7 free Norfolk events over the 2024 summer holidays

The team at the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation with Paul McCarthy, Chantry Place general manager (Image: Chantry Place)

1. Sporting Summer

Where: Chantry Place, 40-46 St Stephens Street, Norwich, NR1 3SH

When: July 20-September 3

Chantry Place has partnered with the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation and Run Norwich to host a free family-friendly ‘Sporting Summer’ event.

Visitors can enjoy a daily sports-themed trail, starting from Deichmann, plus a range of activities on select dates (check chantryplace.co.uk/events for details). 

READ MORE: Star casting announced for Norwich panto including The Bill actress

Anyone who participates in three events at the Castle Quarter and collects three stamps in their Olympic passport will receive a gold medal (Image: Castle Quarter)

2. Summer Mini Olympic Games

Where: Castle Quarter, 100 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DD

When: Thursdays from August 1 to 29, 12noon-4pm

The Castle Quarter has announced a free summer programme to celebrate the Paris Olympics, which will take place outside Boots on the ground floor. 

They range from a surf simulator to an obstacle course and you can find out the activities taking place each week at castlequarternorwich.co.uk/event

Wells Carnival returns in August (Image: Newsquest)

3. Wells Carnival

Where: Wells town centre

When: August 2-11

Wells Carnival returns this summer with a jam-packed programme of free events, with donations encouraged.

The main Carnival Day, featuring floats and fancy dress, is on August 10 from 10am and the parade will set off from The Buttlands at 3pm - see all events at wellscarnival.co.uk/programme-2024

READ MORE: 11 secret Norfolk gardens you can visit in August

There is free entry to the Gorleston Clifftop Festival (Image: Newsquest)

4. Gorleston Clifftop Festival 

Where:  Marine Parade, Gorleston, NR31 6EX

When: August 3-4, 12noon until late

The award-winning Gorleston Clifftop Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and there will be live music from 12noon until 10pm on both days.

The event will end on Sunday with a fireworks finale at 10pm. 

Cromer Carnival Children's Fortnight (Image: Karen Bethell)

5. Cromer Carnival Children's Fortnight

Where: Cromer town centre

When: August 5-9, 12-16

There will be a fortnight of free children's activities ahead of the main Cromer Carnival Week.

This includes a family disco, treasure hunt and crab catching - see the full programme at cromercarnival.co.uk

The Lost World will tour outdoor venues in Norfolk and Suffolk Picture: Strange Fascination Theatre (Image: Strange Fascination Theatre)

6. The Lost World

Where: St Edmunds Ruins, Cliff Parade (by the Old Lighthouse), Hunstanton, PE36 6EL/Pavilion Theatre Bandstand, Pier Gardens, Gorleston, NR31 6PP

When: August 11, 2.30pm (Hunstanton)/August 24, 2.30pm (Gorleston)

Strange Fascination Theatre is touring Norfolk and Suffolk venues with an open-air production of The Lost World - adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle's science-fiction novel. 

The tour includes free shows in Gorleston and Hunstanton - book for other locations at ticketsource.co.uk/strange-fascination-theatre

Nights at the Museum returns two more times this summer (Image: Bressingham)

7. Nights at the Museum 

Where: Bressingham Steam Museum, Low Road, Bressingham, IP22 2AA

When: August 23, September 13, 4.30pm-10.30pm 

Explore the museum for free and listen to music from The High Points in August and The Foreign Locals in September.

You can also ride the Gallopers for a small charge and buy food and drink.