The Smiths Presumably
1st May, 7pm, Ramsgate Music Hall
A night to celebrate music by The Smiths – performed like by no.1 tribute; The Smiths Presumably.
Entry Requirements: all ages event / u14s accompanied by an adult
Tickets £22.40 Book now
Hexed
1st May, 9pm, Margate Arts Club
The Filth Collective invites you to crown their May Monarch with guest hosts, the Anxious Pickle Club!
Hexed will feature an evening with crafts (including the creation of the May crown), stage performances, tarot and more!
The Filth Collective will be DJing throughout the night… spinning the best in goth rock, post-punk, industrial, EBM, darkwave and more!
Age restriction: 18+
Tickets £8 Book now
Pigeon
1st May, 7pm, Where Else? Margate
Album launch party with Knats, a quintet led by two lifelong best mates from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Stan Woodward (Bass) and King David-Ike Elechi (Drums), alongside their younger sidekick and virtuoso Trumpeter, Ferg Kilsby.
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets £10 plus booking fee Book now
The Social at Olby’s
1st May, 7pm, Olby’s Soul Café Margate
A monthly evening of quality music, from swing to rhythm & blues, rock n roll to boogaloo, with some ska & 60s soul
DJ Jerome and Lindsay will be your hosts for the evening
Pre-event Soul Cafe Menu Available click here to book a table (tables not reserved in the venue space)
Free entry
Traces of Humanity: Part One
1st May – 15th May, 11am to 5pm, The Margate School
Artists from Gibralter =
Curated by Philippa Beale and inspired by Gorham’s Cave Complex at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gibralter
Free entry
Quiz Night at the Museum
1st May, 7pm (arrive from 6pm) , Quex House and Gardens, Powell-Cotton Museum
Get your team together for another brilliant evening of trivia in Gallery 1 – all in support of the Powell Cotton Museum, House and Gardens!
Doors open at 6pm so you can enjoy an exclusive evening access to explore the Museum and browse the Gift Shop before the quiz begins.
You’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks (just no red wine, please!)
It’s £60 per table for up to eight people, so gather your friends, family, or work colleagues and Book now
Words Change Things festival
Now-May 3rd, at Marine Studios on Albert Terrace, Union Church, and Fort Road Bar.
A street art project, discussions about regenerative culture and about AI, a tiny protest, morris dancers, and a talk by the author of a number of popular books about architecture have been added to the line up of Margate’s Words Change Things festival this weekend.
LOST / WANTED / FOUND is a reprise of a street art poster project by Delicate Doom.
The work will be found around Margate’s Old Town and seafront. A selection of notices from this project will be curated by Cups On String and displayed on their Pink Board Gallery that will be temporarily situated at Marine Studios.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, a shared lunch at Marine Studios brings together artists, writers, activists and the festival’s audience. During Friday’s lunch, Keith Harrison, Chief Executive of environmental education charity The Bay Trust, will join a discussion about the idea of a ‘regenerative practice’.
And on Sunday, multidisciplinary designer Gina Taylor will lead a discussion about how AI is impacting creative practice. The lunch events are open to all, and take place at Marine Studios from 1pm-2pm each day. People are invited to bring food to share.
On Friday, Marine Studios hold their regular First Friday event, which features Craftivist Sarah P Corbett, the Pink Board Gallery, Dave Barnard (former Head of Community Services at London’s Toynbee Hall), and Vanishing Point’s Arlington House project. In an addition to the line up, artist Dan Thompson has made 30 tiny pastel-coloured protest placards, and is inviting people to add their own slogans and create a protest about the small things that need changing. It’s from 6pm-8.30pm at Marine Studios.
On Saturday, Bower Street Morris will appear at the festival’s second venue Union Church. The former Sunday School on Union Crescent is hosting a meditative labyrinth and a series of talks for Words Change Things, and at 1.30pm Bower Street Morris will dance alongside the labyrinth. It’s traditional for Morris teams to welcome the spring with dances at the start of May, so expect to see the dancers elsewhere, too.
And on Saturday, author Christopher Beanland presents highlights from his books including Architecture For Cars, Unbuilt & Lido. He’ll be looking at car-age modern architecture like Arlington House, forgotten remains like Ramsgate’s Lido, and unbuilt plans in Kent and across the world. He’ll be at Marine Studios from 4.30pm-5.30pm.
Others contributing to Words Change Things include Robin Ince, Sarah P Corbett, Travis Elborough, John Grindrod, Ellen Jones, Connor Sansby, and Fr Leigh Daynes, the Priest-in-Charge of St. John the Baptist.
There’s also a Secret Postcard Auction raising funds for marine Studios, with work by more than forty international artists, with three ‘special’ contributions received this week.
For more information visit www.danthompson.co.uk
Story Quilt
From May 1, Arts in Ramsgate (High Street)
Story Quilt is a one-hour audio installation woven from the voices, memories and stories of Ramsgate residents, collected over the past month at the AiR Friday drop-in sessions and out on the streets of the town.
Visitors to the free event, running from 4:30pm to 7pm on Friday, will find a warm, softly furnished space where they can sit and hear their town’s own voices played back to them — with humour, pride, grief and ordinary days. A voice recorder will be available on the day for anyone who wants to add their own story to the piece.
he audio installation will also be broadcast and hosted online by Ramsgate Radio, making it available to listeners worldwide.Warm food from AiR board member Chef Gita Sahni – vegan dahl and Indian rice pudding – will be available from 4:30pm.
Portraits created to accompany the Quilt will be on display in AiR on the day.
For more information visit: artsinramsgate.com
Festival of Cats
May 1-5 , Pie Factory Margate and The Job Muscroft Gallery
The festival celebrates the psychology, sociology and whimsy of cats.
The festival opens with a bang on Friday 1st May with a private view at Pie Factory Margate from 5pm–8pm, the bar will be open and all donations go to Cats in Crisis charity.
Running throughout the festival from 1st–4th May at Pie Factory Margate is the flagship Festival of Cats Exhibition, featuring some 100 local and national artists whose work responds to the theme of cats.
Alongside the main exhibition, Job Muscroft presents “The Joy of Cats”, a collection of new Kawaii cat paintings, at The Job Muscroft Gallery from 1st–5th May, 11am–5pm.
Family visitors are well catered for with a free Creative Cats Family Workshop at Pie Factory on Saturday 2nd May, 11am–1pm, where all ages can drop in and make cat crafts.
Saturday afternoon brings a talk from the organisers of The Cat Show Live, the UK’s largest non-competitive cat event, held annually at the NEC in Birmingham.
They’ll be at Pie Factory from 2pm–4pm. That evening, Margate’s best drag queens host Cat Drag Life Drawing at Pie Factory from 6pm–8pm, featuring life drawing, performances and surprises. BYOB.
Booking essential tickets are available at: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/34899/festival-of-cats-cat-drag-life-drawing
On Sunday 3rd May, Travis and Sigrid, share their cycling adventures. Travis is an American software engineer and expat. He began cycling with his deaf, white Norwegian Forest cat, Sigrid, as a way to manage pandemic-induced stress and job loss, turning them into an internet sensation.
They will appear at Pie Factory from 2pm-4pm. Sunday also includes Old Possum’s Poetry Club at 3-4pm, a relaxed reading session hosted by Kit Griffiths, open to all.
Sunday afternoon culminates with a special screening of CatVideoFest at The Palace Cinema in Broadstairs, 4.30pm–6.30pm.
The event is a family-friendly compilation of the best cat videos from around the world, now in its 10th year, with 10% of every ticket going to Cats in Crisis. Cat owners can even submit a photo of their cat to appear on the big screen beforehand!
For more information and to book tickets see https://thepalacecinema.co.uk
Beyond Margate, graffiti artist CatNeil presents a new collection of work at Dawnies Coffee Shop, 91 High Street, Ramsgate, from 1st–4th May, 8.30am–3pm.
For the full programme and updates, visit https://www.festivalofcats.com/
The Chicago Blues Brothers
1st May, 7.30pm, The Granville Theatre
This live concert delivers a high-energy night of electrifying blues, foot-stomping country classics, and a few unforgettable surprises along the way.
From the iconic hits of the Blues Brothers movies to some of the greatest country anthems of all time, this is a musical mash-up like no other.
Tickets £34.65 plus £2.50 transaction fee Book now
Sunshine Cafe Sunset Dinner Series
1st May – 2nd May, arrival 6pm, Dreamland Margate
The Sunshine Cafe opens its doors to host a dinner party with Dublin born chef, Mark O’ Brien. Last year he opened his own American Style Barbecue restaurant “Snake Oil Barbecue” in Margate and is Head Chef of Willy’s in Margate.
Please note:
· Unfortunately, the building is not wheelchair accessible and has uneven flooring.
· Toilets are located in another building approximately a 3-minute outdoor walk away.
· This is an 18+ event
Tickets are available in two ways, options one is on the AXS platform via a link, tickets will be £100pp (+ booking fee).
Tickets available in person at: Cinque Ports, Pomus & The Food Court bar at Dreamland during amusement park open days.
Book now
Wine Down Reads Bookclub
1st May, 6pm, Ramsgate Arts Club
Do you love getting lost in a good book? Looking to meet like minded literature lovers across the town?
Join Ramsgate Arts Club’s book club which meets on the first Friday of every month.
All you have to is read the book, turn up and let the group conversation begin! A great way to ease into the weekend.
This months book: Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver
At the end of each meet, members put their recommendations forward and a book is chosen at random to be read throughout the month and discussed at the next meet.
Gadds’ Spring Brewery Tour
1st May, 3.30pm-5.30pm, Gadds’ The Ramsgate Brewery, Pysons Road
Brewer Chris will be hosting this Spring tour, talking all things beer.
Learn how Gadds’ ales are made, taste malts, sniff hops and sample a range of great beers.
On arrival, please head to Unit 4, (Tap Room and Shop) for the meet and greet. It’s then off to tour Unit 1, the Brew House, where you’ll learn everything there is to know about all things beer! There’ll be chance to taste malts and sniff hops and of course, plenty of beer tasting!
Tickets £20pp Book now
Palace Cinema Broadstairs
Father Mother Sister Brother -15
1 May to 5 May
Winner of the Venice Golden Lion, Jim Jarmusch’s funny, tender and astutely observed take on how familes fall apart and come together. With Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett & Vicky Krieps.
Molly Pickle Spring Collection Launch
1st May – 4th May, Union Yoga and Wellbeing Ramsgate
Friday 1st May 6 -8pm and then 11am – 4pm
Pop along to Union Cafe in Ramsgate, and see the new collection of prints, cards, clothing, and homeware – all inspired by the local artist’s love of the coast and nature.
All works are designed and hand drawn by Molly Pickle herself, and mostly screenprinted onto beautiful cotton fabrics and paper.
My Last Rodeo
The Wooden Box Gallery in Ramsgate High Street opens Saturday 2nd May from 4pm-7pm and then every day from 11am-3pm until May 9th (inclusive).
A celebration of art by Abbie Ziegler who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her exhibition features a huge 40 paintings plus a creative assortment of painted bedpans and sick bowls, knitted banners and hats and crows, a knitted Ramsgate lighthouse and all manner of brilliantly bonkers objects.
The Comedy Store
2nd May, 7pm, Dreamland Margate
With 45 years’ experience in the business and as the premier name in comedy, The Comedy Store is renowned as a breeding ground for new comedy talent, and remains the place to see tomorrow’s stars today.
K+D Kicks 30
2nd May, 8.30pm, The Drill Shed at Cliftonville Lido
Celebrating 30 years of K&D DJ-Kicks with a special Audio Visual show
Pioneers of downtempo, trip-hop and electronic soul, Kruder & Dorfmeister’s influence stretches across decades, from the iconic K&D Sessions to collaborations that shaped modern electronic music culture.
Limited capacity. One night only.
This is an 18+ (with ID) event
£29.50 plus booking fee Book now
Carlton Cinema Westgate
Hitpig! PG
When your kitty’s left the city, when your moose is on the loose, when your cow has said ciao, call Hitpig, the world’s greatest animal tracker. Hitig is a bounty hunting pig who catches escaped animals and returns them to their owners. His next job is his biggest yet: return a dancing elephant named Pickles to a maniacal Vegas showman, for a million bucks. As the mission escalates into a wild adventure around the world, Hitpig soon realises that setting things free might be the greatest reward.
The Devil Wears Prada 2
May 2, 6.30pm, Vue Westwood
Vue Thanet are hosting a special ‘Runway Ready’ screening of the hotly anticipated sequel
Vue welcomes customers to attend the screening clad in their most fabulous attire.
Fans will also have the opportunity to pick up a limited-edition copy of Runway Magazine. To claim a copy of the magazine, customers can present a copy of their booking confirmation email to a member of staff.
To book The Devil Wears Prade 2, visit www.myvue.com.
Stratospheric Sounds
2nd May, 9pm, Ramsgate Arts Club
Funk, Jazz, Latin and Afrofunk
Soulful dancefloor grooves with Jeff Levy & Darren Smart
My beautiful side of the archive
2nd May, 2pm, ARK – Cliftonville Cultural Space
Listening session with Palestinian Sound Archive.
A celebration of music, spoken word and album artwork from historic Palestine, mainly from the 1960s – 1990s. Part of Majazz Project, a Palestinian-led record label and research platform founded by actor, director and filmmaker Mo’min Swaitat in 2020.
Kent Pole Championships
2nd May, 1pm, Sarah Thorne Theatre Broadstairs
Come along and support your local athletes and performers.
Founded in 2014, the Kent Pole Championships is a fun, friendly and accessible local pole competition for Kent’s pole dancers to compete in a supportive environment, catering to everyone from beginners through advanced to semi-pro, heels or no heels. There is even a doubles category!
There will be professional judges from the wider pole industry providing their expertise.
Tickets £31 Book now
Broadstairs Bandstand
| 02/05/2026 | 2 – 4pm | Saxooma |
| 03/05/2026 | 2 – 4pm | FM Duo |
| 04/05/2026 | 2 – 4pm | Daniel McGuinness & We Found The Wreck |
GATHER: Kent’s Creative Wedding Fair
2nd May – 3rd May, 10am to 5pm, Turner Contemporary
A thoughtfully curated weekend celebrating Kent’s most creative wedding suppliers, set within the inspiring spaces of Turner Contemporary.
GATHER brings together a handpicked selection of the county’s most exciting wedding creatives — from photographers and florists to cake designers, stylists and makers. The focus is on relaxed, meaningful conversations and experience-led discovery rather than busy aisles or sales pitches.
Free entry – booking recommended Book now
Yoga and Sound Healing Workshop
2nd May, 10am, Monkton Nature Reserve
Experience the powerful fusion of Kriya breathwork, meditation, yoga and sound healing surrounded by nature at
This workshop is designed to support deep centering, grounding, and energetic alignment, guiding you into a calm yet awakened inner state.
Tickets £35 Book now
Manston Drag Racing: Locked n’ Loaded II
2nd May – 3rd May, Manston Raceway Park
Gate opens at 8am, the track goes live at 10am. Race until done, usually 5/6pm
A Gathering of Europe’s finest VW Air Cooled powered drag racing machines. No cheap thrills or gimmicks this event is all about getting as much power out of the humble flat four engine and then transferring it into forward motion.
They will be running classes to suit all. 1/8th mile no prep style to full 1/4 with a Pro Tree. There will be trophies and cash prizes for most classes and a huge cash payout for the pay to enter with second round buy back so long as 16 cars enter and qualify.
No-Prep is heads up, no rules other than tire size, 1/8th mile heads up doorslamer drag racing. They race both days and have eliminations both days.
Spectators… Day tickets £20 / Weekend tickets £40
Children under 10 free / Children 10-16 years £10
Kidz Fest!
2nd May, 10am to 6pm, Quex Adventure Farm Park
Storytime with Peppa Pig, Mummy Pig and Evie Pig
.Young fans will have the opportunity to see Peppa and her family during dedicated Storytime sessions as part of a full day of festival entertainment designed for families and children of all ages.
Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy a packed programme of entertainment including live music and stage performances, family-friendly activities and immersive experiences designed to keep young festivalgoers engaged from start to finish. The event will also feature roaming characters, bubble-filled fun and a wide variety of food and festival treats.
Children £18.95, 16yrs+ / Adults £6.95 Book now
Unique bag decorating & charm keyring
2nd May, Little Ravens, High St, Ramsgate
11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm
Enjoy designing your own bag… Experiment with fabric printing and painting, adding drawings and patterns, gems, tassels and maybe even your name!
You will finish off making your own bag charm keyring!
Ages 5-11+ years
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Due to space restrictions they can only house one adult per family.
Cost £16 plus booking fee Book now
Paul Weller Tribute
2nd May, 9pm, Legends Live Lounge Broadstairs
Performing Paul Weller’s amazing back catalogue. Songs from The Jam, to the ever changing moods of The Style Council and currently as a multi million selling Solo Artist + MOD, RnB, Ska & Northern Soul.
Make Jugs & Jars – slab built Workshop
2nd May – 4th May, 2pm-5pm, Studio J1H, Channel Rd, Westwood
Learn how to create functional hand-built ceramics, using the slab building technique this May Bank Holiday at Pik Ceramics Studios.
This afternoon session will focus on jugs and jars, building essential skills and giving you pieces you can both admire, and use. The use of black stoneware clay will result in striking finished pieces.
NOTE: There is a morning session also for Mugs & Dishes making, both are standalone, but recommend booking both together to make a full day.
Suitable for: Complete beginners, those looking for a refresher, or novice potters looking to add to their skillset. No experience of working with clay is required.
What’s included: Black Sibelco clay, all tools, firing and glazing of 2 pieces.
Tickets £45 Book now
French Connection
3rd May, noon to 4pm, ARK – Cliftonville Cultural Space
Put on your dancing shoes or bring an instrument and join Ernestine and Colleen for Folk music and dance from France and beyond.
Bring-and-share buffet lunch
Tickets £7 Book now
Oval Summer Sundays: Sold on Soul – Cancelled
3rd May, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns Cliftonville
Live soul, funk & Motown classics from Sold on Soul to feel-good hits from Stevie Wonder, Chic, The Jacksons & more at Cliftonville’s Oval Bandstand
Doors, toilets and concessions open 1pm – 5pm, Concert 2pm – 4pm
Suggested donation £2 – £10
Ramsgate Handmade & Vintage Fair
3rd May, 11am to 4pm, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate
Ramsgate’s regular maker’s market with locally-produced and made goods
Over ’30s Indie (afternoon) Disco
3rd May, 3pm, The Drill Shed
Feeling Gloomy & Old School Indie DJs will be playing a mix of Indie classics from across the decades, so whether you were a ’70s punk, ’80s new waver, ’90s britpopper, or ’00s poser, they’ll be something for everyone!
There is strict door policy of no under 30s, so please bring ID as you will be asked to show this upon entry.
Tickets £10.71 Book Tickets
Sing! The Musicals
3rd May, 7.30pm, The Granville Theatre
Performed by a sensational live band and character singers, giant screen with Sing along lyrics make this the must see show of 2026
From £31.35 plus £2.50 booking fee Book now
Rune Lindbaek
3rd May, from 6pm, Margate Arts Club
A pioneering radio DJ, engineer, producer and remixer, his joy-filled approach has taken him everywhere.
18+
Tickets £5 plus booking fee Book now
Bands on the Sands – Paul May
3rd May, from 3pm, The Pavilion Broadstairs
Paul May will be taking to the outdoors stage this Sunday afternoon, with more acts and gigs to be announced soon.
Rise & Run Sunday Social
3rd May, 8.30am, Rise & Bun, King Street Margate
A brand new collaboration run with the OverRun Project and Margate’s Rise & Bun
Meeting at Rise & Bun in Margate at 8.30am… run will be followed by a social gathering held at Rise & Bun at 10am for buns, refreshments and good vibes
To ensure safety and to keep the group together, there will be ‘looping back’ during this run (runners at the front and middle of the group will turn and return behind the back marker of the group. Looping back will take place approximately every 1.5km.)
Free but booking advised Book now
May Day Walk at Dane Valley Woods
4th May, 10.30am, Dane Valley Woods Margate.
Find out what there is to see at this time of year… tree blossom, wild flowers and much more!
Free – reserve a spot Book now
Quex Centenary Garden Party
4th May, noon to 4pm, Quex House and Gardens, Home to the Powell-Cotton Museum
Join the Powell Cotton Museum for a special Garden Party in the beautiful Quex Gardens as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Powell-Cotton Trust.
Visitors can enjoy a varied programme throughout the day, including:
Explore archives charting the history of Quex Gardens
Traditional garden games
A selection of stalls
Refreshments available
You’ll have the chance to meet a very special guest – Ellington the Elephant – an impressive life-size puppet, created by the Thanet-based theatre company Looping the Loop. Ellington will be roaming the gardens and delighting visitors of all ages.
Live music in the afternoon will be from local Ceilidh band, Rejigged, where visitors are invited to join in with traditional Barn Dances – a great opportunity to get involved.
Bring a picnic and enjoy all that Quex Gardens has to offer!
Residents of Birchington and Acol can attend for free with a Golden Ticket, available in the April issue of the Birchington Parish Council Magazine.
Register your details and book your free place here, call 01843 842168, or visit the Powell-Cotton Museum reception on open days (Fri, Sat & Sun, 11am-4pm). Please remember to bring your Golden Ticket with you on the day.
