Quick Guide to Aldeburgh Carnival
As anticipation mounts for this fabulously colourful annual Aldeburgh calendar event, check out the core info you’ll need to know when planning your visit to Aldeburgh Carnival.
Every year Aldeburgh Carnival has a theme – for 2025, it’s simply ‘Celebrating Summer‘ – how wonderfully appropriate!

What?
A fully family-friendly ended August weekend of colour and celebration. Traditional seaside carnival fun at its finest, all set in the beautiful and historic location of Aldeburgh with its wide range of shops, places to eat and vast shingle beach.
Expect sports fun, a silent auction, giant kites on the beach, a lively carnival parade, decorated shops and businesses, and lovely atmospheric lantern parade through the town, all topped off with a spectacular firework display.
Where?
In the streets and heart of historic Aldeburgh, around Moot Hall Green, Crag Path and beach … pretty much everywhere!


When?
- Saturday 16th August – Sports Day Fun & Carnival Village
- Sunday 17th August – 10k Run & Carnival Village
- Monday 18th August – Grand Carnival Day – Carnival Village – Carnival & Lantern Processions
In the interests of road safety, traffic restrictions are in place on Carnival Day (Monday), with strict restrictions on parking within the town centre areas and some roads closed to traffic.

In Aldeburgh, it’s a real tradition going back well over a good century!
It started its life as ‘Ye Olde Marine Regatta’ way back in 1835 and has retained its mix of family fun, sports and spriit of community celebration.
Aldeburgh Carnival is organised by volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year and over the Carnival weekend to ensure that every one has the best time possible.
Over 1000 human hours go into making the event happen and extra hands – and paraders! – are always most welcome for the weekend , the event build-up and take down.
Perhaps you could find an hour or two to help?
There are full details and sign up systems on the Carnival website.
It is free of charge to attend Aldeburgh Carnival, but anyone coming along to enjoy the fun is asked to support the event by giving generously through the collection boxes.
There is a charge for the Carnival car park which has a shuttle bus service into town. Using these official car parks helps raise money towards paying costs of the event, safeguarding its future and supporting local charities.
Carnival car parks are on the Kings Field and Queens Field just off the roundabout (near the out of town supermarkets) on the approach to Aldeburgh.
These are served by a shuttle bus service in / out of the town centre.
There is an all day charge for parking at these sites, with fund raised going to support the carnival and local charities.
Volunteers are always needed to support the event from planning in advance to marshalling on the day, manning car parks and supporting those taking part within the parade.
‘Floats’, groups and individuals are all invited to take part in the parade, but must go through the proper registration process in advance.
There are full details and sign up systems on the Carnival website.
Oh yes! And an entourage too! There is a new set of Aldeburgh carnival ‘royalty’ each year, selected from local children and young adults.
The whole community event is volunteer-run and monies raised -eg. through the carnival collection boxes and carnival car parking – goes towards carnival costs (firework display) and supporting local charities.