Celebrate the festive wonders of Ramsgate with our comprehensive event guide. Whether you're a Ramsgate native or a holiday pilgrim, this guide illuminates the city's festive charm.
Popular events during this season include the delightful Canterbury Christmas Market 2024, where festive stalls offer an array of local crafts and seasonal treats. The Glow Marwell 2024 features stunning light displays that create a magical atmosphere for visitors of all ages. And the Christmas Lights Switch On is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it marks the official start of the festive spirit in town. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Ramsgate
- Canterbury Christmas Market 2024 (Canterbury)
- Christmas Lights Switch On
- Glow Marwell 2024 (Winchester)
- Waddesdon Christmas (Aylesbury)
- Christmas at the Caves 2024 (Tunbridge Wells)
- St George’s Church Christmas Tree Event
- Windsor Great Park Illuminated (Windsor)
- Leonardslee Lights (Horsham)
- Santa's Grotto at Discovery Planet
- Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Light Up Trails (Romsey)
See these and even more events listed below!
Ramsgate Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Lights Switch On
What to Expect:
Spectacular lighting ceremony with live music and community celebration.
Description:
Join us in Ramsgate for the annual Christmas Lights Switch On, where the town centre transforms into a dazzling display of twinkling lights. Live music performances, choirs singing carols, and festive entertainment create an unforgettable experience for all ages.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: Christmas Lights Switch On
Glow Marwell 2024
What to Expect:
Interactive light trail with UV face paint designs and festive activities.
Description:
Explore Marwell Zoo in a new light with breathtaking displays and interactive experiences featuring fire, earth, air, and water elements. Enjoy vibrant UV face paint designs, visit Father Christmas, and savor festive treats.
Where: Winchester | More Info: Glow Marwell 2024
Leonardslee Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive light and sound installations in a beautiful woodland setting.
Description:
Explore the enchanting woodland gardens at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, transformed with light, sound, and colour. The winter trail features a new route with impressive installations, taking 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Enjoy seasonal food and drink before or after the trail, along with funfair rides and a Christmas Market.
Where: Horsham | More Info: Leonardslee Lights
Windsor Great Park Illuminated
What to Expect:
Dazzling light displays and festive woodland trail.
Description:
Windsor Great Park Illuminated brings the woodland and water to life with dazzling new lights, spectacular displays of colour, and breathtaking reimagined projections. The event features a forest trail full of music and light where woodland creatures come to life, offering festive moments and cozy rest stops with delicious food and drinks.
Where: Windsor | More Info: Windsor Great Park Illuminated
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Light Up Trails
What to Expect:
Immersive light trail with live performances and diverse food options.
Description:
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Light Up Trails features a new immersive light trail and numerous festive installations, including theatrical performances and live entertainment. The event offers a variety of food and drink options, ensuring a delightful experience for all ages and abilities.
Where: Romsey | More Info: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Light Up Trails
Poole Christmas Maritime Light Trail
What to Expect:
Nautical-themed light installations along Poole Quay.
Description:
Poole Christmas Maritime Light Trail features thousands of twinkling lights, including a galleon, walk-through lantern, and 13-meter blue sealife tree, along with garlands, icicles, and a marine ceiling of light featuring fish and starfish.
Where: Poole | More Info: Poole Christmas Maritime Light Trail
Battle Abbey Christmas Lights
What to Expect:
Illuminated historical site with light and sound displays.
Description:
Battle Abbey is transformed into a glowing setting with dazzling light displays and historical illuminations, guiding visitors through ancient architecture and the 1066 story.
Where: Battle | More Info: Battle Abbey Christmas Lights
Bournemouth Christmas Tree Trail
What to Expect:
Interactive light trail with international Christmas tree replicas and festive installations.
Description:
Bournemouth Christmas Tree Trail features over 100 illuminations and light installations, including replica Christmas trees from around the world, an Alpine Market, and an ice skating rink in the Lower Gardens.
Where: Bournemouth | More Info: Bournemouth Christmas Tree Trail
Ramsgate Holiday Markets and Shopping
Canterbury Christmas Market 2024
What to Expect:
Traditional German-style market with live music and festive treats.
Description:
The Canterbury Christmas Market 2024 is a historic event featuring German-style wooden huts, delicious food and drink outlets, a vintage-style carousel ride, and live music performances. It offers a variety of festive treats, handcrafted ornaments, and unique gifts, set within the heart of historic Canterbury.
Where: Canterbury | More Info: Canterbury Christmas Market 2024
Waddesdon Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive Sleeping Beauty-themed decorations and light projections.
Description:
Waddesdon Manor transforms into a vibrant celebration of Christmas with beautifully decorated interiors, new light projections on the Manor façade, and a glittering light trail in the gardens. Inspired by the tale of Sleeping Beauty, the event features captivating installations and immersive soundscapes throughout the house. The Christmas Fair and Food Village offer a festive shopping experience with artisan stalls and tasty takeaway food and drink.
Where: Aylesbury | More Info: Waddesdon Christmas
Fareham Town Centre Lights Switch On
What to Expect:
Indoor Christmas market with festive activities and entertainment.
Description:
Fareham Town Centre Lights Switch On features a Christmas market, children's activities, fun fair rides, food and drink, street and stage performers, and an indoor market.
Where: Fareham | More Info: Fareham Town Centre Lights Switch On
Ramsgate Holiday Shows and Entertainment
St Laurence Church Carol Service
What to Expect:
Traditional Nine Lessons and Carols service with Reverend Canon.
Description:
Join us at St. Laurence Church for a traditional Carol Service, featuring beautiful music and heartfelt reflections to celebrate the start of the Christmas season.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: St Laurence Church Carol Service
Santa's Grotto at Discovery Planet
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with Santa Claus.
Description:
Santa's Grotto at Discovery Planet offers a delightful holiday experience with Santa Claus, festive decorations, and interactive activities for children.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: Santa's Grotto at Discovery Planet
Step Into Christmas
What to Expect:
Heartwarming family show with a variety of beloved Christmas songs.
Description:
Step Into Christmas is a heartwarming family show featuring a variety of beloved Christmas songs, including All I Want for Christmas Is You, Last Christmas, and Jingle Bell Rock. The event brings together an amazing cast of singers, dancers, and specialty acts to create a special and memorable experience.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: Step Into Christmas
Magic Night
What to Expect:
Live music and lively atmosphere.
Description:
San Clu Hotel's Magic Night features live music and a lively atmosphere, perfect for those who enjoy a variety of musical acts.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: Magic Night
Ramsgate Other Holiday Activities
St George’s Church Christmas Tree Event
What to Expect:
Unique display of decorated trees with a special carol service.
Description:
St George’s Church in Ramsgate hosts a Christmas Tree Festival featuring beautifully decorated trees, open from 2-5 pm daily from 8th to 17th December. The event includes a special RNLI Carol Service on Saturday 9th.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: St George’s Church Christmas Tree Event
CHILL ON THE HILL
What to Expect:
Interactive exhibits showcasing retro gaming and computing history.
Description:
Explore the history of computing and video games at The Micro Museum in Ramsgate, featuring vintage home computers and games consoles.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: CHILL ON THE HILL
Ramsgate Roller Disco
What to Expect:
Lively music and energetic roller skating session.
Description:
Join us at Ramsgate Leisure Centre for a fun-filled roller disco session, perfect for all ages. Enjoy the lively music and energetic atmosphere as you glide across the rink.
Where: Ramsgate | More Info: Ramsgate Roller Disco
Christmas at the Caves 2024
What to Expect:
Legendary burger-inspired Christmas menu with festive twist.
Description:
Celebrate Christmas at Saint Johns Yard with a choice of 2 or 3 courses, all inspired by their legendary burgers with a festive twist.
Where: Tunbridge Wells | More Info: Christmas at the Caves 2024
Festive Wreath-Making Experience
What to Expect:
Hands-on traditional Christmas wreath-making using seasonal materials.
Description:
Join talented Emma Fuller of Emmy Lou Floristry for a traditional Christmas wreath-making workshop using seasonal greenery, dried fruit, and Christmas decorations. This 1.5-hour experience includes free access to explore Hever Castle's gardens on the day of your course.
Where: Tunbridge Wells | More Info: Festive Wreath-Making Experience
Burning the Clocks
What to Expect:
Community-driven lantern parade culminating in a symbolic bonfire.
Description:
Burning the Clocks is a unique community event held on 21st December, created by Same Sky. Local people make their own paper and willow lanterns, parading through the city before passing them into a blazing bonfire on Brighton beach as a token of the year's end. The annual event brings the city together to celebrate the shortest day of the year and provide an antidote to the excesses of Christmas. Each year features a different theme.
Where: Brighton | More Info: Burning the Clocks
Edenbridge Christmas
What to Expect:
Community-based Christmas event with bingo nights and a duck race.
Description:
Edenbridge Christmas is a community-driven event featuring bingo nights, a duck race, and a Christmas fair. The event aims to provide a fun-filled family-oriented celebration with all-important light switch-ons and fundraising activities.
Where: Edenbridge | More Info: Edenbridge Christmas
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Broadstairs (2 miles)
- Saint Peters (2 miles)
- Margate (3 miles)
- Deal (8 miles)
- Herne Bay (13 miles)
- Canterbury (15 miles)
- Dover (15 miles)
- Whitstable (17 miles)
- Folkestone (21 miles)
- Sittingbourne (30 miles)
- Clacton-on-Sea (33 miles)
- Southend-on-Sea (33 miles)
- Gillingham (38 miles)
- Canvey Island (38 miles)
- Chatham (39 miles)
- Rayleigh (39 miles)
- Maidstone (39 miles)
- Rochester (40 miles)
- South Benfleet (40 miles)
- Strood (41 miles)
- Maldon (42 miles)
- Pitsea (42 miles)
- Harwich (42 miles)
- Wickford (43 miles)
- Felixstowe (43 miles)
- Colchester (44 miles)
- Stanford-le-Hope (44 miles)
- Basildon (44 miles)