Ramsgate Autumn Festival
Ramsgate Autumn Festival 2026 : Follow the Raven
From harvest traditions to Gothic tales, dark secrets and a lantern parade…
Ramsgate is embracing its darker side this autumn with the launch of the first Ramsgate Autumn Festival, bringing more than 80 events to the town over ten days.
Proudly presented and curated by Ramsgate Town Council, the festival celebrates Ramsgate’s heritage, Gothic architecture, literary connections and creative spirit, with a programme created alongside local businesses, artists, organisations and community groups.
And at the heart of it all is a rather special Raven.
From folk to folklore
So, what can you expect?
The festival begins on Friday 23 October with a celebration of the season itself with local folk music, seasonal food, traditional skills and wreath-making in Charlotte Court along with the usual Friday market across the town centre.
But as the days grow shorter, things take a distinctly darker turn…
At Ramsgate Tunnels, Gerald Dickens performs The Signalman, an atmospheric one-man adaptation of his great-great-grandfather’s classic Victorian ghost story.
Visitors can also hear The Little Biter, a BBC Radio 4 Uncanny episode inspired by a Ramsgate haunting, at a special listening event in the Tunnels on Halloween.
Elsewhere, discover Ramsgate’s murky past on the Mrs Fox Skulduggery Tour, encounter ghosts and smugglers at Plunder, explore the town’s Gothic architecture and enjoy screenings of Ken Russell’s Gothic and the original 1931 Frankenstein at Ramsgate Community Cinema.
There’s plenty of creativity too, from Gothic-inspired workshops and exhibitions to poetry, storytelling and guided walks.
Sunday Times bestselling author Katerina Diamond hosts a creative writing workshop on 27 October and an author talk and reading on 29 October, with proceeds from both events going to RNLI Ramsgate.
There’s music throughout the festival too, from local folk acts and Celloman to the atmospheric experimental sounds of M2C (Raven Bush), COMB and Richard Pike at Ramsgate Arts Club. And on Halloween night, indie icon Kristin Hersh brings her haunting, distinctive sound to St George’s Church.
A town with a thing for ravens
And if you’re wondering why ravens keep appearing throughout the programme, there’s a reason.
Ramsgate’s connection with the bird goes back more than a thousand years. The town’s original Anglo-Saxon name, Hræfn’s geat, means “raven’s cliff gap” or “raven’s gate” – which makes the Raven at the heart of this year’s festival rather appropriate.
And the raven connection doesn’t end there.
In The Red Children by local author Maggie Gee, ravens feature in a story set in a future Ramsgate. One of them, an empathetic and loyal raven named Princess Ra, has provided the name for our own festival Raven.
Although you can’t meet her quite yet…
Princess Ra will be brought into existence during the festival.
At The Wooden Box Gallery, the former school of a teenage Mary Shelley, local artist Jimmy Edwards will work with visitors to create our community Raven, with creative direction from GB Carnival.
As part of the DARKNESS exhibition and workshops, which explore hidden thoughts, dreams and fears, visitors can write down a hope, dream, secret or something they’re ready to release.
Each message will become part of Princess Ra, concealed beneath her feathers as she gradually takes shape.
It’s a simple but rather lovely idea: a Raven carrying the things we want to take forward and those we’re ready to leave behind.
Halloween, Ramsgate style!
As Halloween approaches, expect the town to become a little more mysterious.
There’s a Halloween Raven Trail through the town centre, with ravens hidden in shop windows and a secret message to solve.
Expect pumpkin carving, ghost stories, spooky tours, a bat walk, vintage Halloween fashion, tarot, parties, children’s activities and even a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven.
For those who fancy exploring underground, Ramsgate Tunnels is also hosting a special Halloween Explorer Tour on Friday 30 October.
And look out for Dark Deals from Ramsgate’s independent businesses, including 13% discounts, £13 treats and other suitably spooky offers.
After all, 13 is lucky for some!
The Raven’s Flight Lantern Parade – Sunday 1 November
And on the final day of the festival, Princess Ra will lead the way.
Ramsgate Autumn Festival culminates in The Raven’s Flight, a gentle lantern procession around the beautiful neo-Gothic St George’s Church.
With her wings outstretched, Princess Ra will lead the procession, carrying the messages entrusted to her throughout the festival, taking hopes and dreams forward, and burdens and secrets away.
Want to join her? Free lantern-making workshops will take place at St George’s Church from Monday 26–Thursday 29 October, 2:00pm–5:00pm, with a further Make a Memory Lantern workshop at Arts in Ramsgate on Saturday 31 October, 2:00pm–4:00pm.
Make your lantern, bring it along and join the procession.
On Sunday 1 November, collect your lantern and enjoy a warming drink from 4:00pm. The parade begins at 4.45pm and finishes at approximately 5.15pm.
From darkness to light…
As The Raven’s Flight brings Ramsgate Autumn Festival to a close, there’s more to look forward to.
Ramsgate Winter Festival follows, bringing light, creativity and a little winter magic to the darker months.
A rather lovely way to move from darkness into light.
Plan your visit
Ramsgate Autumn Festival runs from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
With more than 80 events taking place across Ramsgate, there’s something for all ages and interests. Many events are free, while others require advance booking.
Explore the full digital programme for event times, venues, booking information and more.
Follow the Raven and discover a different side to Ramsgate this autumn.
🗓️ 23 October–1 November 2026