Eight early summer festivals
28th May 2025
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From Morris dancing and wildflowers to classical music and a good helping of foodie fun, Amanda Loose rounds up just some of festivals coming up this season
This year’s Jolly Ale & Music Festival at The Jolly Sailors in Brancaster Staithe takes place over the Father’s Day weekend (13 to 15 June). Expect more than 20 Norfolk ales, plus ciders and a sloe gin to enjoy, together with live music kicking off at 7pm on the Friday. With a packed line-up including club classics, all-time favourites from the 60s, 70s and 80s, jazz through the decades, funk, soul, pop, and a tribute to the best of Elton John, don’t forget your dancing shoes!
www.jollysailorsbrancaster.co.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 Hunstanton One-Act Drama Festival at the town’s Princess Theatre runs from 4 to 6 July, and sees 10 plays performed over three days by local amateur drama groups, and an awards ceremony on the Sunday evening. It might be an original script or an excerpt from a longer work, with each session featuring two to four plays.
Find out more at www.oneactdramafestival.com and book tickets via www.princesshunstanton.co.uk
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 Food & Drink Festival from 6 to 13 July, as the town celebrates its 20th anniversary as a Cittaslow and Slow Food town. Sunday 6 July will see the Market Place and Red Lion Street closed to traffic for an International Street Food Fair complete with wine tasting from Seventeen and outside seating along Red Lion Street. During the week, expect special festival menus and food experiences from ‘make your own pizza’ with Stamp Pizza to ‘make your own cocktails’, plus related discounts and offers, whilst Aylsham Heritage Centre will be sharing some of their fantastic archive information on Aylsham’s hospitality trade of the past.
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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.
