Whether you're a local or planning a visit to Norfolk, 2025 promises a packed calendar of exciting festivals and events that showcase the very best of our county’s culture and communities. From lively music events and food fairs to weekends full of outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
In this guide, we’ll guide you through the must-see festivals and events happening across Norfolk in 2025, so you can start planning your unforgettable experiences today. Whether you're looking for family-friendly days out or thrilling music festivals to dance the weekend away, Norfolk’s events scene has it all.
To make your experience even more special, Norfolk Cottages offers a wide selection of charming holiday cottages in Norfolk located close to the heart of the action. Whether you want to be near the bustling towns hosting music and food festivals or prefer a tranquil retreat after a day of excitement, Norfolk Cottages has the perfect property for you.
Out There International Festival of Circus and Outdoor Arts takes place on the golden Norfolk coastline in Great Yarmouth. The festival attracts more than 60,000 people and has an established reputation for its innovative and diverse program with over 40 shows. With many breathtaking spectacles and plenty of quirky comedy, it has a family-friendly atmosphere and lots of seaside fun with multiple performances taking place in different locations, alongside numerous food stalls.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Families
- Price: Free but donations welcome
- Location: Various locations – starting point at St George’s Park, Great Yarmouth NR30 2JN
- Date and time: Thursday 29–Saturday 31 May
- Stay nearby: 8b By The Sea | sleeps 5 guests + 2 dogs
Cromer Crab and Lobster Festival
There is no better place to enjoy Cromer’s famous local delicacy than at the Cromer Crab and Lobster Festival. The crabs are known for their unique flavour which comes from the clean, unmuddied waters off the beaches of Cromer and Sheringham. With numerous stalls, cooking demos, entertainment on Evington Lawns, and exhibitions at the town museum, this food festival is a great way to spend the weekend in Cromer. The weekend kicks off with a concert on Cromer Pier for just £15 which brings guests an evening of music and laughter before enjoying some delicious Cromer crab beside the sea across the weekend.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Food lovers
- Price: Free entry
- Location: Evington Lawns, Cromer NR27 9HT
- Date and time: Friday 16–Sunday 18 May
- Stay nearby: The Snail | sleeps 4 guests + 1 dog
June
Royal Norfolk Show
The Royal Norfolk Show is the UK’s largest 2-day county show in Norwich that has over 700 trade stands, more than 3,000 animals, a great Grand Ring Program, hundreds of attractions and is Norfolk’s biggest food and drink experience. The Royal Norfolk Show is a great day out for people of all ages. Annually, the show attracts over 80,000 visitors, with many livestock and equine competitions and dog classes such as showjumping, pig racing, dog agility displays and more. Guests can also expect the occasional appearance from members of the Royal Family such as The Duke of Edinburgh visiting in 2024, Prince William in 2023, The Princess Royal in 2022 and many more appearances.
Good to know
- Who is it for: All ages, families, animal lovers and food lovers
- Price: Adult day ticket £32.50 | adult 2-day ticket £55 | children 5–16 £16 | age concessions 65+ £28 | accessible age 16+ £28 | carer £16 | family ticket £85 for two adults and up to three children – book tickets here
- Location: Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, New Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT
- Date and time: Wednesday 26–Thursday 27 June
- Stay nearby: Wyatt House | sleeps 4 people
Forest Live Music at Thetford Forest
Forest Live is a major live music series hosted by Forestry England at Thetford Forest, which is a large lowland pine forest straddling the Norfolk and Suffolk border. This unique and amazing music experience takes place in a beautiful natural woodland arena every summer and has a relaxed atmosphere and many incredible artists performing. In 2025, Gary Barlow, McFly, Rag’n’Bone Man, Snow Patrol and The Script will be gracing the stage; it’s a great event for the whole family to enjoy, with children aged 2 and under welcome for free while under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Guests need to bring warm and waterproof clothing; umbrellas are not permitted but folding chairs and blankets are allowed.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Families, music lovers
- Price: Prices vary depending on the artist – book tickets here
- Location: Thetford Forest, Brandon IP27 0AF (signs with directions will be visible)
- Date and time: Dates vary between Wednesday 18 June–Saturday 21 June
- Stay nearby: The Old Cart Shed | sleeps 6 guests + 1 dog
Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival
The iconic Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival is back in 2025 on Great Yarmouth’s seafront where visitors will find a wide range of bikes and classic and contemporary cars lining up. The seafront will be transformed into a celebration of everything automotive in this 2-day extravaganza of cars, stunts, superbikes, supercars and classic cars. In 2024, the festival attracted over 65,000 visitors and had more than 500 cars and bikes lined up along the 2.5km display from the Arc Cinema to Pleasure Beach. It is a great family-fun day out beside the sea with free admission, food stalls and lots of fun things for the whole family to do.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Families and car lovers
- Price: Free admission
- Location: Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 2EN
- Date and time: Saturday 21 June–Sunday 22 June
- Stay nearby: Polly’s Cottage | sleeps 4 guests + 2 dogs
July
Norwich Pride
Norwich Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community which aims to challenge prejudice and discrimination, and to create a city where everyone can feel safe and proud to be themselves. It is a free, inclusive and accessible event which transforms Norwich City Centre into a beautiful rainbow spectacle with a parade that starts at City Hall and ends at Chapelfield Gardens. The event has stalls, picnics, speeches, entertainment, parties, comedy, live music, films, art exhibitions and family-friendly events. The event is free and funded by sponsorship, community fundraising events, grants and donations.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Everyone including the LGBTQIA+ community and allies who want to show support
- Price: Free
- Location: City Hall, St Peters St, Norwich NR2 1NH
- Date and time: Saturday 26 July (parade starts at 1pm)
- Stay nearby: Garden Cottage | sleeps 2 guests
Holt Festival
Holt Festival is back in 2025 for an annual arts festival with a range of events from food to theatre, comedy, music and fine art. Set in the lovely Georgian town of Holt, this festival is a glorious celebration of the arts and is hosted in many different venues all over town such as in pubs, hotels, tents, school halls, the church, Auden Theatre, bookshops and the magnificent open-air theatre in the woods. The festival kicks off on Saturday and is followed by a week of fun in a seven-day program; there is truly something for everyone at Holt Festival and it is not one to miss. In 2024, there was a guest appearance from Barbara Dickson who gave a special acoustic performance.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Families, comedy lovers and music lovers
- Price: Prices vary depending on shows; membership costs £35 and allows access to social events, all festival events and priority booking; opera tickets cost £75
- Location: Various venues across Holt – a great starting point is The Holt Bookshop, Lion House Court, 26a High Street, Holt NR25 6BH
- Date and time: Saturday 13 July
- Stay nearby: Owls Nest | sleeps 4 guests + 2 dogs
Lord Mayor’s Weekend
Lord Mayor’s Weekend has been described as Norwich’s biggest free weekend street party. It takes place annually and kicks off with a colourful carnival parade with floats and musical bands, a funfair and other family-friendly activities, a firework display, an open-air music festival and more. This festival has many accessible viewing areas for the procession and stage, and invites everyone to celebrate in the beautiful city of Norwich. The procession flows through the streets of Norwich, passing by Norwich Cathedral, Tombland, Queen Street, St Andrews Street, Exchange Street and many other iconic parts of central Norwich.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Families and people of all ages
- Price: Free
- Location: Various venues across Norwich City Centre – a great starting point is Norwich Cathedral, 65 The Cl, Norwich NR1 4DH
- Date and time: Friday 11–Sunday 13 July
- Stay nearby: Holly Barn | sleeps 2 guests + 2 dogs
August
Cromer Carnival
Cromer Carnival is one of the largest carnivals in the country and a highlight of the summer season in North Norfolk. Over 20,000 people attend the event annually, and in 2024, an aerial display by the Red Arrows wowed crowds alongside many other impressive shows across the week. There is a full program of events on the Carnival Field, such as a car boot sale, plenty of craft stalls, events in the arena on the field, and plenty more.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Families and people of all ages
- Price: £8 entry for adults; £6 for children and seniors; £25 for families (two adults and two children)
- Location: Carnival Field, Runton Road, Cromer NR29 9AU
- Date and time: Saturday 16–Wednesday 20 August
- Stay nearby: Kingston House | sleeps 4 guests + 1 dog
Gone Wild with Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is making his return to Norfolk in August for one of the biggest events of the summer; Gone Wild Festival. Set at the iconic Holkham Hall, visitors can expect four days of getting muddy, learning new skills, creating memories that last a lifetime and taking part in a huge range of activities such as abseiling, a colour run, tree climbing, quad biking, axe throwing and plenty more. There is also an impressive lineup at the festival; in 2024 the show was headlined by Example, Scouting For Girls, Sam Ryder, McFly and Reef.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Thrill seekers and families
- Price: 4-day weekend tickets £34.57; £89.60 for children 5–10 years | £33.60 for children 2–4 years (price includes camping, over 100 activities, speakers, workshops, displays and all music for adults) – buy tickets here
- Location: Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1RH
- Date and time: Thursday 7–Sunday 10 August
- Stay nearby: South Lodge East | sleeps 2 guests + 2 dogs
Houghton Music and Art Festival
Houghton Music and Art Festival is a celebration of live and electronic music across 4 days on the beautiful grounds of Houghton Hall. The festival was founded, directed and curated by artist, DJ and Central St Martins alumni Craig Richards and the festival reflects his vision of how a festival should be with high standards throughout. With 13 stages, over 200 acts, and non-stop music from Friday to Saturday, it's easy to see why the festival attracts over 12,000 revellers from across the world. Due to the success of the festival in 2024, the lineup for 2025 is set to be headlined by Calvin Harris, Disclosure and Tame Impala – there was even a special appearance from The Princess of Wales last year.
Good to know
- Who is it for: Music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts
- Price: Tier 2 tickets on sale from early February (tickets starting at £280) – buy tickets here
- Location: Houghton Hall, New Houghton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6UE
- Date and time: Thursday 7–Sunday 10 August
- Stay nearby: Rye Cottage | sleeps 4 guests + 1 dog
Self-catering cottages in Norfolk
Whether you’re seeking a coastal retreat close to bustling towns hosting vibrant festivals or a peaceful home-from-home to unwind after a busy day, Norfolk Cottages has the ideal property for you. With a variety of comfortable and well-equipped options across the county, your perfect base for exploring Norfolk’s top events is ready and waiting.
If you’re considering letting your property in the stunning East Anglia region, Norfolk Cottages is a trusted holiday letting agency with an extensive portfolio of properties. From charming country homes and sea-view apartments to grand stately homes and luxurious mansions, we cater to a wide range of guests. Our commitment to exceptional customer service and a personable approach ensures a smooth and stress-free letting experience for both property owners and holidaymakers.