Broadstairs Folk Week
8th August – 15th August
Broadstairs Folk Week is a hybrid of a greenfield festival in the middle of a town – with a beautiful beach too – making a great family holiday.
This year celebrates the festivals 60th anniversary!
There are over 400 events crammed into one week across 20+ venues of which over 160 are FREE – including workshops for all abilities in music and song, parade, full programme of dances and ceilidhs, Poets’ Breakfast and Craft and Music Fair. The ever-popular official free pub gig programme takes place in pubs around the town.
This annual festival includes everything from family shows at the Bandstand, featuring Kent’s traditional Hooden Horses, to some of the biggest names in folk music. There are plenty of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to join in with singing, playing and dancing.
For 2025 the concert programme has been expanded to include even more of the UK’s best-loved folk performers, and there will be a new series of ‘Coffee Concerts’ which will take place during the festival week.
Headline acts include: Folk rock legends Lindisfarne, Folk icons Martin & Eliza Carthy, Scottish star Eddi Reader, Anglo-Irish favourites Flook, Global artists: Khiyo (Bangladeshi folk fusion), Gonora Sounds (Zimbabwe), Falle Nioke (Guinea) Festival favourites Noble Jacks, Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Whapweasel, Banter, and Brown Boots Boogie Band.
The parade takes place on August 9, promptly at 5.30pm from the top of the High Street at Pierremont Avenue, processing down the high street and onto the seafront promenade, finishing with a celebration of dance and music at the bandstand.
https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
SANTUS CIRCUS le cirque de France
Ramsgate (just off Lord of the Manor) Now until August 25
The French family run circus is set up on land off Lord of the Manor roundabout/Hengist Way and has a variety of exciting acts on offer.
From Portugal, the Nare family, thrill the audiences with the extremely dangerous Globe of Death.
Also returning from Portugal, with the “Wheel of Death” and the amazing, scary talents with their crossbows, are the Silva Family!
There are also aerial and juggling acts .
Friday 8th: 5pm ONLY
Saturday 9th: 2pm and 5pm
Sunday 10th: 2pm and 5pm
Monday 11th: NO SHOWS
Tuesday 12th: 5pm ONLY
Wednesday 13th: 2pm and 5pm (ALL SEATS £10)
Thursday 14th: 2pm and 5pm (ALL SEATS £10)
Friday 15th: 5pm ONLY
Saturday 16th: 2pm and 5pm
Sunday 17th: 2pm and 5pm
Monday 18th: NO SHOWS
Tuesday 19th: 5pm ONLY
Wednesday 20th: 2pm and 5pm (ALL SEATS £10)
Thursday 21st: 2pm and 5pm (ALL SEATS £10)
Friday 22nd: 5pm ONLY
Saturday 23rd: 2pm and 5pm
Sunday 24th: 2pm and 5pm
Monday 25th: 3pm ONLY
Prices and booking: https://www.santuscircus.com/information-and-prices
Family Fun Fair
1st August – 10th August, Palm Bay green
M&L Benson’s Pleasure Fair
Open 1pm to 9pm (8pm on Sundays)
50p per token, 20 tokens for £10
Half price days August 4th and 6th
Motor Mule Festival
8th August – 10th August, Quex Park
Family-friendly cars & guitars festival
New family-friendly motor and music festival with high octane-energy…a mix of country, blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll over 3 days!
* Classic Cars * Vintage Motors * Two Live-Music stages * Fashion Stalls * Street Food * Bars * Camping * Book here
Wasp in a Cardigan
8th August, 7pm, Pierremont Hall Broadstairs
A one-woman show, accompanied by live music from Centre Parting Martin, that is based in a village hall.
One woman attempts to raise funds for a new roof, by inviting a troop of local characters to perform a turn for the audience.
Will the fund-o-meter reach its’ target amount or will the show never end?
Starring award-winning actress Joanna Neary.
Organised and funded by Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council
The Mod Classics After Party
8th August, from 10pm, Olby’s Soul Café Margate
Whether you’re looking to carry on after seeing Roger Daltrey and Ocean Colour Scene at Dreamland or just want to kick off your summer with some seriously good music!
Soul Cafe Menu Available BOOK A TABLE to secure your spot (this event will take place upstairs in the restaurant area)
18+
Tickets £14 plus booking fee Book now
Ramsgate Blitz Walks with Bob
8th August, 7pm, meet outside Ramsgate Library
A guided tour of wartime Ramsgate, telling the stories of the heaviest-bombed seaside town of WW2
Free, but please book in advance
Donations welcome
Other dates:
First Sunday of each month at 10am
Every Friday evening (July & August) at 7pm
Private & party walks by arrangement (min. 3 people)
Free, but please book in advance 01843 599755
The Big Quiz
8th August, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns
6pm – 9pm (starts at 7pm)
Whether you’re in it to win it or just for the fun, here’s everything you need to know:
The Basics:
40 questions total – covering all sorts of fun topics
Max team size: 6 people – £2 per person to enter (50% of the entry pot goes to the winning team’s Jackpot Prize!)
No Cheating Please! No phones or outside help during the quiz – keep it fair and fun!
On the Night:
Arrive early to grab a great spot… This is an outdoor event – dress warmly and bring blankets!
A fully licensed bar and food will be available all evening – (sorry, alcohol and food is not to be brought into venue, bag searches are in operation)
Plus… plenty of surprise games and bonus rounds to keep you guessing!
Grab your team, wrap up warm, and join a fun-filled evening at The Oval!
Well behaved dogs are welcome, but they MUST be kept on a lead at all times whilst in the bandstand auditorium.
Tickets £2 per person plus booking fee Book now
Leztopia: Margate Pride
8th August, 7pm, Margate Arts Club
Leztopia lands in Margate to kick off Pride weekend with a stacked FLINTA lineup and a night of high-energy music, dancing, and community at Margate Arts Club.
Lineup: Fancy Shews! • Bertie (AU) • Rach • Katie Baxter • Elianne • Liry
This is a party for lesbian and FLINTA communities.
Age restriction: 18+
General £8, Final £12 Book now
Postcards From Margate
8th August, 8pm, Turner
Folk share their queer stories from Margate… Love stories, heartbreak stories, leaving stories, coming back stories, coming out stories, pride stories.
Featured artists: James Harty, Sé Malaïka Nōmayo, Dre Spisto, Sharron Harrison, Lo Barnes, Tom Giles, Tommy Poppers
Created & directed by Kate Malyon
Accompanying workshops by Margate Queer Writers – Jen Scott & Liam O’Driscoll
Tickets £7 Standard / £3.50 Low Income & Concessions Book now
JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH – 12A
Palace Cinema Broadstairs
Dinosaurs on the loose alert! Scarlett Johansson and two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali lead an intrepid team racing to secure DNA samples from the three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air when things go badly wrong.
8 August 2025 to 12 August. Details here
Some Guys Have All The Luck
9th August, 7.30pm, The Granville Theatre
Celebrating the 80th birthday of Sir Rod Stewart, Some Guys Have All The Luck The Rod Stewart Story brings to the stage an incredible live concert celebrating one of the UK’s most influential icons.
From £31.90 + booking fee Book now
Margate Pride
9th August
A full day of grassroots Pride: completely free, community-led, and corporate-free. Join Margate Pride for a joyful and powerful celebration of LGBTQIA+ life, love, protest, and pride across Margate.
This year, all of the free events will be hosted on outsavvy, making it easy for you to register and take part in as much or as little as you like — whether you’re coming for the march, the music, the drag, or just to soak up the vibes.
From morning picnics to late afternoon dancing, everyone is invited to be part of a day that centres queer joy, protest, and visibility. And for the first time ever, the big afternoon takeover at Dreamland’s Scenic Stage is going on until 8pm and is completely free and open to all!
Walpole Bay Lawns | 10am–1pm
Kick off your day at Walpole Bay with a relaxed, family-friendly morning by the sea. Expect:
Family storytime
Pride Paws Parade (the fabulous gay dog show!)
Boogie Bounce dance class
Bring-your-own picnic
Info stall, music, and more
This is also the starting point for the Pride March, which sets off at 1pm sharp — so come early and make a day of it!
The March | 1pm–2pm GATHER FROM 12pm
The Pride March will leave Walpole Bay Lawns at 1pm and head along the seafront, arriving at Dreamland in time for the main event at 2pm. Everyone is welcome on our march as individuals. Come march in protest, pride, and solidarity.
Dreamland Scenic Stage – Main Pride Celebration | 2pm-8pm
Entry to Dreamland’s Scenic Stage is totally free for Pride day celebrations! They’re taking over the outdoor Scenic Stage with a full afternoon and early evening of:
Live music & DJs
Drag and cabaret
Speeches & rally moments
Mx Margate – alternative beauty pageant
Community stalls
Wellbeing Space
Youth Pride
All ages welcome
This is a grassroots, barrier-free Pride — no tickets, no wristbands, no corporate sponsors. Come and go as you please, and celebrate on your own terms.
Dreamland has refreshments, toilet facilities, and accessible toilets. During the daytime events, you’re welcome to bring your own soft drinks and snacks.
There will be a wellbeing space for those who need some time out.
Youth Pride @ Dreamland | 3pm-5pm
A space aimed at those aged 13 to 24. Expect crafting, performances, and a space to meet friends.
Margate Pride – The Afters | 8pm – 1am
When the sun sets, they turn the heat all the way up. The Afters is where Margate Pride gets loud, sweaty, and gloriously queer.
Magic and Sex
9th August, 7.30pm, Tom Thumb Theatre Cliftonville
From the creators of hit comedy, YOGA & SEX…for women (over 40), Kath’s back & you’ve never seen magic like this before! (& sex)
Kathryn Haywood returns after the sell-out, five-star run of her Offie-nominated debut show Yoga & Sex….
In her new show, Magic & Sex, Kath has decided to delve into the art of illusion and become a fully-fledged magician. She will astound with her command of a deck of cards, she will baffle with her feats of mentalism, she will confuse with what she keeps under her hat. She can read your mind before you can say Hey Presto, and produce the two of clubs before you can say Abra-Kath-Dabra!
Tickets £15 plus £1.10 booking fee Book now
BOUDICA
9th August, 9.30pm, Faith In Strangers Cliftonville
Faith In Strangers teams with London-based queer party collective BOUDICA… amplifying women, trans+ and non-binary voices in electronic music for an energetic, audacious, all-night takeover
Founded by Samantha Togni, BOUDICA spans a music conference, a label (tipped by the Grammys as one of 2024’s LGBTQ+ labels to watch), regular events at FOLD and across Europe, and (most recently) Boudica Hub, a YouTube home for guest mixes and emerging talent.
£1 from each ticket sold goes towards Margate Pride
Book for food (Feast of the Gods) here
This is an 18+ event
Tickets £16.50 Book now
Smurfs – U
Carlton Cinema Westgate
When evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel take Papa Smurf, the Smurfs embark on a mission to the real world to save him. With help from some new friends, they must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.
Now until August 13. Details here
St George’s Church Crypt Tour
9th August, St George’s Church Ramsgate
Tours 12pm and 2.30pm lasting about 30 minutes
Discover the fascinating history hidden under St. George’s church building. See the family vaults and coffins, check out where people worshipped during the war and soak up the atmosphere of this amazing underground space.
*Please be aware that there are stairs down into the crypt and there are some low ceilings. The tour is unsuitable for under 8’s and children under 12 must be escorted by an adult. Bags can be left with a steward in the church as you will need to have both hands free during the climb.
*You must turn up 15 minutes before to book-in otherwise your place may be given to someone else.
The cost of the tour is £5 Book now
St George’s Church Tower Tour
9th August, St George’s Church Ramsgate
Tours 11am or 1.30pm lasting about an hour
The tour takes you up through the various rooms in the tower with a talk about the history of the building. View the church from the balcony, check out the workings of the church clock, see the old tubular bells, unique carving, old parish magazines and the inside of the roof. Finally, climb up a tall 55 step open staircase and through a hatch for spectacular views of the town. The best views of Ramsgate and sometimes even see France.
*Please be aware that the tower is 136ft tall, with 141 stairs (including stone stairs and open tread wooden steps) and should not be attempted by anyone with health problems or mobility issues. The climb is unsuitable for under 8’s and children under 12 must be escorted by an adult. Bags can be left with a steward in the church as you will need to have both hands free during the climb.
*You must turn up 15 minutes before to book-in otherwise your place may be given to someone else.
The cost of the tour is £5 when you book online Book now
The WonderWorks x One:One Collection Open Weekend
9th August – 10th August, 9:30am – 4pm
The opportunity to preview the One:One Collection museum currently under development next door to The WonderWorks… with full-size locomotives, model railways, slot car racing, and hands-on hobby fun this August – all from the historic home of Hornby in Margate.
The One:One collection museum is currently under development and will hold a number of full-size railway stock once fully operational.
The open weekend will be held across two sites – Hornby’s WonderWorks visitor centre and the neighbouring One:One Collection, which is yet to open to the public, and houses an extraordinary line-up of full-size railway exhibits.
The event is part of Hornby’s celebrations for Railway 200, marking two centuries since the birth of passenger rail travel… but the weekend offers much more than just trains. From model aircraft and die-cast vehicles to half-scale classic cars, live demonstrations, and build-your-own activities, it’s a celebration of hobbies, heritage and play for all generations.
Visitors will have the rare chance to explore the One:One Collection’s full-size exhibits, including the Black 5 and Royal Scot locomotives, Churchill’s funeral carriage, and the original Euston station departure boards. The collection also features a working O gauge layout and large-scale engineered models.
Inside WonderWorks, families can enjoy interactive train layouts, a Scalextric ‘fastest lap’ tournament, and a ‘Make and Paint’ zone from Airfix.
Younger visitors can let their imagination run wild in the Trainmaster play area, while enthusiasts can explore displays from Hornby, Airfix, Corgi, Pocher and more.
A number of local and national hobby groups will also be exhibiting across the weekend, including: Faversham Model Railway Club, Folkestone Hythe & District Model Railway Club, Isle of Thanet Model Railway Society, Ramsgate & District Model Engineering Club, Thanet Paper Modellers, Warlord Games, Key Publishing – with teams from Hornby Magazine and Airfix Model World
Food and drink will be available from The WonderWorks café and the catering coaches at The One:One Collection, plus Ro Ros handcrafted ice cream and local craft beer from Northdown Brewery.
Every ticket holder will also receive a £5 voucher to spend in the WonderWorks shop or café during the day.
Tickets £25 adults, £10 children (ages 5–15), £15 concessions, £50 family ticket. Under-5s go free. Book now
Taylormania – Taylor Swift Eras
10th August, 7.30pm, The Granville Theatre
An award-winning extravaganza that plays tribute to one of the leading contemporary recording artists of our time. Katy Ellis a self Confessed ‘Swiftie’ with an incredible live band and dancers promises to deliver the most authentic recreation of a Taylor Swift show you will ever see.
From £30.80 + £2.50 booking fee Book now
Lew Lewis and his Allstar Trio: Oval Summer Sundays
10th August, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns, Doors open 1pm / Concert 2–4pm
Get ready to rock and roll as Lew Lewis and His Allstar Trio bring their high-energy rockabilly sound to The Oval Bandstand.
Known for their dynamic performances and irresistible rhythms, this trio delivers a classic rockabilly vibe with a modern twist. From driving basslines to scorching guitar solos, their sound captures the essence of the 50s with enough energy to get everyone dancing.
Well behaved dogs are welcome, but they MUST be kept on a lead at all times whilst in the bandstand auditorium.
A minimum £2 donation per adult on door (under 16’s no donation required)
Thumpasaurus
10th August, Where Else? The Centre Margate, Doors open 7pm, show starts 9pm
Thumpasaurus is an eccentric Los Angeles-based indie-funk outfit with a heavy dose of humour.
This is an all ages event
Tickets £18.34 Book now
Broadstairs Farmers Market
10th August, 10am to 3pm, Bleak House Broadstairs
Support local, shop fresh, meet your makers at Bleak House Gardens
Local produce, artisan bakes, rolled ice cream, sunshine, family friendly, dogs welcome!
Cliftonville West Jewish History Walking Tours
10th August
Start time: 1:30 PM
Meeting point: Outside Margate Winter Gardens
The Cliftonville West Jewish History Walking Tour offers a 2.5-hour guided stroll through the seaside streets of Margate, revealing stories of migration, resilience, faith, and food that helped shape the area over the past two centuries.
Tours begin and end outside the Margate Winter Gardens, running on selected Sundays throughout June into September. Due to ongoing summer building works, the tour will not include entry into Ark (formerly Margate Synagogue), and ticket prices have been adjusted to reflect this.
The walking route is approximately 2.5 miles and includes uneven terrain. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. While the content is suitable for most ages, some topics – including the Holocaust and refugee experiences – may not be appropriate for children under 12, at the discretion of their guardians.
From £18 Book now
We went to the pre-festival concert of Lindisfarne yesterday, a great night!