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Red Rooster Festival 2026

Join the Red Rooster Festival from 28th to 30th May 2026 in Thetford Forest, Suffolk. Set among ancient pine trees, this three-day event celebrates Southern-inspired music, food, and community in a relaxed outdoor setting.

Music

Experience live blues, roots, rockabilly, country, and R&B across multiple stages. Enjoy a mix of acoustic sessions and energetic band performances from local and international artists, with music running from afternoon into the evening under the forest sky.

Food & Drink

Savour Southern-style barbecue, gumbo, jambalaya, and more from authentic vendors. Refresh with craft beers, iced tea, lemonade, cocktails, and local treats like homemade pies and pancakes.

Family Activities

A dedicated kids’ zone offers crafts, games, and storytelling, ensuring family-friendly fun throughout the festival.

Community & Atmosphere

Relax in hammocks, gather around campfires, and explore artisan markets featuring crafts, vinyl, and festival gear. Discover pop-up music jams and workshops that add to the festival’s welcoming vibe.

Camping

Weekend tickets include camping on a shaded meadow within the festival grounds. Choose from traditional tent camping or upgrade to glamping options like luxury bell tents or yurts. Enjoy a friendly, communal atmosphere with late-night music and campfire gatherings.

The festival site is well served by public transport. The nearest train station is Thetford (on the line between Cambridge and Norwich), with regular services from Cambridge (about 45 minutes away) and from Norwich (around 30 minutes away). Travelers from London can go to Cambridge or Norwich and change onto the Thetford line (total journey time approximately 2–3 hours). From Thetford station, take the hourly bus #80/80A to Santon Downham (the stop is just a short walk from the festival entrance), or catch a taxi for the roughly 5-mile trip (around 10–15 minutes).

By road, Thetford Forest is easily reached via major routes. From London, take the M11 north and then the A11 towards Norwich (journey around 2 hours in normal traffic). From Cambridge or the A14, join the A11 heading east. From Norwich or points in Norfolk, take the A11 south. To reach the festival, use postcode IP27 0AF (Santon Downham, Thetford Forest) for your satnav or mapping app. The festival provides parking on-site (often included with tickets), and event signage will guide you to the correct entrance. Remember that the final approach is on narrow rural lanes, so allow extra time especially during busy periods.

The nearest airport is Norwich International (about a 30–45 minute drive from the forest). Norwich Airport offers flights from the UK and Europe; from there you can rent a car or take a train to Norwich station and continue on to Thetford. Another convenient airport is London Stansted (around 2 hours away), which has frequent domestic and international flights. If you choose a farther airport such as Luton, Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester, be prepared for a longer onward journey by train or road.

Camping is included with your weekend ticket, so feel free to bring a tent, campervan or caravan and stay on site in the festival woods. If you prefer to sleep indoors, book a room early: Thetford town has a selection of hotels and B&Bs (about 15 minutes’ drive from the forest), and nearby villages offer guesthouses and inns. For a true woodland getaway, check out forest holiday lodges in the High Lodge area of Thetford Forest park. Whichever you choose, plan ahead—late May is a popular time and rooms can fill up quickly!

Thetford Forest, High Lodge, Thetford, IP270AF

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