Suffolk has rich culture and heritage which is celebrated through a series of popular family friendly eventrs throughout the year. Here’s our guide to the diverse array of attractions which should keep everyone entertained over the next 10 months
The East Anglian Game & Country Fair
Where: Euston Estate, Euston Hall, Thetford
When: April 25-26
The East Anglian Game & Country Fair is an annual two day, family event which celebrates the heritage and traditions of rural life. Headlining the main arena this year are The Bolddog Lings Freestyle Team who will amaze the crowds with their gravity defiant Freestyle Motocross Show.
There will also be an opportunity to see the exciting, fast and skilful British Scurry & Trials Driving in the main arena. Falconry is always a popular attraction at country fairs and Ray & Wendy Aliker's Ye Olde Redtail Birds will be performing a very special tribute display to the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
The East Anglian Game & Country Fair will also be hosting the Horseboarding UK Championships. It has been described as being 'Somewhere between scurry racing and wake boarding.'
Bury St Edmunds Festival
Where: The Apex, the Cathedral and various venues across Bury St Edmunds
When: May 14-24
Tony Christie, Dead Bones, Deadringers Live and Jenni Murray will appear at the 35th Bury St Edmunds Festival. Spread over 11 days, in 12 different venues and with 50 different events across the West Suffolk town, the locations for the scheduled activities range from the very modern and flexible Apex to the 800-year-old Guild Hall, the Theatre Royal - the last working Regency Playhouse in Britain - and The Abbey Gardens, an English Heritage site with monastic ruins.
This year also marks the 1000th anniversary of the Abbey of St Edmund. The Festival will perform a series of concerts at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, including by The Sixteen on May 18. On May 14 the Aurora Orchestra will play Beethoven's Eroica. Over the following days there will be a Words Weekend from (May 15-17) with writers and actors including Jenni Murray, Robert Webb, Katie Piper and Alastair Campbell discussing topics, such as mental health and gender roles.
May 19 will see jazz singer Stacey Kent perform.
Beccles Food and Drink Festival
Where: Beccles Town Centre
When: Saturday May 23
After a record breaking last year, Beccles Food and Drink Festival is back in 2020 with a feast of culinary delights. The free Festival features over 80 food and drink stalls, many of them local artisan producers, as well as those from further afield in East Anglia. Based in the centre of the vibrant market town, the Festival will include cookery demonstrations and talks, world street food, musicians and children's entertainment.
Hungate Church will be the new home of the Cookery Theatre offering people the opportunity to visit and taste some great local produce.
A free park and ride shuttle service will run throughout the day from Beccles Quay, where additional parking will be available. Building on the successful formula of previous years, the Festival is set to repeat Fringe events in the local area a week either side of the main Festival day.
LeeStock Music Festival 2020
Where: Melford Hall, (National Trust) Long Melford, Sudbury
When: May 23-24
LeeStock returns to celebrate its 13th anniversary with another top line up. This year's headline acts include: Ash, Scouting For Girls, Toploader, Lucy Spraggan, Space, Electric Six and Stereo Mc's. It's a family event so there will be plenty for youngsters to do in the The Drage & Tozer Family Area including: Story time and music time, face painting, glitter tattoos, books to read, chalk table, colouring in as well as sand and water play.
Suffolk Show
Where: Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich
When: May 27-28
The Suffolk Show is an event that celebrates both modern life and the county's rich heritage. Traditional livestock share space in the show ring with various attractions like showjumping, motorcycle displays, parachute jumps, best in show parades even on one occasion dancing diggers.
Local craftsmen can also display their wares at the show. It is a unique celebration of everything that makes the county great and showcases the best of Suffolk's food, farming and agricultural heritage. The aim is to promote food, farming and the countryside and its importance to Suffolk.
First Light Festival
Where: Lowestoft South Beach
When: Saturday June 20
Following the success of last year's inaugural event, First Light Festival will return on the 2020 summer solstice weekend.
Join in the fun and frolics on the beach for 24 hours of non-stop multi-arts programming on Lowestoft's South Beach. This is a free festival for thinkers, for dreamers and for fun-seekers. Pick the brains of some of the world's top scientists, authors and broadcasters; dance on the sand to live music and DJs; watch films at the outdoor cinema; take a moment for yourself in the well-being tipis and see site-specific installations, art and sculpture as you discover 24 hours of imaginative programming.
Maverick Festival
Where: Easton Farm Park, Easton, Woodbridge
When: July 3-5
Maverick is the UK's first and finest Americana music festival and an event that continues to build on its reputation for securing the best and brightest in American roots music from both sides of the Atlantic.
The Maverick Festival is set amongst the restored Victorian barns and out-buildings of Easton Farm Park, nestled deep in the Suffolk countryside, with films, workshops and performances from more than 50 different artists across six stages, indoors and out.
The music begins on Friday at 5pm and runs until around 11.30pm. Saturday's programme starts at 11am and finishes around 11.30pm. Sunday is altogether more relaxed beginning around 10.30am and running until approximately 2.30pm.
This year's line-up includes: Steve Forbert, California Feetwarmers, Legendary Shack Shakers, Terra Lightfoot, Henhouse Prowlers, Weeping Willows and Hank Wangford.
Latitude
Where: Henham Park, near Blythburgh, NR34 8AQ
When: July 16-19
Latitude is a major part of the UK's festival season and an important corner-piece of Suffolk's cultural jigsaw. What makes Latitude special is, in addition to the eclectic selection headline music acts, the festival held at Henham Park, just outside Southwold, is also home to a fascinating lineup of theatre, cabaret and comedy, while an inspiring variety of spoken word, poetry and film features regularly throughout the weekend. You'll experience everything from the spectacular to the surreal at Latitude's diverse array of stages, with the main stage (Obelisk Arena) sitting at the top of the hill overlooking the festival.
Among the headliners at this year's festival are: Liam Gallagher, The Chemical Brothers, HAIM plus Bill Bailey and Simon Amstell.
Suffolk Dog Day 2020
Where: Helmingham Hall, Stowmarket
When: July 26
This is no ordinary day in the doggy diary, but a day to celebrate our furry friends in all their guises. Enjoy a great day out with your dogs, family and friends.
There are fun dog classes with great prizes, agility, dog scurry and lots of attractions and trade stands to keep everyone entertained. There are children's activities as well as more than 50 stalls selling everything from dog accessories to cheese. There will also be a catering village as well as entertainments and demonstrations.
Festival of Wheels
Where: Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich
When: July 31 - August 2
An intoxicating mix of cars, bikes, trucks and all things motoring come together over two superb days for the Festival of Wheels.
The largest event of its kind in the South-East, the festival gathers together the east coast's rarest and most glamorous cars, bikes and trucks. The Festival of Wheels is a unique event created for those with a passion for motoring in general. The festival format enables visitors to enjoy a full day or weekend of motoring entertainment.
Attractions include: Monster Truck Rides, Honda's Official And The UK's Number 1 Freestyle Motocross Display Team, 2 Bros Stunt Team, Extreme Bike Battle, Wall of Death and Happy's Circus.
FolkEast
Where: Glemham Hall, Little Glemham, Woodbridge
When: Aug 21-23
FolkEast is a festival where a group of like minded people from across the generations, who gather together for a three day annual festival of music, arts, crafts, legends, traditions and frivolities on the Glemham Hall estate in Suffolk.
The line-up is hand-picked from first class national, international and local folk artists, the food and ale all locally sourced and fairly priced. With the feel of a large village fete and set amidst a Constable-esque landscape, there is plenty to sing and dance about.
This year's line-up includes: Afro Celt Sound System, Drever McCusker & Woomble, Elephant Sessions, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, The Shee, The Trials of Cato, Gigspanner Big Band, The Moulettes and festival patrons The Young'Uns.
Retro Dub Suffolk VW Festival
Where: Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich
When: Fri Sept 25 - Sun Sept 27
Retro Dub Suffolk VW Festival is an old school camping and live music weekend for all ages. Now in its sixth year, the event proves to be a chilled-out show, offering a genuine VW camping festival experience - like it used to be back in the day.
The show is hosted at Trinity Park, Ipswich, situated within a beautiful 300 acre secure complex, has rural landscapes, and even has 4G for most networks. On the Saturday, Norfolk and Suffolk Retro Riderz are hosting a bike show and shine with various trophies up for grabs. All old-school rides are welcome, be it chopper, cruiser, BMX or trike.
Sunday is the VW show and shine, where if you enter with a cool vdub, you could be in with a chance of winning a unique trophy. No pre-registration is required to enter and is just £1 to participate, with all the money raised being donated to charity.
We have a variety of traders and catering options, as well as a full programme of live music and children's entertainment. The sponsors area will be full of invited guests from Europe along with top show cars, drag cars and some specialist traders.
Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival
Where: Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape
When: September 26-27
This event showcases products like raw milk, organic vegetables, sourdough bread, beer and spirits and much more. This year, the Festival promises to deliver a jam-packed weekend of fabulous food adventures, from tastings and demonstrations to 'roll up your sleeves and get stuck in' masterclasses.
Among the visiting chefs are Chetna Makan, Indian food writer and Great British Bake Off contestant, Jo Pratt, a TV cook, food stylist and author of seven books including The Flexible Vegetarian. She's former food editor for both Elle and Glamour magazines, Galton Blackiston, chef owner of Morston Hall Hotel in North Norfolk where his restaurant has held a Michelin star for the past 16 years, Jack Adair Bevan, an award-winning drinks and cocktail creator, Thomasina Miers OBE, winner of BBC MasterChef in 2005 and James Morton, doctor, Scottish baker, brewer and runner-up of the third Great British Bake Off series in 2012.
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