Winter Events Blog
Ramsgate is always a lovely place to be but in December, it becomes truly magical! Once the Christmas tree and lights are switched on in late November, the shops, bars and harbour all spring into action and create a magical festive feel around the town. This year, encouraged by the new lights and extra trees (at the station and Newington Estate) courtesy of Ramsgate Town Council, everyone seems to be making an extra effort! Some of the harbour bars are looking truly spectacular inside and out along with beautiful decorations at the arches and in the town centre shop windows. But, as has become a tradition, the boat owners in our Royal Harbour have pulled out all the stops and have created some magnificent Christmas light displays for everyone to marvel at. This year, in a show of gratitude for the money raised for RNLI, Ramsgate, we have a lifeboat adorned with some fantastic twinkling lights to the east end of the harbour and if you are visiting and want to donate, there will be collection buckets in some of the harbour side businesses. And this year, to compliment the harbour boats (now known as Ramsgate Illuminations), we are running a Northern Lights Laser Display for nine nights! The light display starts on 8th December and will run for 9 consecutive nights from 4pm to 10pm. Remember to try and choose a cloudy night for best effects as, just like the real ‘Aurora Borealis, our lasers also rely on the weather playing ball!
We seem to have a year of Carols by Candlelight in 2018, in fact too many to add all of them to the poster so in addition to the ones promoted in the Winter Events poster, the Mariner’s Bar and Glo Hub in Belmont Street, are also carolling on 16th December and the Sailors’ Church have a mulled wine and mince pies Carols by Candlelight on Tuesday, 18th December from 7.30pm.
A few of the local independent businesses are having a late night shopping event on Thursday, 13th December which will include several of our local galleries and artisan shops who will all be offering a little bit of extra festive cheer so do pop in and Archive Cafe and Homestore are running a Christmas fayre on the same evening so there will be lots of opportunity to buy some unique gifts around the town. There are other Christmas fairs too at Coco Latino and Ramsgate Tunnels so hopefully everyone will have the opportunity to some Christmas goodies! And if you are still hankering for something else to get you into the festive cheer then you must go to Screaming Alley’s Christmas Caberet with a difference! With many of the favourite acts of 2018 brought back for this one night special on 22nd December, you are guaranteed night to remember! Check out their Facebook link for more details.
To finish off the year, Ramsgate Town Council have funded a laser display which will take place at the harbour and is replacing the traditional fireworks. Do come along and enjoy the show at the stroke of midnight!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Rebekah Smith, Ramsgate Town Promoter on behalf of Ramsgate Town Council
