Wells Carnival
Over a century old and still packing the quayside with parade floats, a town crier contest, gillying competitions and the most celebrated sandcastle battle in North Norfolk.
A working Norfolk harbour town that earns its visitors honestly: a Georgian green, a flint church, two good bakeries, independent shops the length of Staithe Street, an enormous beach behind the pines, and enough going on in all weathers to fill a full day without effort.
Cottages, B&Bs and hotels near Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.
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"A solar-powered green gathering in the woodlands of a West Norfolk estate, small enough that you know your campsite neighbours by Saturday night."
Harlequin Fayre
"A century-old North Norfolk coastal carnival week packed with a raft race, sandcastle competitions, fancy dress, a fete, and a grand procession through town on Carnival Day."
Wells-next-the-Sea Carnival Week
"A fortnight of concerts, masterclasses and ensemble music-making at Gresham's School in the Georgian market town of Holt, continuing the tradition of the renowned Dartington International Summer School in a Norfolk setting."
Music Summer School and Festival
"From Crowning Day to the main parade, Sheringham gives itself over for a week to duck racing, sandcastle contests and floats that bring out every family on the North Norfolk coast."
Sheringham Carnival
"Three stages in a Norfolk market-town meadow, run entirely by volunteers since 2008, with every surplus penny donated to local good causes."
Reepham Festival
"A full week of North Norfolk seaside pageantry crowned by the Red Arrows over the pier, a revived town-centre parade and a sandcastle competition that the whole family takes very seriously."
Cromer Carnival
"Suffolk's award-winning seaside carnival fills the shingle beach town of Aldeburgh across a summer Bank Holiday weekend, with a procession, 10K Mini Marathon, community events and the particular magic of carnival lights on the North Sea."
Aldeburgh Carnival
"402 years old and still going: the parade winds through the market town to the riverside quay for a weekend of live music, a fun dog show and genuine community spirit."
Beccles Carnival
"West Mersea Island has held its town regatta since 1838 and the August event on the Blackwater estuary combines sailing races with watersports and a fireworks finale, an evening on an island famous for its oysters where the Essex marshes glow gold in the late summer light."
West Mersea Town Regatta
"Pun-loving villagers craft dozens of scarecrows like Builder's Bum and The Crow Bar along a trail that funds the future-proofing of St Leonard's church."
Flamstead Scarecrow Festival
"Every other August Bank Holiday since 2000, this compact Bedfordshire market town throws a four-night community extravaganza of music, food and outdoor entertainment that the whole village runs."
Party on Potton Big Weekend
"A traditional village fete held each September in the small West Suffolk village of Barnham, raising over four thousand pounds annually split equally between the local church, school, and village hall."
Barnham Village Fete