by Katie Thompson
Take our word for it when we say Norwich has so much to offer this May. From a fantastic variety of festivals (there’s 6 to experience!) to the 80th anniversary of VE Day and more, your diaries will soon fill up!
And May is also National Walking Month. So, don’t forget to make the most of the balmy spring weather and get outside in Norwich and Norfolk, exploring the lovely trails and walkways amongst our breathtaking greenery, Broads and coastline.
There really is so much to do in the City of Stories this month, so here are our top picks for May! (You can rest in June.)
For all things craft beer, visit Sir Toby’s’ Norwich Craft Beer Festival
A new festival! Norwich Craft Beer Festival (3 – 4 May) arrives at The Waterfront just in time for the May Day bank holiday weekend!
Presented by Sir Toby’s Beers, you’ll be able to try a fantastic range of beer styles- from tasters to pints, real ales to IPAs, and everything in between. There’s also the opportunity to meet the brewers- including a selection from breweries across Norfolk and East Anglia, and enjoy live music and local DJs outside in the garden. This is your chance to embrace all things craft beer- whether you’re already a craft beer cheerleader or a newbie to Norwich’s buzzing beer scene! Tickets start at £9.90.
East Anglia’s biggest arts festival is back in Norwich for 17 days this May!
As the biggest international arts festival in the East of England, you can expect 17 days full of fantastic events during the Norfolk and Norwich Festival this May (9 – 25 May). Now in its 253rd year (yes, really!), the festival takes place in venues across the city (and beyond), bringing amazing international, national and local acts right to our doorstep.
Think immersive and joyful music, dance, circus and performance acts that challenge our perspectives and bring about conversations about the likes of femininity, climate change and fast fashion. With a mix of incredible headliners and hidden gems, not to mention the National Centre for Writing’s City of Literature weekend, Toast Festival Speak Easy and Little ‘nn’ Fest, this truly is a festival for all ages and anyone looking to try experience something new this month.
Our top picks include Showdown (14 – 25 May, Adnams Spiegeltent, from £10), the Harriet Martineau Lecture with Val McDermid (Saturday 24 May, St Peter Mancroft, from £10) and Nabihah Iqbal (Friday 16 May, Adnams Spiegeltent, from £10).
One of Norwich Jazz Festival’s many performers include the National Youth Orchestra
For the first time in 20 years, Norwich Jazz Festival is back (15 – 24 May)! Launched by Norwich Arts Centre, the festival is hoping to be the first of many years to come, with independent venues such as Norwich Arts Centre, Epic Studios and Anteros Art Foundation playing host to upcoming and popular jazz musicians.
If you’re new to jazz or an avid fan, this year’s headliners offer a great variety of styles and songs for many memorable evenings out. There’s Norwich trio Mammal Hands (24 May, Norwich Arts Centre, 8pm, from £25), Brazilian Jazz-Funk legends Azymuth (23 May, 8pm, Norwich Arts Centre, from £28.50) and Hip-Hop Jazz pioneers Ebi Soda (17 May, Norwich Arts Centre, 8pm, from £18.50) to name but a few.
Get involved at Norwich Games Festival!
This month also marks the return of the much-anticipated Norwich Games Festival at The Forum. Throughout half term (26 – 31 May, free and ticketed), you can join in with activities, talks and workshops about all-things gaming. There’s also the chance to try retro arcade games, video games and tabletop games, as well as get advice from industry experts and learn about all the elements behind them, including concept creation and visual design.
And this festival is for everyone- whether you’re a seasoned gamer, board game lover or want to want to learn more about coding. You can get involved with live events like The Crowd Creativity Show (Saturday 31 May, 12.15pm – 1.15pm, adults £10, children £6), try your hand in The Arena (Tuesday 27 May, 10am – 4pm, FREE) and enjoy a comedic dive into the design of 90s video game characters with Ashens Presents: Plague of the Horrid Little Men (Saturday 31 May, 5pm – 6pm, £7.50).
Tour Norwich’s best pubs during the City of Ale festival
Taking over the city for a brilliant beer-themed month, City of Ale returns to Norwich between 22 May – 22 June. As ‘Britian’s Original Beer Week’, you can get involved with their walkable ale trails which will take you ‘off-road’ through our historic city streets and into Norwich’s rich brewing heritage. At each pub, make sure to get a stamp and claim your badge when you reach the final stop!
Norfolk is home to some of the best malting barley in the world- so this is your chance to taste it! Last year, 52 of the city’s pubs got involved- from the quirkiest to foodie favourites. And with names like Bier Draak, Ribs of Beef and Redwell taking part, you’re sure to be tempted to experience Norwich’s thriving pub community!
Great Yarmouth plays host to Out There festival this May
Every year, Out There festival in Great Yarmouth attracts over 60,000 people to experience the best in outdoor arts and circus performance. And this year is no different.
Between Wednesday 28 – Saturday 31 May, you can experience their innovative and diverse programme for yourself. (It’s only a 30-minute drive from Norwich, after all.) Think breathtaking spectacle combined with hilarious comedy, underlined by a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere and traditional seaside silliness!
What’s more, most of the acts are free and low cost! This year’s headliners include bold coastal installation Beach of Dreams Village (28 – 31 May, 12pm – 6pm, FREE), an atmospheric show where music meets conjuring in Crow by Avanti Display (29 May, 9.30pm, FREE) and aerial dance in Three Sisters by Big Wolf Company (30 – 31 May, 3.30pm & 3.50pm respectively, FREE).
This festival’s sure to leave you feeling exhilarated. We bet you’ll head home grinning from ear to ear!
Norfolk played a key role in WWII- as shown in Masters of the Air
2025 marks 80 years since one of the most important events of the 20th century: VE Day. Across the country, villages, towns and cities will come together to pay tribute to those who fought in WWII through community events like street parties, flypasts and church services.
In Norwich, the American Library (housed in the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library in The Forum) is recognising this historic day with a special tea party (Thursday 8 May). It’s free to attend and everyone is welcome!
In the city centre, City Hall will be lit in red, white and blue and adorned in giant bunting with the Union Flag flying atop its flagpole. You can attend a memorial service at St Peters Street Memorial, where wreaths will be laid at 10.30am, followed by a full service of remembrance at St Peter Mancroft church at 11am. Norwich Cathedral are also holding a special service at 3pm.
Elsewhere, there is a special VE Day Celebration Weekend at Saxon Air on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June, celebrating with a 17-piece big band, live swing music, dancing, family funday and more! There’s also the chance to see a Spitfire!
Enjoy a performance of Princess Ida at the Maddermarket
Norwich isn’t short of a hidden gem or two, with the Maddermarket theatre being one of them. So, there’s nowhere better than Norwich’s community theatre for East Norfolk Operatic Society’s production of Princess Ida (7 – 10 May, from £21)– often described as Gilbert and Sullivan’s own hidden gem.
While it may be a lesser-known operetta, its romantic storyline is packed with comedy, intrigue and toe tapping music. This timeless tale is a gripping battle of the sexes, as the eponymous character takes on Prince Hilarion. You’re sure to be wowed by the live orchestra, stunning costumes and eye-catching set design.
Break’s Grand Duck Race is back this May!
One of our favourite spring events is making a splash this May- the Grand Norwich Duck Race (Sunday 18 May)!
Kicking things off in style is the Duck Parade on St Georges Street bridge where you can see the fabulous line-up of decorated ducks up close. From here, the Large Duck Race takes place- the first one to reach Fye Bridge being honoured with the prestigious Crystal Duck Trophy! Then comes even more fun: the Duckling Raffle Race. Watch as thousands of little yellow ducks take to the river- one of them could be yours!
Make the most of this quacking day out while you’re here, enjoying live music, tasty food and fun and games, including face painting and, of course, hook-a-duck!
Spend the night dancing away to Abba at Carrow Road
Mamma mia here we go again! On Saturday 31 May, take a chance on an evening of Abba at Norwich City Football Club with stars from Mamma Mia! in the West End (from £28).
Performing Abba’s best-known hits, you’ll be singing along all night long. There are loads of catchy tunes to get you on your feet, from Dancing Queen to Voulez Vous to Waterloo. And the night doesn’t end there because The Lion & Castle are hosting a free afterparty of your favourite 70s and 80s disco pop until midnight!
There’s a screening for everyone at Holkham’s Adventure Cinema
Set in the beautiful surrounds of Holkham’s Walled Garden, you can immerse yourself in 5 exciting open air cinema showings at Adventure Cinema (23 – 25 May, from £12.50).
For families, there’s Moana 2 and The Gruffalo and Stick Man, while for musical lovers, you won’t want to miss out on The Greatest Showman on the big screen. Speaking of musicals, there’s also a double bill of Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again for a full ‘extrABBAganza’. Or maybe you’ll go Radio Ga Ga for the Queen Spectacular- a classic Queen concert screening followed by Bohemian Rhapsody and singalong of Queen’s greatest hits.
So, pack a picnic, grab your deckchairs and don’t forget your dancing shoes!
