity, between 11am – 2pm, for children to make and colour a crown to wear and they will be offered a small treat if they come dressed in red, white and blue, or in Coronation themed fancy dress.

Bank Holiday Monday will have a showcase of much of what Broadstairs and St Peter’s has to offer. The Inspiration Creative Signing Choir will open the day’s proceedings with a performance on the bandstand at 11am followed at half hourly intervals by local groups such as the Dickens Declaimers, Folk Week and the St Peter’s Village Tour who will all give a taster of the events to be enjoyed in the town over the summer.

As part of the King’s Big Help Out theme, local voluntary organisations will be set up in Victoria Gardens to give information about what they do and to attract new volunteer and participants.

Finally, to round off the weekend, regular bandstand favourites Charlie Don’t Surf will delight the crowds between 2pm – 5pm.

Ramsgate

A packed schedule of entertainment is planned for Ramsgate over the Coronation weekend.

On Saturday, May 6 the handmade market and vintage fair runs at Harbour Parade from 11am to 4pm.

Between 10.30am and 2.30pm there will be a live screening of the Coronation. This will be hosted at Radford House in Effingham Street.

Between 1pm and 11pm there will be live music on the Coronation stage on Ramsgate seafront, opposite the Queen’s Head pub. There will also be a funfair between 1pm-10pm and coronation parade crown making fun plus facepainting between noon and 4pm.

On Sunday, May 7 on the seafront between 11am and 4pm the handmade market will again be held. 10am to 1.30pm crown making and facepainting, 2pm to 11pm live music on the Coronation stage.

At 2pm the Coronation parade will head off from the High Street.

At 3.30pm there is a street party, entry by wristband, and at 4pm a fancy dress competition will be held.

At 9pm there will be a firework display on the beach opposite Ramsgate Tunnels.

On Monday, May 8 the market runs from 11am-4pm, funfair from 10am to 5pm, 11am-1pm the Big Help Out litter pick on the main sands and 1pm-7pm live music on the seafront stage.

All events on the harbour front unless otherwise stated.

Margate

Saturday, May 6 – Coronation Conga along Marine Drive at 8.30pm (road closed from 7pm-10pm) with steel band from Your School of Music Canterbury.

Fireworks on Margate main sands at 8.45pm.

Monday, May 8 – Rise Up Clean Up in Margate are partnering with Kent Coast Volunteering to put on a beach clean as part of the Big Help Out.

It takes place on the main sands from 4pm-5pm, meeting at the blue and white striped beach hut opposite Dreamland and volunteers to take part will be welcomed. Under 18s need to be accompanied by an adult.

Birchington

Saturday, May 6 – Screening the Coronation from 10:30am at Dog Acre

A number of Birchington’s local café and restaurant owners are taking part in a special ‘Coronation Brunch Meal Deal’ – including Mandy’s Deli Birchington, Blend Coffee Lounge, Christies Wine Bar & Bistro, Zaras cafe, and Jules Bistro.

Following the appearance of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, from 4pm an evening of live entertainment and dancing. Dog Acre, Station Road.

Sunday, May 7 – family fun day and concert from midday, picnic, barbecue and bar.

Monday, May 8 The Big Help Out

All at Dog Acre

Birchington Parish Council is calling for volunteers to help over the Coronation Weekend

If you can spare any amount of time,  get in touch at:

[email protected] Or call 01843 846666

Cliffsend

The plan is to participate in The Big Lunch on Sunday 7th May. It will be held in Marjorie Chapman meadow and people are asked to bring their  own chairs, tables, gazebos etc. BBQs will be allowed provided they are on legs.

Organisers will also try and arrange something for kids. If you wish to dress in patriotic clothing then feel free to do so. The meadow will be decorated.

In the evening the plan is to live stream the concert from Windsor Castle. This will be held in the play area. Bring your own seats, blankets etc.

Minster & Monkton Royal British Legion

Saturday, May 6 from 11am, watch the ceremony live, afternoon teas available

Sunday, May 7 from 1pm, live music with The Breeze, barbecue, plant a coronation sunflower. Royal fancy dress. Kids art tables. Raffle and more.

RBL club, 61 Augustine Rd, Minster.