Norwich comes together to celebrate Lord Mayor’s Festival
Norfolk's wildlife, folklore and community spirit are set to be celebrated this weekend
Local schools, organisations, and charities are coming together for the Lord Mayor’s Procession today (Saturday, 11th July) as part of the Lord Mayor's Weekend in Norwich.
This year’s theme, 'Wild About Norwich,' aims to celebrate the city's wildlife, folklore and community spirit.
The procession will start at 3pm at Norwich Cathedral, winding through the city centre before concluding at Chapelfield Gardens.
More than 30 groups will join the parade, featuring costumes, music, dances and floats.
The weekend-long celebration runs from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July 2026, and is believed to have ran for over 230 years.
A party at Chapelfield Gardens will commence daily from midday, showcasing young artists and local bands.
Hay Hill will host performances by students from the Access Community Creative College on Saturday, giving them the chance to perform in front of large audiences and show case Norfolk's up and coming talent.
Ted Leggett, Cultural Events Officer at The City Council and Director of the Lord Mayor's Event, noted the opportunity it gives kids:
"lots of those children might not have been in front of a large audience before. We've got youth groups of Samba, we've got some children who are displaced from other countries who are coming to perform, we are showcasing everyone"
Tom also added that this weekend is about everyone:
He said, "An event like this is for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you believe or where you live or where you’re from, it’s for everybody to come and be together."
On Sunday the celebrations continue with the Norwich Lanes Fair where independent businesses gather for a lively street party, hoping to bring a boost to the local economy.
"We have such a huge range of independent businesses and they are largely clustered together, its a real opportunity for them to come out on the streets, engage with customers, and show people what they do" Tom said.
All events, aside from food and drinks, are free to attend.
Attendees are advised to bring refillable water bottles with water stations available throughout the area.