Weโre Anisa and Russell, the husband-and-wife team behind Norfolk Local Guide. Each week, we share whatโs happening in Norwich and across Norfolkโfrom hidden gems and foodie finds to family fun and seasonal events. Join our community and make the most of every week in this beautiful corner of the England!
How to Spend Half-Term in Norfolk, With or Without the Kids ๐บ
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Hello Norfolk explorers ๐ Half-term is nearly here, which means pumpkin picking and Halloween plans are on the agenda. Whether you're after a spooky show, a light display or something a little calmer, there's plenty to choose from this week. The Brancaster Mussels Festival, a Halloween circus show in Great Yarmouth, the start of Norwich Book Festival and a light installation at Norwich Cathedral are all coming up, alongside the Norwich Beer Festival. Here's what else is happening across Norfolk this week โฌ๏ธ โจ What's Happening Around Norfolk This Week?๐ฆช Brancaster White Horse Mussels Festival (21 - 25 October) Mussels from Brancaster Bay Shellfish are served in a variety of ways at this five-day festival, with live sets from Matty Haynes, Latino Sounds, Emily Blake, Alex Asher and Nelson's Shantymen. There's no booking and entry is free, though food and drink are paid for. Get more information here. ๐ Halloween Spooktacular at the Hippodrome (22 October - 1 November) This Halloween circus show in Great Yarmouth is known for spooks rather than scares, which makes it a good fit for families, and everyone is encouraged to come in fancy dress. Expect comedy alongside aerial acts and stunts, staged in the round. Booking is recommended. Get more information here. ๐ฒ Sundown Adventures at Go Ape Thetford (23 October - 1 November, 7 - 8 November) The high ropes course is lit in colour after dark, so you climb, cross and zip through the trees under colourful lights. Sessions last about an hour and are open to ages six and up, starting with a safety briefing and a low-level practice course. Adult tickets are ยฃ31.95 and booking is required. Get more information here. ๐ Norwich Book Festival (24 - 30 October) A week-long, city-wide festival of stories with talks, readings, signings, live drawing and interactive events. Plenty is pitched at children and families over half-term. Booking is required, and the programme is on the festival website. Get more information here. ๐ก Grove Lights Halloween Show (25 October - 1 November) A large-scale Halloween light display choreographed to music and known for its attention to detail. It's free to visit and runs as a charity show, raising funds this year for The Hog House: Hedgehog Help. Get more information here. ๐บ Norwich Beer Festival (26 - 31 October) The 47th Norwich Beer Festival returns to St Andrew's and Blackfriars' Halls, with more than 300 cask-conditioned ales from independent brewers, world beers and over 60 traditional ciders and perries. Food is available at every session, and the event is run entirely by CAMRA volunteers. Children and babies aren't admitted to any session, and booking is recommended. Get more information here. ๐ Where the River Meets Us (26 - 31 October) A free festival celebrating Norwich's rivers, with wildlife walks, riverside photography, storytelling, music, film, creative workshops and community activities. The council's programme has the details for each activity, as venues and booking can vary. Get more information here. ๐ฆ Time by Luxmuralis (27 - 31 October) Norwich Cathedral is lit up with a light and sound installation by artistic duo Luxmuralis, exploring humanity's relationship with time. Visitors move through a series of projected artworks, ending with a finale in the Nave. Visits last around 45 minutes and suit all ages, and booking is required. Get more information here. ๐ Great Yarmouth Half Term Triple Fireworks (28 October) Visit Great Yarmouth's BIG Wednesday returns for half-term with a free triple firework display, fired at the same time from Central Beach above the Golden Mile. Come down early for something to eat and a stroll along the seafront. Get more information here. ๐ Explore More EventsThereโs plenty more coming up: ๐October Events | November Eventsโ ๐Halloween Events ๐Bonfire Night Eventsโ Need a Recommendation? ๐ฌ Half-term plans still up in the air? Hit reply with how far you're happy to drive and how many days you need to fill, and we'll suggest a few ideas. Until next time, happy adventuring! PS ๐งก Have you ever tried Wildcraft beer? If you'd like to, the award-winning brewery in Smallburgh runs tours where you can sample it fresh, and there are Groupon options for two or four people here. Affiliate disclaimer: We use affiliate links in some of our emails to help cover the costs and the time spent creating content. If you decide to make a purchase through these links, you're helping support our small business without any extra cost to you. We truly appreciate your support! |
โNorfolk Local Guide
Weโre Anisa and Russell, the husband-and-wife team behind Norfolk Local Guide. Each week, we share whatโs happening in Norwich and across Norfolkโfrom hidden gems and foodie finds to family fun and seasonal events. Join our community and make the most of every week in this beautiful corner of the England!
Hello Norfolk explorers ๐ You've probably noticed it's getting dark earlier, but that doesn't have to mean staying in. We hope you caught the incredible show from Mother Nature on Saturday night. We went out to Ranworth to see the northern lights over Malthouse Broad (pictured above) and the ruins of Panxworth Church (watch a short timelapse video here). We have a feeling there will be more aurora soon, so check out our post on chasing the northern lights in Norfolk to be prepared. We...
Hello Norfolk explorers ๐ Happy October! This is one of those quieter weeks in Norfolk, which might be exactly what you need. Think gentle walks, long lunches and catching up with friends, plus a chance to visit some of your favourite attractions before their winter hours begin. It was Russell's birthday weekend, so we kept things simple with a short but scenic 1.5-mile walk at Taverham Mill, where we spotted Highland cattle (pictured above)! We're not sure how much longer they'll be there,...
Hello Norfolk explorers ๐ Hope you've had a chance to take advantage of this week's good weather, whether that was a proper walk or just a bit of time outside. We made the most of it by heading to a train stop that not many people know about. Berney Arms is a request-only stop on the Wherry Lines from Norwich (via Reedham), close to the Berney Arms Mill (pictured above). This station has quite an interesting story behind it (check out our video to hear more). From there, it's roughly 5.5...