Incoming: Flaming Lips, Palace Cinema, Samia Rida

The Flaming Lips in Margate, free film talks in Broadstairs, a pirate festival for Ramsgate and more. Lots of events all over Thanet (and further afield) to get into your diary.

The Flaming Lips and the Beta Band are coming to Dreamland. Both of them at the same time. What a night. They’ll be at the theme park on Saturday, July 18. Tickets £58.75.

As part of National Lottery Open Week, the Palace Cinema in Broadstairs will be putting on two free talks. The first, 100 Years of Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate as Film Locations, is on Saturday, March 7 at 2pm. A week later, on Sunday, March 15, will be The Palace” 60 Years a Cinema 1965-2025. Free entry with proof of purchase of a National Lottery ticket. Full details. 

Palace cinema celebrates 60 years at the heart of Broadstairs

“Cultural institution” the Palace cinema’s 60 year journey to become “a place that really is about film as opposed to two hours of entertainment”

Strange TouristAndy Malt

Following a sold out run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, actor and writer Samia Rida will be bringing her one woman show Kidnap to Cliftonville’s Tom Thumb Theatre on Tuesday, March 31. The comedy-drama tells the true story of her kidnap as a child. A TV adaptation is in development, so head down to see it in its original form. Tickets £10. 

Ramsgate Pirates Festival has been confirmed for Saturday, June 6. There will be piratical activities around the town throughout the day, beginning with a parade setting off from (where else?) the Plunder book shop on the High Street. There’s a crowdfunder to help cover costs, but on the day everything will be free. 

The Cookie Man shop may have closed but it’s not the end of the line. The first monthly Cookie Social at Lowlife in Cliftonville will take place on Saturday, February 28 from 11am to 3pm. You’ll be able to grab some cookies and a coffee. There will be colouring sheets, balloons and badges for kids. Kids can probably have cookies too. Probably. 

Broadstairs Water Gala will be back this year on Wednesday, July 29. Full details of the day will be announced soon. 

The Cocoa Pod has announced a chocolate focussed event for International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8 at Gather& in Ramsgate. The day will kick of with some chocolate-free yoga, before a guided chocolate tasting session with Nicola from The Cocoa Pod, as well as a chance to meet local functional mushroom chocolate maker Luma. Tickets from £6.

Margate Ceramics Market will be back at the Turner Contemporary on March 7-8. Over 40 makers will be taking part with a different line up each day. Free entry. 

There will be jazz at the Falstaff in Ramsgate on Friday, March 6 with the Kate Daniels Trio. As well as Kate Daniels herself, the group is made up of acclaimed musicians Frances Knight and Jerome Davies. Free entry. 

The Creative Flow will be hosting a Mothers’ Day edition of Sip & Paint at Gather& in Ramsgate on Sunday. March 15. Enjoy a glass of prosecco or soft drink upon arrival, then grab a brush and join a guided floral painting session. Tickets £35. 

Margate Tap Takeover will return on April 17-19, bringing lots of guest beers to pubs and bars around the town. Or if wine’s more your thing, the LOW music and wine festival returns to Margate on June 13. £35 early bird tickets are available now. 

Nigel Planer will be coming to The Astor theatre in Deal on Friday, October 2. Promoting his memoir Young Once, he’ll discuss his work with the Comic Strip, the Young Ones and more. Tickets £21. 

Kent independent brewery Moot Brew Co will be setting up at the Fermentorium in Ramsgate on Sunday, March 22. Attendees will taste six of the brewery’s beers and have the chance to quiz the team about their work. Tickets £25. 

Lightroom in London has announced that its next exhibition will be David Bowie: You Are Not Alone. Opening on April 22, performance footage, rarely heard interviews and never-before-seen material lifted from the David Bowie Archive will be shown on the venue’s 11 foot high video walls. Tickets £25.

The Filth Collective will be back with Freak Out at Margate Arts Club on Friday, April 3, a night of 60s and 70s heavy, psych, doom, garage rock, folk rock and more. Tickets £5. 

The Sunken Garden in Westbrook is holding a seed swap event on Saturday, February 28. You’ll be able to pick up seeds harvested from the garden itself, including sunflowers and calendula, as well as distributing some of your own. More details.