Festivals, Fairs & Parades
Ramsgate hosts a wide range of Festivals, Fairs and Parades over the course of the year.
Click below to select by month :
March | April | May | June | July | August | September | November – January
Click below to select by event :
- Ramsgate International TV & Film Festival
- Ramsgate Through the Senses
- St George’s Day Spring Parade
- Ellington Park May Fair
- Ramsgate Literary Festival
- Ramsgate Pirates Festival
- Ramsgate Week Regatta
- Ramsgate Carnival & Fair
- Ramsgate Day Festival
- Pugin Week
- Festival of Sound
- Ramsgate Illuminations
- Christmas Tree Festival
- Ramsgate Winter Festival
Ramsgate International TV & Film Festival : March
The Ramsgate International Film & TV festival is held in Ramsgate with its stunning Royal Harbour, unique in England and its surroundings. The organisation also runs a variety of screenings throughout the year to bring more international independent cinema to local audiences as well as various events and workshops.
The Festival focus is to show new works and help promote film makers. Screenings are complemented by a strong programme of quality events and seminars, with industry professionals.
All screenings are chosen by the Selection Committee, which is composed of a panel of industry professionals and local residents.
Images from the 9th International TV & Film Festival
To add to the experience, festival goers will have the opportunity to explore the area rich in culture, maritime heritage and historic architecture, and enjoy its waterside and cafés.
🗓️ Dates : 2026 Festival dates have passed. 2027 dates will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Locations : Multiple locations, will be announced nearer the time.
🌐 Website : Click here
Ramsgate Through the Senses : April
Ramsgate through the Senses is a springtime festival tending to & awakening the senses with a programme of workshops, talks, events, and food.
Images from 2026 Festival
Rejuvenate the spirit, inspire the mind and soothe the body at our Annual Wellbeing festival.
Click here to read about the last festival.
🗓️ Dates : 2026 Festival dates have passed. 2027 dates will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Locations : Multiple locations, will be announced nearer the time.
🌐 Website : Click here
St George’s Day Spring Parade : April
The St George’s Day Spring Parade in April starts at St George’s Church, the parade features a smoke-breathing dragon, knights, Ramsgate’s Hooden Horses, and ‘Samba Ya Wantsum’.
Images from Parade
🗓️ Dates : 2026 Parade date has passed. 2027 date will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Location : Parade starts at St George’s Church.
Ellington Park May Fair
There is an annual May Fair in Ellington Park with live performances at the historic bandstand, as well as a funfair, face painting, a dog show, fancy dress competitions, lots of craft and gift stalls, a beer tent and a variety of food vendors.
Plus train rides from The Ramsgate and District Model Engineering Club (RADMEC) who operate a permanent, elevated miniature railway track in Ellington Park and free vintage buses that take you to and from the fair, find them at the harbour and Ramsgate Railway Station.
Images from May Fair
🗓️ Dates : 2026 Fair date has passed. 2027 date will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Location : Ellington Park.
Ramsgate Literary Festival : May
The Ramsgate Literary Festival (Ramsgate Lit Fest) is a multi-day celebration of books, authors, music, and community held at The Book Hotel at The Falstaff on Addington Street.
Click here to read about the 2026 Ramsgate Literally Festival (the very first Ramsgate Literary Festival).
Images from 2026 Festival
🗓️ Dates : 2026 Festival dates have passed. 2027 dates will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Location : The Book Hotel at the Falstaff.
Ramsgate Pirates Festival : June
The Ramsgate Pirates Festival is a free, non-profit, family-friendly event celebrating the area’s rich maritime heritage. The inaugural event took place on Saturday, 6th June, 2026, across the town and Royal Harbour.
Images from 2026 Festival
🗓️ Dates : 2026 Festival date has passed. 2027 dates will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Locations : Multiple locations in the Royal Harbour area and the Town Centre including the ‘Smugglers Experience at Plunder‘.
LATEST NEWS : Due to its success, organizers have announced plans to expand the Pirate Festival into a two-day event for 2027.
Ramsgate Carnival & Fair : July
The Ramsgate Carnival & Fair is a vibrant summer seaside event, featuring parades, floats, music, funfair rides, markets, and community workshops.
The Fair is at Government Acre and runs over the last weekend of July.
Images from Festival
The main Carnival Parade is on the Sunday, setting off from Government Acre, the circular route covers St Augustine’s Road, Royal Parade, Harbour Street, Queen Street, West Cliff Road and finishes at Government Acre.
Parade Route Map (2026)
Click here for more information.
🗓️ Dates : 25th July – 26th July 2026. 2027 dates will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Location : Government Acre.
Ramsgate Week Regatta : July
Ramsgate Week is an annual, friendly sailing regatta hosted by the Royal Temple Yacht Club in July, offering competitive racing for various cruiser and IRC classes, alongside lively social events, live music, and food in the harbour.
Images from Regatta
🗓️ Dates : 19th – 24th July 2026.
📍 Location: Ramsgate Week races take place offshore along the Ramsgate and East Kent coast, between the North and South Forelands.
Ramsgate Day Festival : August
Ramsgate Day is free, community-focused festival that celebrates the town’s local businesses, culture, and heritage.
This year’s event takes inspiration from Ramsgate’s remarkable connection to Sanger’s Circus, once one of the most famous travelling circuses in the world.
Ramsgate Day transforms the town centre into a giant circus-inspired celebration.
Click here for more information.
Images for Ramsgate Day
🗓️ Dates : 15th August 2026.
📍 Locations : Multiple locations, to be announced nearer time.
Pugin Week : September
Pugin Week is an annual festival celebrating the life and work of architect Augustus Pugin, featuring free events at St. Augustine’s Church and The Grange, with activities like talks, guided tours, children’s workshops, and heritage walks exploring Gothic Revival architecture, music, and local history, connecting visitors to Pugin’s architectural vision for Ramsgate.
Images showing St Augustine’s Church and The Grange
🗓️ Dates : 7th – 13th September 2026.
📍 Locations : St Augustine’s Church, The Grange.
Festival of Sound : September
The Ramsgate Festival of Sound is a multi-day annual arts and music festival that celebrates the heritage and community of Ramsgate through immersive audio experiences and live performances. Key events are Busk Until Dusk and The Sonic Trail.
Busk Until Dusk : A major live music event, a town-wide “musical pub crawl” that brings live performances directly into the community.
The Sonic Trail – Acoustic Architecture : Art walk featuring sound installations.
Images from 2025 Festival
🗓️ Dates : 10th – 13th September 2026.
📍 Locations : Click here for Festival of Sound Map.
🌐 Website : Click here
Ramsgate Illuminations : December
Raising money for the Ramsgate RNLI, the boat owners decorate their boats with Christmas Lights. The Businesses in the Arches join in too. There are also colour-changing festoon lights along the Military Road arches and a beautifully lit Obelisk.
Immerse yourself in the festive ambiance as the iconic Arches, the Obelisk and charming boats around the harbour sparkle with enchanting Christmas lights. It’s a beautiful spectacle to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Images from Ramsgate Illuminations
Click here for more information
🗓️ Dates : 1st to 31st December 2026.
📍 Location : Ramsgate Royal Harbour – The Marina, The Arches, The Obelisk.
🎄Christmas Tree Festival : December
Ramsgate’s Christmas Tree Festival is held annually at St. George’s Church, featuring dozens of uniquely decorated trees by local groups, businesses, and individuals, with visitors voting for their favourite.
Images from Festival
🗓️ Dates : Festival dates for 2026 will be announced nearer the time.
📍 Location : St George’s Church.
Ramsgate Winter Festival : November to January
The Ramsgate Winter Festival is a multi-month community celebration spanning late autumn through mid-winter, designed to bring brightness, art, and joy to the darker months. It unifies local traditions and events into a vibrant, collaborative programme of lights, markets, and parades.
