Festivals & Major Events

The Great Yarmouth area is home to a number of fun, family-friendly festivals and outdoor events throughout the year. 

Annual festivals in Great Yarmouth

Covid-19 is still affecting some of our usual annual events so make sure you check with the event itself before making plans to attend.

The Martham Scarecrow Festival gets the festival season off to a flying start in June. Take the trail around the village of Martham to see how many scarecrows look familiar. 

The Great Yarmouth Arts Festival usually takes place in June but this year will be later due to Covid restrictions, taking place 13 -28 August, including art exhibitions at St. George's Theatre and Great Yarmouth Minster.

As a maritime borough we're very proud of our essential life boats all of whom celebrate in August with the Lifeboat Fête Day at Caister Lifeboat Station and the HIRS Lifeboat Day in Hemsby. On the last Sunday in August the Longshore Herring Festival in Hemsby celebrates the area's important fishing traditions and heritage with live music, a parade and barbecued herrings to eat on the beach.

Great Yarmouth saves its biggest festivals until September. The Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival (cancelled for 2021) launches onto South Quay for a weekend at the start of September with the opportunity to go aboard some stunning ships and onshore, displays of maritime related crafts, artwork and heritage are on view with shanty folk music, beer, Hemsby herrings, bloaters and other delicious food to enjoy. Children's activities and Norfolk Militia displays, brass band performances and folk music ensure there's entertainment all day long. 

Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls (cancelled for 2021) will see tournaments taking place on Britannia Bowling Greens at the beginning of September. 

The Out There International Festival of Street Arts and Circus bursts onto the streets later in September (17-19) with a riot of colour, dance, performance and comedy all taking place out in the open spaces of St. George's Park and in the town centre. This three day event has to be seen to be believed with acts from all over Europe putting on daredevil and incredible outdoor performances.

The Eastern Festival of Racing takes place in September with three days of thrilling races at Great Yarmouth race course, including a fabulous ladies day with the chance to get all dressed up.

Heritage buildings all over the borough take part in Great Yarmouth's Heritage Open Days, a national free festival celebrating the quiet and unusual heritage buildings we usually take for granted.

A new, immersive event, Fire on the Water will be taking over The Waterways from 21 October with fiery installations and dramatic outdoor arts.