July is the start of the peak season in Norfolk, so there are lots of things going on. Many of the events will be outdoors to take advantage of the warm weather. In this post, we will share our top picks for the month.
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July 2023 Norfolk Events
If you are looking for things to do in Norfolk in July, you have come to the right place. Here you will find events happening in July 2023 in Norfolk. It includes some events that are family-friendly and/or free.
One of the highlights every July is Lord Mayor’s Celebration Weekend in Norwich. You won’t want to miss it.
Remember there can always be last minute changes, so it’s always a good idea to double-check the details with the organization hosting the event.
*Details for some of the July 2023 events have not been announced. Events with TBC – meaning to be confirmed – next to them means they happened last year but have not been confirmed for this year. I will update the post as the information becomes available.
The Last Voyage of the Gloucester at Norwich Castle
When: 25 February – 10 September
In this major exhibition, you will learn how brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell discovered the wreck of the Gloucester which ran aground in heavy seas off the coast of Great Yarmouth more than 300 years ago and see some of the fascinating objects found at the wrecksite.
The exhibition is included with regular admission to Norwich Castle. It is expected to be popular so you are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Read our review of The Last Voyage of the Gloucester at Norwich Castle to learn more.
Sean Scully at Houghton Hall – Smaller Than the Sky
When: Select Days 23 April – 29 October
One of the world’s most celebrated artists, Sean Scully, will showcase his sculptures, paintings, and works on paper at Houghton Hall.
Read our reviews of the Chris Levine and Tony Cragg exhibitions to find out what to expect.
Find out more here.
Festival Too in King’s Lynn
When: 24, 25, 30 June & 1, 7, 8 July
Festival Too originated in 1985 when a collective of business people came together with the idea of hosting a music event to complement the King’s Lynn Festival. With an initial budget of £5,000, local businesses sponsored the top musical acts of that time.
Over the years, the festival has grown in scale and popularity, now boasting a budget of £130,000. Generous support from local companies, private individuals, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, and even national sponsors have contributed to its success.
The best part? Festival Too is completely free to attend, with no need for tickets.
Get more information here.
Folk in A Field
When: 30 June – 2 July
Set in a remote clearing in Bradmoor Woods, Folk in a Field is an award winning, family friendly festival with a diverse mix of folk music, activities, shows, workshops, and stalls. They will have locally sourced ales and ciders along with numerous food outlets.
Get more information here. Prices include free parking and basic camping.
Read about more music festivals in Norfolk here.
The Gin & Rum Festival – Norwich
When: 1 July
The largest Gin & Rum Festival tour in the UK is back in Norwich! It’s a big party where you can learn about gin and rum and discover new favourites.
Try 120 of the best gins and rums from around the world. At the cocktail bar, you can find a selection of seasonal cocktails, sipping tequilas, Beer, and of course Fizz. There will also be a DJ and live entertainment.
New for 2023 your ticket includes a free drink and snack.
Get more information and purchase tickets here.
Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival
When: 1 – 2 July
Come and see classic classic and contemporary vehicles of all sorts including bikes, cars, trucks, scooters and anything else with wheels along the Great Yarmouth seafront from Britannia Pier to the Pleasure Beach.
Get more information here.
Cromer Pier Show
When: 1 July – 30 September
The famous Cromer Pier Show is back for another year! It will have the same format as last year with a different guest star every week. There will be singing, dancing, comedy, and much more.
Read my review of the 2021 Cromer Pier Show to find out what to expect.
Get more information about this year’s Cromer Pier Show here.
Summer Circus & Water Spectacular
When: 5 July – 17 September
Prepare to be amazed by the grandest and most awe-inspiring Circus & Water Show yet!
Witness the thrilling motorbike daredevils from South America as they astound you with their death-defying stunts inside the Globe of Death. Marvel at the unparalleled juggling skills of Robert Carlos, renowned performer from Cirque du Soleil.
Be captivated by the mesmerizing water spectacle featuring talented swimmers, enchanting fountains, and breathtaking special effects. Prepare to laugh out loud with comedy legends Jack Jay & Johnny Mac, adding a touch of hilarity to the show.
All of this takes place in the iconic 1903 Hippodrome, Britain’s last surviving circus building in Great Yarmouth. It is hailed as one of the seven wonders of the British seaside.
You can get discounted tickets for select dates on Groupon here. For more information and tickets for other dates click here.
Dereham Blues Festival
When: 5 – 9 July
It will be the 10th anniversary of the Dereham Blues Festival which has become a popular fixture on the national blues circuit. You can expect a diverse range of blues music from acoustic to electric, solo artists to bands.
For 2023 over 50 bands will play in venues throughout the town, with a family-friendly busking event on Saturday. Best of all, except for the opening concert, all performances are free.
Get more information here.
Lord Mayor’s Celebration
When: 7 – 9 July
The Lord Mayor’s Celebration is Norwich’s carnival. It always includes a fun fair, live music and other entertainment, food, lots of fun, and of course the Lord Mayor’s Procession. For 2023, the theme will be ‘Sights of the City.’
Find out more in our guide to the 2023 Lord Mayor’s Celebration.
Shakespeare Festival
When: 7 – 8 July
Every summer The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the UK’s premier all-male theatre company, preform in the Norwich Cathedral Cloister. This year they will doing ‘Romeo & Juliet’.
Get more information and tickets here.
Upton White Horse Beer Festival
When: 7 – 9 July
Get ready for a fantastic beer festival at The White Horse Upton! Enjoy three days of live music, a wide selection of 26 real ales, a sizzling BBQ, an outdoor bar, exciting prize raffles, and best of all, free entry!
Get more information here.
Norwich Deaf Festival
When: 7 – 8 July
Join the fully accessible Norwich Deaf Festival at the Forum. All ages and hearing abilities are welcome. You will learn something new and have fun!
Get more information here.
Blakeney Harbour Room Folk Festival
When: 7 – 9 July
While the Blakeney Harbour Room Folk Festival features over 30 different acts, there will also be poetry workshops, songwriting workshops, and street food and drinks.
Entrance is free. Get more information here.
Circus Cortex
When: 7 – 16 July
Circus Cortex aims to protect and preserve the artistic core and creative soul of a Circus and give you that magic feeling like you are part of the circus family. They have the largest percentage of Ukrainian cast members of any circus in the UK, and all have been successfully brought to the UK under the ‘Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Get more information here.
Hainford Beer Festival
When: 12 – 14 July
The Chequers Hainford is hosting the Hainford Beer Festival. It will be an action packed weekend with live music, 20 beers and local food vendors.
Get more information here.
Paint Out Norfolk
When: 13 – 22 July
The renowned outdoor painting programme is back, with an exciting new open-air exhibition that showcases dozens of stunning artworks for sale. This year’s event will include more than 100 talented artists from across the UK, Europe, and the USA. You can explore and capture the vibrant landscapes of Norwich, the Norfolk seaside, the inland Broads, charming market towns, and historic houses, gardens, parks, allotments, and cemeteries.
Get more information here.
Five Churches Festival
When: 13 – 16 & 29 July
The Five Churches Festival is a jam-packed program of concerts, cultural shindigs, and community events happening in five churches of the Glaven Valley Benefice in North Norfolk – Blakeney, Cley, Glandford, Letheringsett, and Wiveton.
Get more information here.
The Legends Festival in Cromer
When: 14 – 15 July
The UK’s largest celebration of the world’s greatest pop and rock acts is coming to Cromer Hall. They will have nine of the world’s biggest arena tribute acts on a huge outdoor stage.
Get more information and purchase tickets here.
Norfolk Garden Show
When: 14 – 16 July
Head to the Norfolk Showground for a gardening extravaganza filled with flowers, plants and everything you need for your home and garden. The Food and Drink Court will have food and drink vendors offering some of the UK’s finest wines and spirit, home-made pies, cakes, cheeses, pastries, and more.
Get more details here.
Burnham Market Flower Show
When: 15 July
You can see a horticultural marquee with flowers, vegetables, arts, crafts and cookery that will all be judged, plus there will be a carnival parade with floats and a marching band, an arena with fun and games for the whole family, and a funfair.
Get more information here.
Haha Farm Food & Drink Festival
When: 15 – 16 July
After starting a successful pumpkin patch in 2020, Haha Farm has decided to diversify further and start a food festival in 2022. It will feature live music and more than 20 local producers and street food vendors.
This year, admission is free. There is also no charge for parking and dogs are welcome.
Get more information here.
Magic of Thailand
UPDATE Saturday’s 15 July event is CANCELLED due to weather
When: 15 – 16 July
Experience an authentic taste of Thai culture in Earlham Park in Norwich. You can enjoy delicious Thai street food and beer, try Thai massage, browse arts and crafts, watch traditional Thai dances, Muay Thai demonstrations, Ladyboy shows, and the hilarious ‘I’m British, Get me out of here’ eating competition.
Adults are only £5 per day while children 15 and under go free!
Get more details here.
Holt Festival
When: 15 – 29 July
Over the course of two weeks, you can expect performances from internationally recognised musicians, poets, actors, dancers, and comedians in Holt. There are also fine art exhibitions.
Get more details here.
If you want to book a place to stay in Holt during the festival, check out Byfords here.
Run Norwich 10K
When: 16 July
This popular 10K takes you by some of Norwich’s most iconic landmarks including Norwich Castle, The Forum, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich City Football Club’s Carrow Road and many more. It’s no surprise that Run Norwich has been voted as the ‘Best 10k in the United Kingdom’, according to the Running Awards.
Get more information here.
The Untamed Gravel
When: 16 July
The Untamed Gravel is back after its successful debut in 2022. This recreational ride stays mostly on quiet roads, paths, and trails in the beautiful North Norfolk countryside and in villages. It starts and finishes at Holkham Hall Estate.
You can choose from a family, 25, 50, 75 & a huge 100 mile gravel route. All options have free drink and refreshment stops, while the 75 mile + routes will also enjoy a free lunch.
Get more information and sign up here.
King’s Lynn Festival
When: 16 – 29 July
Get ready for a packed two-week long programme that includes concerts, films, walks, special events marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams and his associations with King’s Lynn, and much more. Those who are 25 and under can get half-price tickets.
Get more details here.
Raveningham Sculpture Trail
When: 19 July – 3 September (Weds – Sun only)
The sculpture trail is back at the Raveningham Centre for its seventh year! Read about our experience from previous Raveningham Sculpture trails.
Tickets go on sale 1 July. Get more details about the 2023 trail here.
Norwich Arts Centre Summer Ale Festival
When: 20 – 23 July
Experience a delightful array of ales, IPAs, bitters, porters, and stouts from Wildcraft Brewery at the Norwich Arts Centre. On Thursday 20 July they will have an ale tasting evening with Wildcraft Brewery, and on Saturday 22 July, their bar and beer garden will be open from 13:00 to 18:00.
Throughout the Summer Ale Festival period, the impressive selection of beverages will also be available at their ticketed music events.
Get more information here.
Women’s World Cup
When: 20 July – 20 August
The Lionesses try to win the World Cup after winning the Euros last year. Check out our post to learn more and find out where you can watch the World Cup in Norfolk.
Norfolk Motorhome & Campervan Show
When: 21 – 23 July
Whether you are new to the hobby or a seasoned camper, this is a good opportunity to speak with several local and national dealers in one place (at the Norfolk Showground) and learn from the experts before making a purchase or upgrade.
Get more information here.
Summerfest at The English Distillery
When: 22 July
Indulge in mouthwatering food trucks, free mini-tours of the distillery, tastings, and live music at Summerfest. Best of all, it’s completely free with no advance tickets required.
Get more information here.
The Land of Might-Have-Been
When: 25 – 30 July
Buxton International Festival and Norwich Theatre present ‘The Land of Might-Have-Been,’ a groundbreaking co-production for 2023. This bold musical, featuring Ivor Novello’s songs, loosely revolves around the life of feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain in Buxton, along with the lives of those close to her.
Set in 1914 Buxton during a hot summer, the story follows Vera, her fiancé Roland, her brother Edward, and friend Bobbie. They face societal constraints as they pursue their aspirations: Vera seeks independence at Oxford, Edward hides his love for Bobbie, Roland dreams of becoming a poet, and Bobbie seeks a new path with Edward. The outbreak of war shatters their hopes, leading Vera to fight for peace. The musical’s epilogue reflects on Vera’s influential life through her daughter, Baroness (Shirley) Williams.
Read our review of The Land of Might-Have-Been.
Circus Fantasia
When: 25 July – 13 August
Circus Fantasia will be in Hemsby near Great Yarmouth with a two-hour performance accompanied by a live circus orchestra in our climate-controlled big top, with stadium-style seating.
Get more details and book here.
Sandringham Flower Show
When: 26 July
One of the most prestigious horticultural events in the East of England is back for its 140th year. This flower show combines the best in horticulture with family entertainment.
Get more details here.
Harlequin Fayre
When: 27 – 30 July
Harlequin Fayre is a summer weekend gathering that offers a unique experience of celebrating, learning, sharing, and playing within the close-knit Harlequin community in Bradmoor Woods. What began as a small gathering has evolved into a nationally recognized festival, attracting small crowds who share a big love for the event.
The festival offers a diverse range of performances and entertainment, utilizing sustainable practices and emphasizing the preservation of the beautiful Norfolk land. It is a family-friendly event that provides an opportunity to recharge, evolve, and connect with others while enjoying various activities and entertainment options.
Get more information here.
Wells Carnival
When: 28 July – 6 August
Enjoy 10 days of family-friendly events in Wells-Next-the-Sea including a Carnival Day procession featuring floats, fancy-dress, live music, competitions, and much more.
Event details will be posted here about a month in advance.
Norwich Pride
When: 29 July
The 15th edition of Norwich Pride will include stalls and entertainment at The Forum, Theatre Plain and Millennium Plain, the Pride March, and more entertainment in Chapelfield Gardens.
Get more information here.
Thought Festival
When: 29 July
Thought is an annual music charity event orchestrated and performed by the talented young musicians of Norwich. Its purpose is to raise funds for MAP Young People and Nelson’s Journey, two impactful organizations supporting youth. This year it will be held at the Freemasons Arms.
Get more information here.
Old Buckenham Airshow
When: 29 – 30 July
You will be able to see the greatest aircraft of the last eight decades along with the electric aircraft that will be the future. Old Buckenham was the only Airshow to make Country Life’s list of the 100 events making up the ‘Greatest Summer Ever’.
In addition to the show in the air, there will also be the Gourmet Food Village, Attack and Destroy Bar, hundreds of classic cars, two museums, stalls, and exhibits.
You must get your tickets in advance, it will sell out. Get more information here.
Worstead Festival
When: 29 – 30 July
This family-friendly festival, held annually the last weekend of July, features local art and craft stalls, food and drink, activities, workshops, and demonstrations. They also have lots of live music with something for everyone and the headline act on the Saturday evening, The Stereotypes!
Get more information here.
Gorleston Clifftop Festival
When: 29 – 30 July
Gorleston Clifftop Festival is a free entry, family orientated, fun festival (organised by a voluntary committee without funding from the council) that takes place each year on the last full weekend in July. Since the event started in 1998, formerly known as the Gorleston Clifftop Gala, it has grown to attract over 100,000 visitors across the weekend.
There will be plenty of entertainment including live music across and performers from local dance and stage schools in Gorleston. You can also enjoy a large fun fair, lots of stalls, a children’s arena, dog show, strongman competition, comedy tent, and much more.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drink on site but there will also be a variety of food stalls and bars on site including burgers, hot dogs, Thai, fish and chips, hog roast, Italian, and beverages.
Get more information here.
Sheringham Carnival
When: 30 July – 5 August
Head to Sheringham for a week of Carnival events. Highlights include the parade, street party, fireworks, crowning of the Carnival Queen, duck race, live music, and fun fair.
Get details here.
Looking Ahead
Check out August events in Norfolk.
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