East Suffolk Council is once again supporting a variety of events across the district for Heritage Open Days 2026.
England’s largest free festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days, is returning from Friday 11 September to Sunday 20 September.
This year’s festival is centred around the exploration of the daily working life of our ancestors throughout the ages, from learning a craft to their established routines and cherished rituals.
Several events are being hosted across the district and, earlier this year, East Suffolk Council offered support to local events with grants of up to £750. The grant aimed to encourage local participation of voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations.
Thirteen local organisations were selected to receive the grants, which will support the delivery of their events:
- Felixstowe Society: ‘A Window into Felixstowe’s Past’ shopfront trail
- Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway CIO: Blythburgh Station open day
- Martlesham Heath Aviation Society: Showcase event
- Leiston Quaker House: Storytelling sessions
- St Benet’s Minster: Talks, guided tours and exhibitions
- Friends of Walpole Old Chapel: History exhibition
- East Anglia Transport Museum: Opening for free
- Aldeburgh Museum: Opening for free
- Felixstowe Museum: Changing Faces exhibition
- Britten Pears Arts: Various events at Church Walk, Snape Maltings and the Red House
- Friends of St Mary’s Church: Woll/Linen/Silk textile celebration event
- Two Sisters Art Centre: Hosting a display on the new ambition to save Trimley Railway Station, the centre will also be open for free
- Bungay, Beccles, Halesworth and Southwold Town Councils (joint application): the design and print of a joint brochure to promote events in all four towns
East Suffolk Council is also hosting an event at Martello Tower P in Felixstowe on Saturday 19 September. Several tours of the tower are on offer, giving visitors a rare opportunity to see inside the historic coastal defence tower.
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, cabinet member with responsibility for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:
“We are delighted to once again support Heritage Open Days, and the fantastic range of events taking place across East Suffolk this September.
"This year's theme shines a light on the ordinary people, traditions and routines that have shaped our community across generations. It offers a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors alike to discover the stories behind our local heritage and gain a deeper understanding of life in years gone by. By supporting local organisations and volunteers to share their knowledge and passion, we hope to inspire people of all ages to explore, celebrate and preserve the heritage that makes our district so special."
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing and Projects Manager, said:
“We're delighted to see such a brilliant programme across East Suffolk once again this year and so many great grant-supported events from the Council. There are so many fantastic opportunities for people to discover the hidden heritage on their doorstep and connect with the histories that have made East Suffolk what it is today”
Some events may require pre-booking. To find out more, including dates and times for each event, visit the Heritage Open Days website and search for each event.
These grants form part of a wider project in partnership with The Suffolk Coast DMO, which is focussed on supporting and promoting the heritage and museums sector in East Suffolk, with a view to driving footfall and elevating the visitor experience to places of interest in the district.
