There are festivals, events and activities throughout the year when you visit Suffolk. But it really comes to life during the Summer months. Put these dudes in your diary…
Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival
What: Rated one of the UK’s best food festivals, this event celebrates Suffolk’s food and drink producers and its rich farming heritage.
Where: Snape Maltings
When: September 23-24
LeeStock Festival
What: Music festival held in memory of Lee Dunford with proceeds to the Willow Foundation and this year featuring, amongst others, Natalie Imbruglia, T’Paul, Katrina from Katrina and the Waves, Blackgrape and Cast.
Where: Melford Hall, Long Melford
When: May 27-28
Aldeburgh Music Festival
What: Suffolk’s top music and arts festival, founded by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears in 1948, this year’s event features the world premiere of Sarah Angliss’s opera Giant and the UK premiere of The Art of Being Human as well as pianist Pavel Kolesnikov, baritone and composer Roderick Williams and composers Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Cassandra Miller.
Where: Snape Maltings
When: June 9-25
Dragon Fest
What: A family fun day out at West Stow with the Anglo-Saxon Village transformed into a world of dragons, creatures and unique characters.
Where: West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, Icklingham Rd, Bury Saint Edmunds
When: June 24-25
First Light Festival
What: England’s most easterly town hosts a free 24-hour music festival that starts at midday and finishes the following day at midday. Enjoy the magic of the midsummer daylight with a free, unticketed, outdoor programme.
Where: Lowestoft South Beach
When: June 17-18
Felixstowe Book Festival
What: Authors and audiences love this festival’s unique intimate, welcoming atmosphere. They appreciate the chance to combine author events with seafood suppers, walks along the prom with its colourful beach huts (said to be the oldest in the country), a wander in the award-winning seafront gardens and even a bracing swim.
Where: Felixstowe and Trimley St Mary
When: June 16-25
Southwold Arts Festival
What: The eighth Southwold Arts Festival has a rich and diverse mix of music, talks, theatre, poetry and visual arts to this beautiful seaside town.
Where: Several venues in Southwold
When: June 24 – July 1
Folkeast
What: Lindisfarne headline the event of dance, workshops, instrumental, talks, food and drink.
Where: Glemham Hall
When: July 18-20
Latitude Festival
What: Pulp, Paolo Nutini, George Ezra, James with an orchestra, loads of comedians, artists, authors and more will entertain you over the three-day weekend. Oh, and maybe painted sheep.
Where: Henham Park near Southwold
When: July 21-23
Red Rooster Festival
What: Celebrating the best in southern Americana with Cajun, Soul, Rock’n’Roll, Roots and Country plus delicious mouth-watering BBQ food in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.
Where: Euston Hall, Euston, Thetford
When: June 1-3
Primadonna Festival
What: A festival of books, ideas and inspiration with something for everyone with film, music, comedy, food, drink, DJs and therapies alongside our main programme of talks, interviews and discussions. The line-up gives prominence to women, people of colour, LGBTQI+ and working class people, and disabled people.
Where: The Food Museum, Iliffe Way, Stowmarket
When: July 28-30
Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival
What: With local chefs, a great choice of food & drink stalls and a wide range of street entertainment, Suffolk’s foodie town hosts a free entry event in a weekend of treats and displays as well as a host of family fun.
Where: Bury St Edmunds Town Centre
When: Sunday 28th to Monday 29th August 2022
July Festival, Newmarket
What: Three days of world class horseracing, combined with fashion, food and entertainment. Running from Thursday to Saturday, starting with Ladies Day, a seven-race card headlined by the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes; then Festival Friday, followed by July Cup Day. Run over six furlongs, the July Cup is one of the most valuable and prestigious sprint races in the world. A great family day out.
Where: Newmarket Rowley Mile Course, Cambridge Road Newmarket
When: July 13
Framlingham Country Show
What: A great day out with local food and drink, events for dog lovers, fun activities and entertainment for children. Meet producers and makers, watch and admire rural crafters demonstrating their skills, listen to some fabulous music by up and coming talent. Main ring attractions, celebrity chefs, living history, model aeroplanes, tractors, classic cars, horses, and much more.
Where: Framlingham College, Framlingham IP13 9EY
When: August 19-20
East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival
What: For six days, the cathedral hosts this amazing event organised by CAMRA with more than 250 real ales, 40 ciders, food stalls, a sound stage and a full entertainment programme with bands, folk singers, choirs and solo musicians.
Where: St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Angel Hill, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1LS
When: August 23 – 28
