Festivals in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Ipswich and others to look forward to
As the sun comes out and the weather improves, a familiar question arises: Which Suffolk festivals are you checking out this year?
This year is full of upcoming festivals for music lovers, literary buffs and food fanatics.
Here’s the events to look forward to.
1.StowFiesta on Saturday, May 27 to Sunday, May 28
Stowmarket’s free music festival StowFiesta is returning to Chilton Fields at the end of the month with music across two stages, Suffolk-based food and drink stalls and plenty of fun activities to keep the children busy.
Confirmed artists performing include Frankie Roe, Renegade Twelve, Will Foley and Charlie Law and The Regal team will be serving slushies all weekend.
The festival is completely free to attend and more information can be found here.
2.Beccles Food and Drink Festival on Saturday, May 27
A day for foodies and families - Beccles Food and Drink Festival is scheduled for the end of May with more than 60 stalls of some of the best cuisine East Anglia has to offer.
The festival runs from 10am to 4pm around New Market, Sheepgate and St Michael’s Church and will also include world street food, children’s entertainment and music.
Additional parking will be available from Beccles Quay where a free Park and Ride shuttle service will run throughout the event.
For more information, click here.
3.Spring Fayre on 2023 on Sunday, May 28 to Monday, May 29
The Bury St Edmunds town centre beach is back for the first time since the pandemic with the Spring Fayre hosted by Our Bury St Edmunds.
This free event will offer 70 food stalls across the town with a focus on plants, flowers and crafts on Angel Hill.
The urban beach will be outside Moyse’s Hall and will bring the seaside fun for those who fancy the sand between their toes over the bank holiday weekend.
Click here for further details.
4.Suffolk Show 2023 on Wednesday, May 31 to Thursday, June 1
This year’s Suffolk Show is quickly approaching and will be welcoming visitors to Trinity Park showground in Ipswich to showcase state-of-the-art farming machinery and local agriculture.
There will also be a number of competitions and exhibitions, including a Shetland Pony Grand National and RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team.
Tickets are on sale here and children under 15 go free.
5.Red Rooster 2023 on Thursday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3
The popular soul, blues and country music festival Red Rooster is set to return to Euston Hall, near Thetford, for its ninth anniversary.
This year’s festival will be headlined by Mississippi-born Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram who has won nine Blues Music Awards for his 2019 album Kingish.
There will also be authentic food, culture and activities all inspired by America’s ‘deep south’.
For more information and to buy your tickets, click here.
6.Brighten The Corners Festival on Friday, June 9 to Saturday, June 10
A music festival showcasing more than 70 upcoming artists will be kicking off across five venues in Ipswich.
Brighten The Corners Festival, formerly known as Sound City Ipswich, will see talented musicians takeover The Smokehouse, St Stephens Church, The Baths, The Corn Exchange and The Cornhill.
Headliners include 86TVS and The Go! Team with many bands from Suffolk set to perform including Gaffa Tape Sandy, Fleas, Substation, Queen Dogs, Gabby Rivers and this year’s BurySOUND winners BlueFeed.
To buy your tickets, click here.
7.First Light Festival on Wednesday, June 17 to Thursday, June 18
Marking the first sunrise of midsummer, Lowestoft’s South Beach will see the return of First Light Festival offering music, comedy and talks.
This festival is described as a ‘community gathering’ that welcomes people from around the world to celebrate midsummer is the UK’s most easterly town.
Click here for more information and to book your tickets.
8.Motorsport East 2023 on Sunday, July 16
Motorsport East 2023 offers a free-entry event to see award-winning competition cars in the Buttermarket and Cornhill in Bury St Edmunds.
There will be plenty for families to enjoy including an F1 Stealth Racer Simulator, Bumper Carz and a roundabout in the arc shopping centre.
It is being hosted by Our Bury St Edmunds and you can click here for more information.
9.Latitude on Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, July 23
Pulp, Paolo Nutini and George Ezra - that’s just three reasons to check out Latitude 2023 in Henham Park near Southwold.
The popular music festival is taking place in two months time with performances from Metronomy, The Kooks, Mimi Webb and more.
Click here to buy your tickets.
10.Primadonna Festival on Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30
Primadonna offers a weekend of talks, workshops and performances from the Food Museum grounds in Stowmarket.
This year’s lineup includes popstar-turned-author JB Gill of JLS fame, writer and actor Emma Kennedy, award-winning journalist Angela Saini and actor Rebecca Humphires.
The festival gives prominence to women, black and Asian artists, the LGBTQIA+ community, working class and disabled people - everyone is welcome.
Click here for more information.
11.Food & Drink Festival on Sunday, August 27 to Monday, August 28
Also in Bury St Edmunds, a free two-day event showcasing the very best food and drink coming out of the Foodie Capital of Suffolk.
Our Bury St Edmunds are hosting a mouth-watering event offering a real taste of what the town has to offer from award winning chefs.
More information can be found here.
12.East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival on Wednesday, August 23 to Monday, August 28
Fancy a pint? The 31st East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival is coming to St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds, towards the end of August.
More than 250 real ales, 40 ciders, food stalls and a full entertainment programme will be launched over six days of summer fun.
To book your tickets, click here.
Last year the festival raised £13,000 for local charities.
