Ramsgate is dazzling in December and this year the new Ramsgate Lumiere Festival is helping it shine even brighter – connecting and promoting all the different light related events across the town.
Celebrating the midpoint of the festival is WOW! A’ Weekend Of Wonder’ from December 12-15.
The idea for the Lumiere Festival was inspired by the spectacular festive displays of the boats in Ramsgate Royal Harbour, which are approaching their peak this weekend, as more and more boats join in.
Festival co-producer Teresa Askew, of Great British Carnival, said: “We came up with the idea of the Lumiere to show how beautiful Ramsgate is at this time of year, to add extra sparkle and shine and to cast a spotlight on this beautiful place. It means everything, it’s a beacon of hope.”
From Thursday until Sunday {December 12-15} a spectacular temporary light installation, Supernova, by Kinetech Design, joins the Light Up Ramsgate light art trail and can be viewed at the Sailors’ Church.
The three metre high, folded aluminium, circular Supernova was originally commissioned for St John’s Gate and will be stewarded by volunteers while it is in situ.
Thursday evening includes a late night shopping event featuring exclusive offers, mulled wine and nibbles, a free raffle ticket with every purchase (at participating independent shops) and a chance to win £50 – as well as a host of other activities, including dancing Christmas trees with samba tunes, Advent Door at Solarium Point, a late night market at Sugar Rush and extra light displays.
Sugar Rush will also be hosting a community swap shop for Christmas jumpers, pyjamas and other festive items. The swap shop will be open from 3.30pm on Thursday and throughout the late night shopping evening.
Anyone can either bring an item and take one, or if they do not have an item they can take one anyway. The idea is to help out families who may be struggling this year. Christmas is expensive and Christmas jumper days at school or pjs for the big day only add to that. If anyone has any donations then they can message Sugar Rush for drop off times or bring them on Thursday
Perhaps Thursday’s most intriguing event will be the herd of elusive digital deer who will be freely roaming the streets.
The herd of elusive digital deer is a projected moving artwork called iDeer by Greenaway and Greenaway, delivered in partnership with Prickimage. The iDeer will be roaming the streets on the evening of 12 December – lucky visitors may spot them on the Light Up Ramsgate and Shopping Trails.
As an extra incentive to visit participating shops for the late-night shopping, there’s a chance to win a chocolate reindeer by solving a quirky festive puzzle, with clues in shop windows. Find the shopping and reindeer trails listed on the Ramsgate Late Night Shopping Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1743609459772324/
A party with The Dancing Christmas Trees (puppets) and live music from Samba Ya Wantsum community band starts at Charlotte Court from 6:30pm – 7pm on 12 December. The performers will then be making their way to the Sailors’ Church to celebrate the arrival of the Supernova artwork in the harbour.
Festival organisers said: “We’ve created Light Up Ramsgate especially for Ramsgate Lumiere as a street gallery for all, showcasing a taster of the wonderful creative community we have on our doorstep, and to encourage people to explore the businesses on our high streets in the run up to Christmas.”
Light Up Ramsgate runs until 3rd January and features 20 artworks in 18 locations in the town centre.
The programme of wonder continues with the St George’s Christmas Tree Festival on Friday 13 December (running until 23 December). Open every afternoon from 2pm-5pm, with trees decorated by residents and community groups.
Anyone who enjoys crafts can attend a special Lantern Making Workshop at Arts In Ramsgate on Friday 13 December, noon-4pm with Carson Parkin-Fairley, who is also running workshops at St George’s Church every Wednesday during the festival – all to make lanterns for the Starry Nights, Northern Lights parade on New Year’s Eve.
Ramsgate Tunnels host a special Advent Door on Friday 13 December from 6pm to 9pm. All are welcome to attend and enjoy some Christmas music, lights, mulled wine, and vintage games. This event and all the Advent Doors events throughout the month will be raising money for Thanet Winter Shelter.
Jess Hudsley, who is co-producing the Festival alongside Teresa, said: “It’s so important for families to have activities that they can enjoy for free this time of year, and we are delighted there is so much happening across Ramsgate for people to find and do.
“This is our pilot year for Ramsgate Lumiere but we have huge ambitions in terms of what Ramsgate has got to offer, to both our communities and visitors, and our aim is to grow it to become even bigger and better in years to come.”
Advent Doors
Check out Advent Doors, Ramsgate’s Living Advent Calendar. Every evening in December, up to Christmas Eve, you can visit a different door or window to enjoy some community connection and unique decorations!
On Monday 16 December St George’s Advent Door will be welcoming visitors from 3pm until 6pm for soup, hot drinks, mince pies and music. Later that evening, Christmas Baroque at the church showcases the Baroque Collective: Hannah Morley, Joel Raymond, Tom Shelley and Petra Hajduchova. Doors at 7pm, starting at 7.30pm
Tickets for the concert are £13 in advance (before 12th December) or £15 after this date or on the door. Under 16s are free.
https://tickets.myiknowchurch.co.uk/gb/NjQxMy0yOQ/t
St George’s Church, Church Hill, Ramsgate, CT11 8RA
Advent Doors culminates on 24 December with Ding Dong Merrily on Pie, Ramsgate’s Silliest Carol Service, at Rubber Chicken House with composer Emily Peasgood. Advent Doors is a community initiative, which now includes some businesses too, raising money for Salvation Army Homeless Support.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075828586852&sk=about
Lantern Parade
On New Year’s Eve Come and join the Ramsgate Lumiere event Starry Nights, Northern Lights New Year’s Eve Lantern Parade with Samba Ya Wantsum and The Dancing Christmas Trees. You can take part in any of the free lantern workshops every Wednesday afternoon at St George’s Church and at Arts in Ramsgate on 13 December.
To take part in the parade on NYE, come to St George’s Church, Ramsgate, to collect your lantern. The parade moves off at 4.45pm following a route from Broad Street, along Hardres Street, the High Street, Harbour Street and Harbour Parade to the seafront.
Fundraiser
The Festival needs your help – if you can donate to help cover costs for this year and 2025 please support the crowdfunder https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-shine-a-light-on-ramsgate-town-centre-this-winter
Events listings information
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