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The best festivals in Norfolk UK 2024

There are festivals, events and activities throughout the year when you visit Norfolk. Just take a look at this lot… something for everyone!

As well as these look out for seasonal events at Cromer Pier, including the famous Summer Show, and at Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome, as well as venues such as Sandringham, Blickling Hall and the Holkham Estate.

Spring

Sheringham Viking Festival: The Vikings once sowed terror in the hearts of those living on our shores, but their return to North Norfolk will be very welcome. The festival culminates in the burning of a model longship. Details

Norfolk & Norwich Festival: Norfolk’s biggest arts event offers a culturally diverse programme of music, dance, theatre and visual arts. Details

Houghton International Horse Trials: a four-day May festival of show jumping and eventing in the beautiful setting of Houghton Hall.

Burnham Market Horse Trials: Gaining international status in 2003, this April event attracts some of the best national and international riders. Details

Cromer & Sheringham Crab & Lobster Festival: A long weekend of food, fun, art, music, heritage and entertainment in mid-May. Details

Folk On The Pier: Norfolk’s largest festival of its kind, you’ll find folk rock and acoustic acts at the Pavilion Theatre, Cromer and across the town in May. Details

Royal Norfolk Show Norfolk Showground Costessey

Royal Norfolk Show: Two days in late June when it seems as if all of Norfolk descends on the showground outside Norwich. Details

Fairy Fair: two days each May that features workshops, live music, entertainment and lots more for a magical day-out where families with young children can connect with nature. Details

Norwich City Ale of Festival: A ten-day celebration of beer straddling May and June. Norwich’s brewing heritage began with Benedictine monks making ales in Cathedral Close in the 11th century – and the city hasn’t stopped drinking since. Details

Summer

King’s Lynn Festival: In July you’ll find concerts, shows and events for all taste across the town. Details

Festival Too: A more populist take on the above, and also in July, Too aims to provide free music for the people of West Norfolk and visitors.

Lord Mayor’s Celebration: Four days in July when Norwich city centre is taken over by funfairs, processions, fireworks, outdoor theatre and more. Look out for the Snapdragon at the Procession. Details

Wymondham Music Festival: In July, the quaint market town and historic abbey hosts events of all musical varieties. Details

Wells-next-the-Sea Carnival: A week of family fun and events including a Carnival Day procession around the town featuring floats, fancy-dress, pull-and push-along vehicles and much more. Traditional seaside activities include a sand-castle competition, town crier competition, gillying on the quay and the crowning of the Carnival Royals. Details

Holt Festival: An eclectic mix of international music, drama, comedy, visual art, street theatre, workshops and cinema in July in the gorgeous north Norfolk Georgian town. Details

Hunstanton Kite Festival: As well as expert kite fliers, you can try it for yourself when you’re not looking at the fun dog show, the classic motor bikes and car rally at this great August event.

Big Tuesdays Fireworks: The summer holidays are kicking off with a bang at Hemsby with a host of free entertainment of outdoor arts performance from Out There Arts and then into the evening, fantastic fireworks for the whole family to enjoy. Details

Big Wednesdays Fireworks: This summer BIG Wednesday fireworks in Great Yarmouth every Wednesday are BIG. Big on performance, big on fireworks, big on food, big on things to see and do on the seafront. Details

Festival of Bowls: Hosted by the Great Yarmouth Britannia Bowling Greens for four weeks every late-summer, August and September, more than 1700 bowlers compete. Details

Holkham Hall Country Fair

North Norfolk Music Festival: Held in August, events include a gala concert at Holkham Hall and performances in many churches, including St Mary’s Church in the grounds of Raynham Hall. Details

Worstead Festival: A weekend in July that grew from a village show into a celebration of traditional country pursuits, such as heavy horses and tractors, with fun for the kids, craft stalls, and the best of Norfolk food. Details

Wayland Agricultural Show: Livestock, motorcycle displays, sheepdogs, arts and crafts… you name it, it’s at this August show. Details

Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare Festival in the Cloisters: The Bard in the beautiful surroundings of the Norwich Cathedral cloisters. Pack a picnic or order one from the Refectory. Details

Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival: Head to Great Yarmouth’s seafront for two days in July when an array of bikes, classic and contemporary cars will be lining up to star in a seafront wheels festival. Details

Gorleston Clifftop Festival: Two days in July when family fun and activities take over the town’s seafront. Details

Prince Charles Sandringham Flower Show Norfolk

Sandringham Flower Festival: Set in the magnificent surroundings of Sandringham Park with Sandringham House and Sandringham Church as a backdrop, this one-day Show attracts around 20,000 visitors each year. Details

Classic Ibiza at Blickling: An open-air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music, reinvented by the Urban Soul Orchestra, live vocalists and headline DJs. Details

Autumn

Out There Festival Great Yarmouth

North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival: Now in its fifteenth year, the festival has grown into a highly successful event with visitors from across the county and beyond. Featuring an ever-growing team of local food and drink producers who grow, rear, produce, supply and sell food in North Norfolk. Details

Out There: An international two-day streets arts and circus festival bursts out onto the streets of Great Yarmouth in September, with lots of entertainment on the seafront, in St Georges Park and the town centre. Details

Sheringham and Holt 1940s weekend: You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped back in town when these two towns are taken over in September. Details

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

Thursford Christmas Spectacular: What do you mean, ‘That’s not a festival’? It’s a festival of remembering everything you love about Christmas and is a fantastic reason to come to Norfolk in the winter. Details

What’s On in Norfolk