Lion and elephant puppets, science, music and circus heritage at huge Ramsgate Day event

Ramsgate Town centre will burst into life as Ramsgate Day on August 15 brings together local bands, buskers, dance troops and more.

The theme this year is inspired by Sanger’s Circus, which once had its own amphitheatre in Ramsgate High Street. One of the most fascinating figures in circus history, Ellen Sanger, later known as Madame Pauline de Vere, the Lady of the Lions, will be brought to life through a special costumed guided walk and talks exploring the extraordinary story of Ramsgate’s circus heritage.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Madame Pauline throughout the day before she takes her place at the head of the afternoon parade, accompanied by magnificent life-sized lion and elephant puppets in tribute to Ramsgate’s circus past.

Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy a packed programme of free family-friendly activities, performances and workshops across the town centre.

Young aspiring performers can learn new tricks with circus skills specialists This Bean Spins and Phases Margate, who will be offering opportunities to try a range of circus disciplines and discover hidden talents. There will also be children’s craft workshops, face painting and plenty of opportunities to get creative.

Adding to the spectacle, Looping the Loop will bring the magic of the circus to life with their life-sized elephant and lion puppets, vintage clowns and charismatic ringmaster, creating colourful encounters and unforgettable photo opportunities throughout the day.

Visitors can also marvel at giant bubbles drifting through the town centre, while local community groups, performers and organisations help create a vibrant festival atmosphere.

There will also be performances by local musicians and dance groups, celebrating the talent and creativity of Ramsgate’s through the generations.

Adding a touch of science, creativity and discovery to the programme, Discovery Planet will invite visitors to uncover the secrets behind some of the circus’s most impressive feats.

From testing your balance like a tightrope walker and exploring the science of juggling to creating giant and unusual-shaped bubbles, children and adults alike will have the opportunity to experiment, learn and play while discovering the STEAM principles behind the spectacle.

The team will be at Ramsgate Space and Albert Court from noon to 4pm, no booking, just drop in.

The day will culminate in a community parade led by Samba Ya Wantsum, Madame Pauline de Vere and giant lion and elephant puppets. The procession will feature children showcasing the circus skills they have learned during the day alongside costumes, banners and creations from the workshops.

The parade will conclude in the heart of town with a magical bubble finale as performers, participants and spectators come together to fill the air with bubbles.

There will also be a Ramsgate Day trail. To claim your badge, visit the places on the trail and find the letter attached to each seagull displayed in the windows, write down the letters to work out the secret message and hand the completed flyer into Potters in Queen Street.

Start at Board at Home and work your way along to Dawn’s Coffee Shop, Plunder, Little Seaside Town, We Are Salon, The Recovery Well, Magick, The Fabric Shop, The Home Front Tea Room, Crusties, Taylor Meats, Turner Rowe Art Centre, Silvers Showbar, Ramsgate Space, Minnie Mae Studio, Harbour Bakery, York Street Flowers, Sherley’s Pet Store and final destination, Potters.

Ramsgate Day runs from 10am to 5pm and is funded by Ramsgate Town Council.

RAMSGATE DAY TIMETABLE

All events are in or around the Town Centre, unless indicated otherwise.

10am – 4pm: Ramsgate Handmade & Vintage Fair

10am – 5pm: Pirate Circus at Plunder! Sword skills, loop a hook, stocks, walk the plank! PLUS bloods, treats & the Thanet Smuggler Experience! (From £3)

10am – 11am: Mask Making & Circus Skills (SEN sessions)

10am – 4pm: Face Painting & Rainbow Sand Art

10am – 5pm: Jumbo Hot Dogs & Cheese Burgers from Taylor Meats

11am – 11.45am: Sanger’s Amphitheatre Talk with Ralph Hoult – Silvers

11am – 4pm: Circus Skills Workshop (hourly) with This Bean Spins

11am – 4pm: Mask Workshop (for all ages) in Arts in Ramsgate

11am – 12.30pm: Little Ravens Circus Craft Workshop! Ages 5–11+ 119a High Street – Spaces are limited, booking essential: littleravens.co.uk

11.30am – 12.30pm: Zumba Class with Zumba Zoe – Harbour Street

12 noon – 4pm: Circus Experiments with Discovery Planet – Albert Court

12 noon – 12.45pm: Walk & Talk with Madame Pauline de Vere

12.30pm – 4.40pm: Live Music & Performance – Kingfisher, Pie Factory Music, Annika & Isabella etc: Art Alley

1pm – 1.45pm: Sanger’s Amphitheatre Talk with Ralph Hoult – Silvers

1pm – 1.45pm: Chana Mossala Cookery Demo – Ramsgate Tandoori

1pm – 4pm: Phases Margate for Aerial Circus Skills – Charlotte Court

1.30pm – 5.30pm: Freshly Shucked Oysters & Chablis – Penelope Wine Bar

2.30pm – 3pm: Cabaret Chaos with Screaming Alley – Queen Street

3pm – 3.45pm: Walk & Talk with Madame Pauline de Vere

4.40pm: JOIN THE PARADE OF A THOUSAND BUBBLES! Led by Madame Pauline de Vere, with Samba Ya Wantsum, GIANT Lion & Elephant puppets, and a bubble-filled finale! Everyone welcome & PRIZES for the best circus-themed costumes!

Ramsgate Night

Penelope Wine Bar Phil Mison of Café Del Mar, Ibiza 6pm – 10pm

Live Gigs at Thorley Taverns