Incoming: Say She She, Fern Brady, Ramsgate Lit Fest

Say She She at The Drill Shed, Fern Brady at Where Else and the first Ramsgate Lit Fest. Get these dates in your diary for upcoming events in Thanet.

New York trio Say She She will be coming to The Drill Shed in Cliftonville on Thursday, July 30. This is the latest standalone show marking Margate Soul Festival’s 25th anniversary. Tickets £30.03.

Wilson's Comedy Club is back at the Queen's Head in Ramsgate on Saturday, April 25 for laughs and chuckles. Comics Bob Mills, Kate Lucas, Currer Ball and Wilson Milton are on the bill, with things kick off at 7pm and tickets are £15.

Having aired it in work-in-progress form last year, Fern Brady returns to Margate with the finished version of her latest show I Gave You Milk to Drink later this month. She’ll be at Where Else on Wednesday, April 29 before retiring the show and getting started on the next thing (in this case, promoting her new book). Tickets £20. 

The Festival of Cats 2026 returns to Margate's Pie Factory from May 1-5. The festival includes an exhibition, Cat Drag Life Drawing, Old Possum’s Poetry Reading, a screening of CatVideoFest at the Palace Cinema, and special appearances from The Cat Show and internet favourites Sigrid and Travis, with more stuff to be announced. With more to be announced. See the programme so far.

The reign of Margate Mayor Katie Pope is coming to an end. She's marking the end of her term with a ball at Thanet Indoor Bowls Club on Saturday, April 18. Not your average ball, the Bower Street Morris will have a show, and watch out for some pro-wrestling too. Tickets are £55 per person, or a table of eight is £420. You can also sponsor a table for £500. To book your spot email secretary@margate.org.uk.

The Bottleneck in Broadstairs has two wine tasting sessions coming up. First for the wine tasting season, is Nyetimber on April 16, which will focus on sparkling wines. The other is with Kentish Simpsons Wine Estate on April 30, and you'll be mixing your drinks here, with sparkling, whites and reds. Both events include cheese and charcuterie boards as part of the deal. Tickets £40.

The Ramsgate Lit Fest is set to take place at The Book Hotel from May 23-29. The official opening event for the hotel, it will feature author talks, panel discussions, events for children and more. Speakers so far announced include Adam Weymouth, Rosie Wilby, Dominic Gregory, and Tamara Macfarlane. The festival will open with a night of jazz from French musician Mademoiselle Loulou. Find out more. 

How often have you thought about asparagus so far this year? If you replied with anything but a confused splutter, get ready for An Asparagus Dinner at Seabird in Ramsgate on Thursday, May 7. The night will mark the beginning of asparagus season (which officially starts on April 23 and runs through to June 21). Attendees will be treated to five courses, each incorporating the pointy vegetable in a different way. Places £55. 

Traces of Humanity is a collection of four exhibitions curated by Philippa Beal, inspired by Gibraltar's Gorham Caves Complex - A UNESCO World Heritage Site that has caves running into the ocean, nestled in nature. Margate will host the first two exhibitions, at the Schwartzman Gallery on margate High Street May 1-15 (opening night May 1 6pm), and then again May 19-28 (opening night May 19, 6pm-8pm). The first opening night includes a lecture by Professor Vaughan Grylls based on the 1788 print Captured Klan - a comment on the KKK. On Saturday, May 23, Chris Plato will present an illustrated lecture on the Gorham Caves' Neanderthal rock engravings, as part of Exhibition two.

After School Band Club starts a new term after the Easter break. If you’ve got an 8-12 year old who wants to make some noise, now’s the perfect time, as there is now a new Tuesday session on the calendar (in addition to the existing Wednesday ones). Led by the amazing Melinda Bronstein, kids can try out different roles in their band and get started writing their own songs right away. £11 per session. DM to book. 

STAK.life, which provides mental health support to young people with autism in Thanet, is holding a fundraising art exhibition and sale at ARK in Cliftonville on May 8-10. There will be a range of paintings, prints, photography, ceramics and more on offer from some amazing artists. Find out more. 

Broadstairs Summer Fair is set to take place from July 25-29 at Victoria Gardens, featuring a fun fair and local craft stalls. This will act as a precursor to the Broadstairs Water Gala and fireworks display on Wednesday, July 29. 

Get ready for a night of Klezmer music and dance at ARK in Cliftonville on Wednesday, April 22. The show will open with a Klezmer Keilidh featuring a band of world class musicians led by Yiddish dance leader Avia Moore to get you dancing. Then there will be a performance by Grammy-winning trumpeter Frank London, all the way from New York City. Tickets from £10.