05 Jun 2015
Enjoy an eclectic mix of new events on the Kent coast
…and one celebrating a special anniversary.
Visit Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate this summer and enjoy one of the new events taking place - or perhaps revisit a much-loved favourite – Broadstairs Folk Week, which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
From seeking bargains at an Art Car Boot Sale to putting on your 'bling' for 'Golden Wednesday' at Folk Week, there's an interesting mix of events to keep you busy having fun, and that's without the other annual favourites.
For further information on events in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate - www.visitthanet.co.uk/events
What's New?
Comedy Gigs at Ramsgate Music Hall
An intimate venue with a capacity of 125, this is potentially one of the best sounding small venues in the country.
From 18 June to 30 July every Thursday evening enjoy comedy gigs, starting with Scott Capurro, the world renowned San Franciscan comic, to Christian Steel performing 'Gloom Hunter'. Previews Edinburgh Festival.
Also new at this venue 'Spoken Word Performances', live readings accompanied by music and film, where you can meet the authors face to face and hear them deliver exacts from their new books, includes Ian David Noakes, Professor Tim Crook, Will Smith, George Chittenden and India Russel. Tuesday nights from 30 June to 28 July.
Skagate Margate – 3 to 5 July
This is being described as the 'Original 60's Ska, Reggae and Soul Festival'. The event will celebrate the historical connection of Margate to the British Skinhead subculture and its continued relationship with the original late 50's Jamaican music genre known as Ska. Live music and DJ performances, fashion, photography and film.
Ramsgate Seaside Fair - 4 and 5 July
A new and exciting event for Ramsgate including music, food, drink and local crafts from skilled artisans
10am to 5pm. Free entry
Ramsgate Sprint Revival – 15 and 16 August
Held twice annually from 1956-1968 Ramsgate Sprint was one of the country's leading events playing host to the nation's top riders. Half a century later the Ramsgate Sprint Revival will relive the sights, sounds and smells of the original events when classic bikes of the period return to the historic venue at Ramsgate's Western Undercliff.
While demonstration runs take place on the course below, Government Acre up on the cliff top will come alive with a weekend of pure nostalgia featuring live music, Wall of Death, classic bike show, fairground, stalls and displays.
Free admission (not including Wall of Death)
Play Margate – 21 to 23 August
The UK's favourite Arcade, Indie and Retro video gaming expo is heading to Margate Winter Gardens. The event will be jam packed with hundreds of games, consoles, arcades, traders, exhibitors and cool features.
There will be Segas, Nintendos, Xboxes, Amstrads, Neo Geos and the Replay LAN featuring classic networked games from the FPS, Realtime Strategy and Driving genres. There will also be a huge video game arcade with classic machines such as Pacman and Donkey Kong all set to free-play and once again indie game developers will be there with a selection of new and retro inspired modern games to try.
This event will also host the qualifying heats of the UK Classic Gaming Championships and have all manner of quirky and well-loved tournaments to join in which will be free to enter and with great prizes to be won.
www.margatewintergardens.co.uk
Art Car Boot Fair, Margate – 30 August
The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair, usually held at Brick Lane in London, is coming to Margate. It will be a day when artists can let their hair down and for all-comers to engage with art in a totally informal way, and to pick up some real art bargains – and all with the beautiful backdrop of Margate's golden sands as it's being held on the seafront around the iconic Turner Contemporary building.
Special Anniversaries
Broadstairs Folk Week – 50th Anniversary – 7 to 14 August
Folk Week takes place all around Broadstairs with over 500 events throughout the week. Concerts, workshops, dances, parades, craft fair, children's festival and Morris dancers in venues ranging from the 600 seater concert marquee in the town's leafy park to the intimate sailing club on the seafront.
You can dance your socks off morning, noon and night at ceilidhs, Cajun dances and in 2015 – there's even hip hop, break dance and English clog to learn with the Demon Barbers. You can sing along with the Spooky Men's Chorale from Australia, join the massed Ukulele band or just sit back and enjoy the fantastic 50th anniversary line-up that includes Kate Rusby, Tim Edey, Flook, Edward II, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, Jez Lowe, the Broonzies, Mawkin, Belshazzar's Feast and many more.
The Festival campsite is close to the centre of town and has lots of entertainment to keep the family happy, including Panic Circus on-site for the little ones to learn some fun skills.
Discover your talent for playing the banjo, guitar, fiddle, harmonica, melodeon, mandolin, bouzouki or belly dancing – or sing shanties on the jetty – it's up to you.
Festival Tickets are on sale now. You can book Day, Weekend or Week tickets with or without camping or tickets for single events.
www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk
ENDS
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Please contact Julie Edwards at Thanet Tourism on 01843 577671 or Julie.edwards@thanet.gov.uk
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