What’s on in Ramsgate December 2026

Shortcuts for : Christmas Highlights | Twixmas Highlights | Theatres & Cinemas | Hotels, Bars, Cafés | Regular Weekly Events | Community Hubs | Art Exhibitions | Shopping | Calendar | Maps

Ramsgate in December brings you a vibrant lineup of festive markets, live theatre, community events and art installations – many hosted under the banner of the Ramsgate Winter Festival. Ramsgate is especially famous for its spectacular harbour illuminations, which beautifully light up the waterfront.

🎅Christmas Highlights🎅

The Ramsgate Winter Festival reaches it’s peak in December unifying local traditions and events into a vibrant, collaborative programme of lights and parades.

Don’t miss these highlights :-

CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS 2026
❄️ Ramsgate Winter Festival.
🗓️ Advent Doors (Charity Event) from the 1st to the 24th of December.
💡 Royal Harbour Illuminations from the 1st to the 31st of December (part of the Ramsgate Winter Festival).
💡 Light Up Ramsgate Trail launch on the 11th of December (part of the Ramsgate Winter Festival).
🎅 Ellington Park Christmas Fayre on the 5th of December.
🎅🚁 Santa at the Museum on the 5th and 6th of December (RAF Manston History Museum).
💡 Weekend of Wonder from the 11th to the 13th of December (part of the Ramsgate Winter Festival).
🎄 Christmas Tree Festival from the 11th to the 20th of December (part of the Ramsgate Winter Festival).
🎶 Christmas Baroque Concert on the 17th of December at St George’s Church.
🎅🛥️Santa arriving in the harbour on an RNLI lifeboat.
🎅🛶 Santa Kayaks in the Harbour on the 19th of December (a 6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts Christmas event).
🎅 Santa at the Ice House Grotto from the 28th of November to the 20th of December with the Grinch takeover on the 5th & 12th of December (6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts Christmas events).
🎅🏴‍☠️Santa in the Pirate Grotto at Plunder from the 21st to 23rd of December.
🎶 Carols in the Park (Ellington Park).


Don’t miss a single festive moment, use our Christmas & Twixmas Event Map below to plan your holiday magic.

Images from previous Christmas events

Our character-filled independent hotels always bring a touch of magic to the festive season :-

The San Clu Hotel

Adult Panto and Breakfast with Santa

As well as Christmas Parties and Christmas meals, the San Clu Hotel is hosting an Adult Panto on the 3rd of December.

and for Children (up to 12 Years old) they’re hosting several ‘Breakfasts with Santa‘.

Click here for more event information.

The House Hotel

This glamorous venue for Christmas parties and festive dining is hosting a series of Festive Afternoon Teas. Served in their elegant Georgian lounge overlooking the Royal Harbour, it’s the perfect way to relax and savour the magic of Christmas on the coast, blending timeless tradition with coastal elegance.

Click here for more information.

The Pegwell Bay Hotel

The Pegwell Bay Hotel is hosting Festive 3 course dinner and dance events in the Clifton Function Room, which features panoramic sea views over the bay (27th November to 23rd December).

Click here for more information.

The Book Hotel at the Falstaff

The Book Hotel at the Falstaff is hosting a Christmas Music Evening on the 5th of December.

Twixmas Highlights

There’s also some special events taking place over the Twixmas period as we head into the New Year.

Don’t miss these highlights :-

TWIXMAS HIGHLIGHTS 2026
❄️ Ramsgate Winter Festival
💡 Royal Harbour Illuminations (part of the Ramsgate Winter Festival)
💡 Light Up Ramsgate Trail (part of the Ramsgate Winter Festival)
🏊‍♀️ Winter Dip (Western Undercliff Beach)
🧊 Chill on the Hill (Micro Museum)
🎊 New Year’s Eve Parade

For more events see the Christmas & Twixmas Event Map below.

Most of the above events are perfect for kids, the exceptions being the dinner & dance events at The Pegwell Bay Hotel, the Music Evening at The Falstaff and of course the ‘Adult Panto’ at The San Clu.

If you’re looking for a child-friendly pantomime to enjoy over the Christmas holidays, you’re in luck. This year’s festive show at The Granville Theatre is Jack & the Beanstalk, running until the 24th of December.

For even more ways to keep the children busy, be sure to check out our 10 Things to do with Kids list and the Children Under 16 – Things to do Map below. Just bear in mind that most local businesses will be closed on the public holidays!

Theatres, Musical Halls & Cinemas

The Ramsgate Music Hall is hosting several events this month to keep you entertained throughout December (see below) :-

Ramsgate Music Hall

The Granville Theatre

The Granville Theatre has the following events scheduled for December :-

Ramsgate Community Cinema

Don’t forget to check out what’s on at the Ramsgate Community Cinema.

Bars, Pubs, Cafés, Clubs and more

Local Pubs, Bars, Cafés and Clubs are hosting musical events and comedy events.

Comedy & Cabaret clubs

There’s the Ramsgate Comedy Club (Chuckl.) at The Granville Theatre, Wilson’s Comedy Club at the Queen’s Head and Vaults Comedy at the Ramsgate Arts Club. The Alley Bar also hosts cabaret acts and comedians.

Writing, poetry and book clubs

There are book clubs at The Bedford Inn, The Ramsgate Arts Club and the Perico Lounge and writing groups at the Artillery Arms and The Book Hotel at The Falstaff which also has a regular Friday Book & Bar nights where the Book Shop is open into the evening.

Chess clubs

The Ramsgate Chess Club meet upstairs in the function room at The Churchill Tavern, every Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:15pm and Dawnie’s Coffee Shop hosts Harry’s Chess Club every Saturday morning.

Quiz nights

There are regular quiz nights at The Book Hotel at The Falstaff , The Bellevue Tavern, The Churchill Tavern, the San Clu Hotel, Violets, The Royal Temple Yacht Club, the Honeysuckle Inn and the Perico Lounge and a monthly live music quiz at the Queens Head on the 10th of December.

Community Hubs


It’s also worth checking what’s happening at our Community Hubs. See Calendar below.

Regular Weekly Events

Here is a selection of the regular weekly activities and events taking place in Ramsgate this month* (Monday -Sunday) :-

*The events listed above do not generally run over the Christmas bank holidays. See event hosts social media for any variations over the Christmas period. Regular shopping events and Christmas Shopping events are covered in the Shopping section.

Art Exhibitions

Exhibitions this month at local Art Galleries, Pop-up Galleries and Hotels/Bars/Cafes with Gallery space include :-

  • Open Studio Exhibition at The Wooden Box Gallery – Visitors can see the work & workings of Rebekah Sunshine. On display are works in progress, drawings, original paintings & photographs. (October to December 2026).
  • Fun & Games Exhibition at The Wooden Box Gallery (1 December).
  • Winter Open Studios Weekend at St Lawrence Industrial Estate (5&6 December).

For more information on Art Galleries in Ramsgate see Visit Ramsgate – Galleries and the Gallery Trail Map below.

There is also a Public Art Trail that can be used to explore Ramsgate :-

  • Click here for detailed information on the trail route.

Shopping

For information on Christmas Shopping checkout the following maps :-

Regular Markets are also available, they include :-

Ramsgate also has an eclectic collection of shops scattered around the town. Click here for more information on the shops in Ramsgate. We also have a Retro Shopping Trail that’s a fun way to explore Ramsgate, see Retro Shopping Trail Map below.

We are Ramsgate – 20 for Ramsgate campaign

The ‘We are Ramsgate – 20 for Ramsgate‘ loyalty shopping campaign continues into December. Click here for details.

There’s always lots going on in Ramsgate.

Monthly Events

For more information on events this month, download the Visit Ramsgate Monthly Events Calendar –

December’s What’s on Calendar

– Awaiting publication

More to Explore

Some events land in our inbox after the What’s on Calendar has gone to print so we’ll list them here to make sure you (and they!) don’t miss out!

Weekly Events

View The Ramsgate Weekly for a curated selection of events taking place over the next 7 days.

More Event information

Don’t Miss Ramsgate has a weekly news letter you can subscribe to for event information and Thanet Gigs provides a comprehensive Music Gigs listing that includes Ramsgate.

Please note that events are subject to change, for the latest information see https:/www.facebook.com/VisitRamsgate and Event Organisers Social Media.

Visit Ramsgate Maps & Trails

Map operation

December 2026 – Events in Ramsgate

December events are featured on our Christmas & Twixmas Events Map below. To find non-festive options, simply review the ‘More December events‘ section.

🎄Christmas & Twixmas Events

🎁Christmas Markets

🎁Christmas Shopping

🎁 Retro Christmas Shopping Trail

🎁 Late Night Christmas Shopping

The Late Night Shopping event is scheduled for Friday 11th December – information on participating shops will be provided nearer the time.

Children Under 16 – Activities

Click here for more Christmas Maps.

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