Seven… early summer festivals
14th May 2025
© Darren Matthews 2024/ www.sdmimages.co.uk
From Morris dancing and wildflowers to classical music and a good helping of foodie fun, Amanda Loose rounds up a septet of festivals coming up this season
The annual Norfolk & Norwich Festival sees 17 days jam-packed with events ranging from talks to poetry, magic, dance, classical music and more. Look out for mezzo soprano Lotte Betts-Dean (a resident artist) at the Duke Street Theatre at the University of the Arts on 22 May and Upswing, a contemporary circus, who perform their new show, Showdown, in the Adnams Spiegeltent from 14 to 25. The Britten Sinfonia, pictured below, return to Norwich Cathedral on 24 May, and author Val McDermid talks about her latest best sellers at St Peter Mancroft, also on 24 May.
The eighth Reepham Food Festival takes place on 25 May in the town’s Market Place. The popular event, run by the town’s Rotary Club, usually sees in excess of 30 stalls, all selling a mixture of high quality local food and drink, and there are pop up food concessions, too. Entry is free and the fun starts at 10am.
www.reephamfoodfestival.org.uk
Natural Surroundings’ Wildflower Festival is back for its second year on 28 and 29 June. Tucked away just outside Holt, Natural Surroundings is part wildlife haven, part garden centre, and part best-kept secret. The festival is a highlight of the summer calendar; think native wildflowers in full bloom, peaceful walks through the wildlife gardens, and homemade cakes in the cafe. The main event will be The Really Wild Flower Show, a horticultural show with a twist – not a vegetable in sight, with classes featuring wildflowers and wildlife-friendly flowers. There will be 10 classes, for arrangements such as meadow flowers, flowers for bees and garden ‘weeds’ as well as art, textiles and a children’s class.
Have you heard about the new Norwich Food & Drink Festival in June? Taking place at Whitlingham Country Park at Trowse, on the outskirts of the city, it’s on 28 and 29 June, from 11am to 4pm. You can expect around 75 stalls and live music, and the event is being run by a Norfolk company called Apollo Events. Admission is from £8.50, with under 13s admitted for free.
www.whitlinghamcountrypark.com
The Potty Festival returns to Sheringham on 5 and 6 July, a celebration of Morris dancing and folk music, with ‘sides’ of Morris dancers from all over the country taking part. The action starts at 10am on the Saturday with the opening parade and 50 sides will perform during the day. Sunday will see 32 sides dance at sites around the town from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Aylsham is staging its first ever International Street Food Festival on 6 July, as the town celebrates its 20th anniversary as a Cittaslow and Slow Food town. Expect a selection of pop-up food vendors selling delicacies from around the world in the Market Place – and it’s hoped that many of the town’s cafes, bars and restaurants will open, too, to create a really buzzy atmosphere.
The Five Churches Festival is back from 9 to 13 July, with a programme of concerts across the Glaven Valley churches (Blakeney, Wiveton, Glandford, Letheringsett and Cley); from chamber music and jazz, to brass ensemble London Central Brass, pictured, and a festival songs of praise. The event will open with a performance by international mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and guitarist Dimitris Soukaras.
Visits websites for timings, any ticket prices and booking requirements.
