The summer of festivals
10th July 2025
Gone Wild Festival
Is it just us or are there more festivals than ever in North Norfolk this summer? From long weekends dedicated to local ale and oysters to arts extravaganzas, these are the dates to put in your diary, says Harriet Cooper
BEST FOR… FEASTING & FOOD
North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival
30 and 31 August
Every foodie in the county knows to make a beeline to Holkham’s walled garden for the North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival. Now in its 16th year, it promises over 60 local producers, from charcuterie to chutney to chocolate, as well as pop-up concessions and family entertainment. Make sure to visit the cookery theatre for live chef demos.
www.northnorfolkfoodfestival.co.uk
The White Horse Annual Oyster Fest
13 to 17 August
If you like oysters, you’re in for a treat. This five-day festival at The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, takes place marshside, with plenty of molluscs, as well as live music every day from midday. If lobster is more your thing, executive head chef Fran Hartshorne has put together a tantalising menu for their Norfolk Lobster & Fizz Festival, from 25 to 27 July.
www.whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk
Three Horseshoes Charity Beer Festival
22 to 25 August
Lovers of ale and beer will want to gather at The Three Horseshoes’ garden in Briston over the long weekend to sample the 18 beers from Norfolk breweries including Woodforde’s and Barsham Brewery. There’ll be food and music, too. The best bit? Proceeds will go to The Benjamin Foundation, a local charity that offers support to children and young people.
BEST FOR… ARTS & CULTURE
King’s Lynn Festival
13 to 26 July
This is the 74th King’s Lynn Festival; the programme is stellar including a performance by Black Dyke Band, pictured, a brass band dating to 1855, Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, violinist Rachel Podger, and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Keep your ears open for ‘King’s Lynn Calling’, a new audio trail around the town.
North Norfolk Music Festival
8 to 16 August
North Norfolk’s much-loved music festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with rising stars and established names, from 21-year-old American double bassist Levi Andreassen to Italian soprano Rosa Feola. All will be performing in the intimate setting of the Church of Our Lady St Mary. There’s also a bar and festival suppers every evening.
www.northnorfolkmusicfestival.com
Hunstanton Music Festival
2 and 3 August
This two-day event has become a highlight in Sunny Hunny, attracting around 2000 music fans. It features live rock, country, pop and punk bands on The Green from across East Anglia; headliners this year include 2nd Sunset on Saturday and Vic Burns & The Flirtettes on Sunday. Bring a picnic, something to sit on and enjoy.
Find them on Facebook
Fakenham Film Festival
23 September to 7 October
The Fakenham Film Festival champions local filmmakers and first-time creators. The theme for 2025 is ‘Made in Norfolk’, with a programme of full-length films created in the county. In addition, the shortlisted entries of the festival’s short film competition will be screened in September.
Fakenham Arts Festival
1 to 24 August
This new community initiative organised by Active Fakenham will showcase local artists, with works displayed in over 50 venues around the town, with some of the pieces available to buy. The festival will culminate in a mixed media exhibition on 24 August in the Fakenham Community Centre.
BEST FOR… LITERATURE & BOOKS
Mannington Book Bash
25 to 28 September
This year’s literary festival, held in the pretty gardens at Mannington Hall, features a Mini Mannington programme, with 400 local primary children invited to the event for a live show with Guy Bass. Other names for 2025 include Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Esther Freud and Nigel Planer.
North Norfolk Festival of Literature and Landscape
3 to 5 October
A weekend of talks and walks to celebrate the local landscape and wildlife. The literary programme is in Wells Maltings with writers including Sir Alan Hollinghurst. Walks range from a salt marsh outing with Jake Fiennes to Nick Trend’s guide through Holkham’s picture galleries and into the parkland.
The Holt Bookshop Festival
1 to 3 August
This three-day mini festival of literature, music and art is organised by Pam Horrocks and Keith Britten on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of their Holt Bookshop. It takes place in Lion House Court, St Andrew’s Church and Holt Community Centre, with authors Marian Keyes, Lucy Mangan and Ben Garrod in attendance.
BEST FOR… HERITAGE & HISTORY
Brancaster Staithe Sea Shanty Festival
12 to 14 September
Centuries-old sailor songs will ring out across Brancaster Staithe with Shanty groups performing at The Jolly Sailors, The White Horse, the village hall, Deepdale Camping and St Mary’s Church Deepdale. They’ll be collecting money in their buckets for local charities along the way.
www.brancasterstaithe-shantyfest.co.uk
Festival on Rails
23 to 28 August
It’s the 50th anniversary of North Norfolk Railway and how better to mark the occasion than the Festival on Rails in Sheringham and Holt? You can enjoy unlimited travel behind a varied line-up of steam locomotives, plus there’ll also be a special appearance from Betton Grange, its newly-built engine, the culmination of 30 years’ work.
Maritime Heritage Festival and Flotilla
2 and 3 August
This colourful festival sees historic wooden fishing boats and Dunkirk Little Ship Lucy Lavers gather at Wells’ Tugboat Yard for the weekend. The vessels will form a flotilla on Saturday afternoon, returning to the harbour with a sea shanty welcome. Plus there’ll be stalls, food, drink, entertainment and activities.
BEST FOR… NATURE & THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Old Hunstanton Flower Festival
25 to 27 July
Happy birthday to the Old Hunstanton Flower Festival, which has been a go-to for floral enthusiasts for the past 50 years. 2025’s theme is, of course, ‘golden’, with over 30 arrangers filling St Mary’s Church with flowers. The event has now spilled over into the village hall, where you’ll find stalls, games and refreshments.
For more information contact Mike Tuffs on momtuffs@hotmail.com
Worstead Festival
26 and 27 July
Established in 1966, this is now Norfolk’s biggest village festival, with 10,000 people attending. It takes place on the fields behind the 14th century St Mary’s Church, where you’ll find birds of prey, heavy horses and a dog show, as well as a ferris wheel, vintage tractors, live music, a food marquee and artisan stalls.
Gone Wild Festival
7 to 10 August
After its successful debut at Holkham last summer, Gone Wild is back. Expect four days of alfresco family-friendly activities from abseiling and quad biking to workshops and talks, including by Bear Grylls. Evenings are as fun, with music from the likes of Clean Bandit and Blue. For extra thrills, why not camp?
Fakenham Festival of Cycling
24 August
Active Fakenham invites you to the Festival of Cycling. Choose from 15, 25, 36, 66 or 102 mile routes, with the start and end at Fakenham Community Centre, which is hosting an exhibition for the Arts Festival the same day.
While some festivals are free, others require tickets; visit individual websites for all details
