Ramsgate Day returns with circus fun, live music and a town-wide celebration

ramsday — A day of activities in Ramsgate

Ramsgate Day takes place tomorrow (Saturday 15 August) from 10am to 5pm in Ramsgate town centre, with free family activities, stalls, live music, circus skills, creative workshops, a children’s trail and the Parade of a Thousand Bubbles.

The free event will celebrate Ramsgate’s community spirit and circus heritage, with the Ramsgate Handmade & Vintage Fair, live music, street entertainment, creative workshops and activities for all ages.

Ramsgate Town Council’s Town Promoter, Rebekah Smith, said: “Once again, our business community and local groups have come together to create a packed day for Ramsgate. This year, we are especially excited to offer a host of circus-themed activities for families to enjoy for free.”

Families can try circus skills with This Bean Spins, aerial skills with Phases Margate, hands-on science with Discovery Planet and creative workshops at Arts in Ramsgate, including tiger mask making, circus bunting and clown nose design.

More than 30 stalls will fill the town centre as the Ramsgate Handmade & Vintage Fair showcases independent makers, performers, businesses and community groups from 10am to 5pm.

The Mayor of Ramsgate, Cllr Raushan Ara, will officially open the event at the Harbour Street gate just before 10am. Circus-themed fancy dress is encouraged for the opening photo shoot.

The day also celebrates Ramsgate’s Sanger circus heritage. Visitors can join a Walk & Talk with Madame Pauline de Vere, meeting outside Nationwide at 12 noon and 3pm for a 45-minute “High Street gossip” exploring the town’s circus past.

Local venues will add to the programme with glass-making at Turner Rowe Gallery, leather-making at Limarni and a ticketed children’s circus craft workshop at Little Ravens.

Businesses across town are joining in too, from Pirate Circus at Plunder! and food from Taylor Meats to a live Chana Masala cookery demo from Ramsgate Tandoori and oysters with Chablis at Penelope Wine Bar.

Live music and performance runs from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, with Kingfisher, Pie Factory Music, Annia and headline act Cor Alley, plus Zumba with Zumba Zoe and Cabaret Chaos with Screaming Alley.

Annia, a rising reggae singer-songwriter from Antigua and Barbuda, now based in Ramsgate, will also attend. Following the release of her debut album, trials, Annia has continued to build momentum on the international stage, touring with Congo Natty, performing at Reggae Land, appearing on DJ AG live set, and earning two BBC Introducing first plays.

Children can follow the Ramsgate Day Trail by collecting letters from seagulls in participating shop windows and taking completed entries to Potters to collect a badge.

The day will culminate in the Parade of a Thousand Bubbles. Families are encouraged to gather at the Harbour Street gate from 4.30pm before the parade sets off at 4.40pm, led by Looping the Loop’s ringmaster, life-sized elephant and lion puppets, Madame Pauline de Vere and Samba Ya Wantsum.

Children taking part can collect a goody bag, with the first 90 also entered for the chance to win one of two Santus Circus family ringside ticket packages.

As the daytime event winds down, Ramsgate Night will keep the town buzzing with live music, DJs and performances at venues including the Red Lion, Queen’s Head, Elephant & Castle, Ramsgate Arts Club, Silvers, Penelope Wine Bar and the Granville Theatre. Ramsgate Tunnels will also host Isaac Naylor’s evening talk, Standing Against the Flames: Ramsgate’s Fire Brigade, 1939–1945, at San Clu from 6.30pm.

Tickets are available at: https://ramsgatetunnels.merlintickets.co.uk/product/E00008

Ramsgate Day is funded by Ramsgate Town Council, with live music sponsored by Thorley Taverns and This Bean Spins sponsored by Ramsgate Town Team.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their day, shop local and support the town. Free parking is available at Cannon Road Car Park.

For updates, visit www.visitramsgate.co.uk or follow Visit Ramsgate on Facebook and Instagram.

Programme

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