Ramsgate Through the Senses returns for its fifth year on April 25-26, offering a programme of events to rejuvenate the body, inspire the mind and tantalise the tastebuds.
The festival will kick off with 90 minutes of ‘Good Vibrations’ at Gather & in the Military Road arches, starting with somatic movement to help release tension and wake up the nervous system before winding down to the sounds of a multi-instrumental sound bath.
Also at Gather & are talks about Medicinal Mushrooms (Saturday) and a Mindful Chocolate Tasting (Sunday). Over at The Book Hotel (formerly known as The Falstaff) the day starts with a Pilates class with Marina Leonova, followed by three scent- based workshops, one from Broadstairs Botanicals – ‘Aromatherapy From the Gardens of Thanet’ while artist and academic Michael O’Shaughnessy will take attendees on a journey through ‘Perfume Stories: Alchemy & Essence’.
Local ceramicist Mike Child opens his home studio to those curious to get some clay between their fingers in his Pottery Throwdown and The Driftweed Artist returns with her popular seaweed pressing workshop.
For those who enjoy walking there are two walks to choose from – one is a taster of Nordic Walking which will show how this form of exercise benefits the whole body (Saturday & Sunday) ; the other is a guided walk with nature enthusiast and photographer Keith Ross around Pegwell (Saturday only).
There are several options for children and families – Thanet Coast Project will lead a free Seashore Safari, suitable for all the family but particularly 4 – 11 year olds.
Over at Ramsgate Space (Albert Court) Megan Garrett-Jones leads two sensory workshops for children five and up called Skin I’m in and Jelly Lands.
Margate-based artist Annie Nichols’ installation ‘Tears of a Crown’ was inspired by a Granville Hotel menu from 1886, and can be found inside the tunnels of a private residence on the East Cliff. Her work will be accompanied by a soundtrack created by Clementine Blue and attendees will receive a limited-edition artwork. This will take place on both Saturday and Sunday.
Ramsgate Community Cinema will screen a beautiful film ‘The Nightingale’s Song’ featuring the folk singer Sam Lee as he walks into the woods to sing with these birds that are under threat due to climate change.
Feeling peckish? On Saturday Naomi Grady will create a buffet style lunch called ‘ A Mushroom Journey in Three Courses’ at Gather & , while chef Jessica Leah returns for her fifth Through the Senses, with a tapas-style menu inspired by the colourful ceramics of Minnie-Mae, accompanied by local Barnsole wines. This will take place on Sunday lunchtime at Ramsgate Space in Albert Court, just opposite Minnie-Mae’s new studio on York Street.
For wine lovers there will be a chance to taste and experience wine on both days.
Saturday will feature the ‘Riedel Wine Glass Experience ‘where attendees will be shown how different styles of glasses affect the taste of wine. Riedel is a 300-year-old company known for its varietal specific stemware and its UK ambassador Martin Turner will guide you through the experience.
On Sunday Jo Ginn of Wine Garden of England returns to the festival with a selection of wines from Kent. This tasting features wines from several different wineries and will show how and why this county has become such a successful place to make wine.
Also on Sunday you can join a Song Circle with the Ravensgate Singers at St George’s Church. Free to attend and no experience necessary, visitors can join in or just enjoy listening to the communal joy of singing together in a building built for celebrating the sound of music and song.
Through the Senses has also collaborated with other businesses such as The Fermentorium on King Street, Tide Therapies in Broadstairs and Willow Kail facials and treatments in Ramsgate.
Ramsgate Through the Senses was created in 2021 by long-time friends Gemma Dempsey and Helen Emler as part of an initiative with Visit Kent, which was commissioning experience-based ideas for the ‘shoulder season’.
As the UK emerged from the pandemic, people experienced a mixture of loneliness, fear, suffering and a disconnect with their senses, due to illness and/ or isolation. Gemma and Helen curated a festival to rejuvenate the senses, celebrate living in the Garden of England through its food, wine, landscape and holistic healing sessions.
The aim was to create experiences to help people reconnect in every way and be inspired to try new things. The first Through the Senses took place in 2022 and in 2025 it came under the wings of Ramsgate Festival of Sound CIC, of which Gemma is Festival Director. She is also Project Manager for Visit Ramsgate.
For details and booking: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ramsgatethroughthesenses
