Bury St Edmunds to host Suffolk Day on June 21 with fun family day celebrating food, heritage and music

The historic town of Bury St Edmunds will be the venue for this year’s Suffolk Day on Sunday, June 21, also the UK’s longest day and Father’s Day.

A vibrant celebration of the county’s food culture, heritage and musical talent, the free family fun day out will be followed by a special Suffolk Celebration evening of music, song and literature in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, when the lineup will include legendary keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman.

Recognised as Suffolk’s foodie capital, Bury St Edmunds will stage a town centre farmers’ and craft market on Angel Hill from 10am to 5pm.

Organised by Local Markets East Anglia, on behalf of Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District, it will feature some of Suffolk’s finest produce. 

A highlight will be the community celebration in the award-winning Abbey Gardens from 11am to 4pm with a mix of local culture, history, music and family-friendly activities.

As part of National Make Music Day, the celebration will also feature live music performances across the afternoon showcasing local talent. 

Younger visitors can get creative by making mini-scarecrows with Crafty Foxes, while thrill-seekers can test their skills on the Abbeycroft Leisure climbing wall.

History will come to life with an Anglo-Saxon re-enactment group offering a glimpse into the region’s early past.

Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides will be giving talks and rides around the gardens will be offered by Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw. There will also be a variety of stalls to browse hosted by local organisations and community groups providing details about the people and places in West Suffolk plus a hog roast and refreshments from the Greene King bar. 

All can go along to Angel Hill and watch the Suffolk Proclamation and medals ceremony starting at 5pm.

Specially written for this year’s occasion, the Proclamation will be delivered from the balcony of The Athenaeum by students from Abbeygate Sixth Form.

This will be followed by the Suffolk Medal presentations.

Hosted by radio presenter and Suffolk Day founder Mark Murphy, the medals honour individuals who have made an outstanding and lasting impact on life in Suffolk.

Designed by renowned Suffolk artist Maggi Hambling, each medal will be presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk. 

The day will conclude with a spectacular cultural evening in St Edmundsbury Cathedral celebrating the county’s creativity.

A special ticketed event, the “Suffolk Celebration” will be a musical, dance and literary anthology with contributions from young people, local artists and community groups. 

The evening will feature new pieces written especially for the occasion alongside timeless favourites including a special collaborative performance by legendary keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman and a Level Two youth group. 

Hosted by actress and broadcaster Helen Atkinson-Wood, and curated by theatre director and actor Nick Hutchison, the line-up also includes Britten Pears Arts, St Edmundsbury Choir, DanceEast, broadcaster and writer Libby Purves, British cultural historian, biographer and novelist Lucy Hughes-Hallett, distinguished journalist Martin Bell, and Suffolk favourite Charlie Haylock. 

The Suffolk Celebration evening starts at 7pm with tickets priced from £25. To book visit www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk or call The Apex box office on 01284 758000.

Looking forward to welcoming visitors to Bury St Edmunds to celebrate Suffolk Day, Sue Warren, the head of marketing Our Bury St Edmunds and Bury St Edmunds and Beyond brands, said: “I hope that by Bury St Edmunds hosting Suffolk Day this year, it will encourage more people to spend time exploring everything our town and wider county have to offer — from our rich heritage and thriving independent businesses to our culture, hospitality and outstanding food scene.

“As Suffolk’s foodie capital, Bury St Edmunds is the perfect place to showcase the very best of the county and inspire both visitors and residents to enjoy longer stays and return in the future.”

Delivered in partnership with local councils, our Bury St Edmunds BID, cultural organisations and the Suffolk Community Foundation charity, this year’s Suffolk Day promises a family friendly programme across Angel Hill, Abbey Gardens, The Athenaeum and St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

Proceeds will support Suffolk Community 

For programme details visit www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/suffolk-day  or www.suffolkday.co.uk.