Incoming: Strawberry Festival, MOP, The Negroni Talks

Strawberries, seafood, cocktails, some alternative karaoke, Shakespeare on the beach and more. Dates to scribble into your diary for the next few months.

Margate Old Town ice cream parlour Follow the Swirl has announced its first ever Strawberry Festival. For two full weeks from June 30 to July 14, there will be strawberry real fruit ice cream, strawberry sundaes, strawberry lemonade slushies, punnets of fresh strawberries, and even strawberry plants on sale. There’ll also be a strawberry scavenger hunt, temporary tattoos, and more. If you’re not a fan of strawberries, this is not the event for you.

MOP is popping up again, this time at High Dive on Margate High Street. Over two nights on July 4-5, they’ll serve up a Mexican inspired menu of delicious dishes. This includes tomato and watermelon chilli salad, beer battered tenderstem, and homemade flatbread. Places are £38. 

Architecture debate series The Negroni Talks is coming to Ramsgate. Taking place at Gather& on Thursday, July 10, a panel will discuss what needs to happen in Ramsgate to help the town achieve its full potential. And more importantly, who or what is currently standing in its way? Tickets from £16.96 (including a negroni).

The V&A Museum in London will open a new exhibition exploring the life and style of Marie Antoinette, exploring her lasting influence on fashion. Opening on Saturday, September 20, it will include over 250 years of design, fashion, film and art. Tickets £25. 

It bowed out with what was supposed to be one final party at the beginning of the year, but alternative karaoke night I’m Not Karaokay is back. Taking place at Where Else in Margate on Thursday, July 3, you’ll be able to sing all your favourite punk, rock and metal songs to an eager crowd. Unleash your inner rocks star. Tickets £10. 

Catch and Seabird are teaming up for a night at Gather& in Ramsgate, cooking up a seafood menu centred on the mackerel on Saturday, July 26. Four courses of locally sourced fish and seafood with accompanying wine, beer and cocktails. Places are £38. 

Windmill Community Gardens in Cliftonville will hold its Summer Fayre on Friday, July 25 from 12-3pm. There will be lots of activities for kids, including crafts, a bee walk, pond exploring, sensory play and more. Family tickets £6. 

Shakespeare on the Beach will return to Margate Main Sands on Saturday, July 20 with a performance of Twelfth Night. Performed by Changeling Theatre, the show will feature new original music. “Our cast will be actor musicians playing live new music to Shakespeare’s lyrics,” says director Rob Forknall. “We’ll look at love in a world where gender and identity are ambiguous. Anyone who knows Netflix’s Heartstopper will love this show.” Tickets £21.50.