7 free Norfolk things to do over the 2023 summer holidays

The Safari Summer Trail runs at Chantry Place this summer - pictured are centre manager Paul McCarthy with Josh from ZSEA and Terry and Hannah from Schodoodle (Image: Chantry Place)

1. Safari Summer Trail, Norwich

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

When: Until September 3 

Chantry Place is hosting a themed trail featuring 10 large animal sculptures, including a hippo, lion and an elephant. 

Families can pick up trail maps from Deichmann on the lower ground floor and once completed these can be exchanged for a goody bag, which includes a complimentary child's ticket for Banham Zoo or Africa Alive with a paying adult. 

On Wild Wednesdays, there are free crafts with Schoodoodle and educational activities from Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve.

READ MORE: Nights at the Museum with free entry, live music and rides coming to Norfolk

Creake Abbey Summer Gift Fair is returning for 2023 (Image: Creake Abbey)

2. Summer Gift Fair, North Creake

Where: Creake Abbey, North Creake, Fakenham, NR21 9LF

When: Saturday, August 26: 10am-4pm 

Creake Abbey's 2023 Summer Gift Fair has free entry and it will feature more than 90 stalls offering gifts, food and drink and even items for your four-legged friends. 

Stallholders include Ablaze Bowls, Norfolk Meadow Soaps, The Flora Candle Company, Cardarelli’s Cakery and Norfolk Raider Cider.

A zebra on the Jungle Trail in the Castle Quarter, Norwich (Image: Supplied)

3. Welcome to the Jungle Trail, Norwich

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

When: Until September 1 

Track down exotic animal species on all floors of the Castle Quarter and tick them off the jungle trail street, which you can download online.

Once completed, pop in the postbox by the spiral staircase for the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend in the centre. 

Bandstand concerts run on summer Sundays in The Walks (Image: Archant 2016)

4. Music in the Bandstand, King's Lynn

Where: The Walks, London Road, King's Lynn, PE30 1PE

When: Sundays until September, 2pm to 4pm

The Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk has been putting on free concerts in The Walks on Sundays over the summer, so pack a picnic and enjoy an afternoon (hopefully) in the sun. 

The August line-up is Breckland Brass Band (August 13), All Saxophones (August 20) and John Barker on trumpet (August 27). 

Also on August 27, there will be a nineties and noughties music day at the Tuesday Market Place from 12noon to 4pm.

READ MORE: Greatest Days, Norwich Theatre Royal review: Take That musical shines in city

Fireworks at Cromer Carnival Picture: Newsquest (Image: Archant)

5. Cromer Carnival, Cromer

Where: Carnival Field, Runton Road, Cromer, NR27 9AU

When: July 31-August 4, August 7-11 (Children's Weeks), August 12-18 (Carnival Week)

Many of the events during Cromer Carnival are free to attend, with donations encouraged, and the full programme is now online. 

Free evening activities on Thursday, August 17 include a torchlight procession setting off from The Meadow, with illuminated floats and umbrellas gathering from 7.30pm, and the grand fireworks display on the Carnival Field at 9.15pm. 

READ MORE: Cromer Carnival 2023: All you need to know ahead of event

An outdoor cinema is coming to Dereham in August (Image: Dereham Town Council)

6. Outdoor Cinema, Dereham

Where: Fleece Meadow, Dereham, NR19 1AD 

When: August 19, from 1pm

Dereham Town Council is putting on three free outdoor cinema screenings on August 19, with Encanto at 1pm, Grease at 3.30pm and The Greatest Showman at 6pm.

Guests can bring their own picnics, chairs and blankets, with food trucks and a bar at the event too. 

READ MORE: Outdoor cinema season with Super Mario and Mamma Mia! coming to island

The Norwich Theatre Family Festival includes free drop-in activities (Image: Supplied by Norwich Theatre)

7. Family Festival Drop-in workshops, Norwich

Where: Norwich Theatre Playhouse, St Georges Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB

When: August 29-September 1

As part of Norwich Theatre's Family Festival, free drop-in workshops are running at the Playhouse.

These are Playhouse Tapestries on August 29 from 10.30am-12.30pm and 1pm-2pm, Never-Ending Story on August 30 from 10am-12.30pm and Drumming Circle on September 1 from 10.30am-12.30pm. 

See the full line-up for the Family Festival, including cheap bookable workshops and the free Theatre Royal and Stage Two Open Day on August 26, on the Norwich Theatre website. 

Chantry Place sponsors our summer what's on content (Image: Chantry Place)

The summer what's on content in the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News is sponsored by Chantry Place in Norwich.