Things to do: Being Human Festival, The White Pube, Halloween
Loads of things to see and do in Thanet. East Kent and London, including food, exhibitions, talks, films and Halloween activities
This year’s East Kent Open Houses gets underway today, with houses across the region exhibiting work by local artists. It runs each weekend until the end of October, with a range of work in various styles on show. See the full programme here.
Seabird in Ramsgate is teaming up with local vineyard Barnsoles on Thursday, October 24 for a five course dinner paired with five wines from the Barnsole list. Places are £75 per person. Book here.
The Being Human Festival takes place in locations all over the UK on November 7-16. For those in East Kent, there are events in Canterbury and Folkestone. There are also plenty in London, including our pick, the Horniman Museum’s Landmark Late on Thursday, November 7, which will feature interactive experiences, installations and participatory performances exploring how humans mark the land and how the land marks us. Check out the Being Human website here for more.
BC Camplight will be performing a solo show at Where Else in Margate on Monday, December 9. “As much as I love full band performances I feel at home when it’s just me and my piano,” he says. “There’s something about playing these songs in their purest form that thrills me.” This will sell out, so book now.
Did your youth feature a MySpace haircut and black nail varnish? Congratulations, your teenage years are now a portion of history worth memorialising. New exhibition I’m Not Okay (An Emo Retrospective) is running at the Barbican Music Library until January 15. Older readers might enjoy standing outside and arguing about which of the various other indie rock and hardcore scenes dubbed ‘emo’ is the real one. Free entry.
Quench in Cliftonville will be holding a gallery tour and creative workshop for kids aged 10+ on Saturday, October 26. Attendees will explore the themes in two solo shows by artists Jarrett Key and Sebastian Thomas. Free but book.
Cultural commentators Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad, aka The White Pube, will be at Margate’s Fort Road Hotel on Thursday, October 24 to discuss Poor Artists, their new book exploring the emotional, existential and financial experience of artists today. Book your free ticket here.
Got a budding young chef in the house? Book them into a sushi making class at Mr Miyagi in Canterbury this half term. There are still places available for children aged 6-15 on Friday, November 1. There is also an adult group, if you’re over 15 and fancy having a go. Places are £30 for kids and £35 for adults.
Having held its inaugural event at Ark in Cliftonville last weekend, Daylight Music will be back at the venue on Sunday, December 8 from 3-5pm. Performing will be Adrian Crowley, Rachel Kitchlew, and Dhanraj Persaud Pandey. Tickets sold on a pay-what-you-can system here.
New restaurant for Margs, La Trattoria launches Thursday October 17. It takes over Cliffs on Northdown Road Thursdays to Saturdays, and takes orders from 5pm to 9pm. Carb load with comforting bowls of fresh pasta and homespun veggie lasagna from the Della Rovere Pasta team. It comes with Bar Nicoletta upstairs, a spot set to host game nights, music, screenings and a whole other bunch of fun events worth getting out of tracksuit pants for. For the launch weekend, it's a party on the Thursday (5pm-10pm), followed by two evenings of £5 wines between 5pm-6.30pm.
Margate Pride hosts a queer social today at newish coffee shop Doubloons on Northdown Road. Pop by for a friendly coffee and chat between 10am and 12pm.
Palace Cinema in Broadstairs has launched its Broadscares programming that will take you through Halloween and into winter. The series of cult, classic and new horrors and thrillers caters to both film nerds and horror buffs. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice plays until Tuesday, when Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940s classic Rebecca takes the baton, before passing it onto 2024 flick Starve Acre on Saturday, October 19.
Are you queer and have an affinity of some kind to Walpole Tidal Pool and the sea? Would you also like to be part of a documentary about nature and queer bodies? For more information and to express your interest, DM Dandy or Sé to get involved by tomorrow, Sunday, October 13.
Sugar Rush in Ramsgate hosts Little Urchins Baby & Childrens Market, a new, pre-loved and handmade market for kids and babies. Head over to 29-31 High Street this Sunday, October 13, to pick up a new (for you) spit rag for your wee one, nursery stuff or something handmade and nice. Entry is free and it on 11am-3pm.
Sugar Rush will also host Ramsgate Flea, and is still open to stall holders. Whether you have a stack of vintage clothes and homeware you want to get rid of, or looking to pick up a vinyl for your collection, put Sunday, October 20 in your diary. Entry is also free.
Also Sugar Rush, for anyone looking to volunteer and who loves kids, the venue has put out a call for helpers for its Dolly Mixtures inclusive baby and toddler group. you’ll need to be available Friday mornings 9am-12pm. DM them to say hello.
Another date for the diary and another event for vintage lovers, Broadstairs coffee shop Salt hosts Nino’s Vintage clothing and jewellery pop up on Friday, November 22, 4pm-9pm. Niam Flanagan has curated the selection of wares - expect some festive, party season bling and some wintery gems.
Would you like crab lovers everywhere to bask in your glory for one whole month next year? Margate’s Crab Museum has put out its calendar call out again. Send through your artwork/artistic ode to the decapod to info@crabmuseum.org with the subject header CRAB CALENDAR 2025 by November 9th to be considered. There are a few rules, but none which should curb your creativity. Just don’t be gross or rude and make it A4 and landscape orientation.
Northdown Brewery’s Green Hop Festival is on today, Saturday, October 12. Drink beers made with Thanet hop collective Hop Along Thanet, from 1pm to 6pm. There’s also pizza and music, so settle in for a delightful autumnal session. Find the kegs at the Westwood Industrial Estate, near B&Q.
Rise Up Clean Up has announced its monthly beach clean for the winter months. Meet at Margate Main Sands opposite Arlington House this Sunday, October 13 at 11am to keep the beach looking lovely. There will be other beach cleans on Sunday November 10 at 11.30am and Sunday, December 8 at 11am.
Carton Cinema in Westgate hosts Movie Moments for the foreseeable Thursdays. Head over for a 10.45am flick of the likes of Lee, Twister, The Critic and Love, Actually with a cuppa and a biccy. All for the bargain price of £2.50.
Looking for a Halloween party, now that Cockles and Muscles’ Halloween Ball is on waiting list? The new Glory, The Divine in Dalston hosts its own Halloween Ball on Saturday, October 26. Expect dancing hags, drag, pop and costumes. It’s free entry before 9pm or £15 after. Balls not your thing? The Divine have really lent into the spooky season with a programme of spoofy cabaret shows including, Witch, please and The Haunting of Areola Hill. thedivine.co.uk
ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week
Don't Blink gallery and vintage clothes shop opens in the space today (October 12). Head to 10 Broad Street for drinks and music all day.
Also opening today is new hot dog outlet Daisy’s Dogs, which you’ll find in Margate’s Old Kent Market.
Author Gabby Dawnay and illustrator Alex Barrow will be at the Happy Reading children’s bookshop in Broadstairs today. Gabby will read the duo’s new book If I Had A Dragon, while Alex paints images onto the shop’s windows. Tickets cost £5 and include a signed copy of the book.
Séte wine bar in Cliftonville will be holding a Pink Party this afternoon. Head down between 2-6pm for a menu of pink wine and pink snacks. Come dressed in pink and they’ll give you a drink.
Hayseed Dixie will be playing at The Booking Hall in Dover on Wednesday, October 16. Tickets are £23.50.
Rakookoo will be taking over Twenty Seven Harbour Street in Broadstairs again on Wednesday, October 16. Places are £40 per person. Book here.
Poet Luke Wright will be performing at Justine’s on Thursday, October 17. Tickets are £12.
The Blue Pelican in Deal will be hosting a five course meal, each course paired with a different wine from a Japanese winemaker working with European vineyards. £80 per person. Book via the website.
Folkestone Documentary Festival runs from October 17-20, showcasing 12 feature documentaries, each paired with a short film. See the full programme and buy passes here.
