I am very lucky to have a friend with a home in Sheringham, Norfolk (UK) and when she told me last year about the town's annual 1940's festival I was very keen to see it for myself. Fast forward a year, some deep dives in my local charity shops then last weekend we headed north to join in with the fun.
After a hectic day in Cambridge looking at potential colleges for my daughter, we didn't arrive until after pub closing time so sadly missed the first day of the beer and music festival, but Saturday morning saw my friend and I up and about early in search of breakfast ingredients, delighted to see people dressed up, vintage vehicles lining the streets and some amazing shop window and street displays.
A quick hair and makeup session completed our own costumes and then we headed back into town with our husbands who had gamely agreed to dress up too. Although my husband didn't look much different to usual as he favours the 1940's country gent look anyway 🤣
Just wandering the streets was so much fun. Some people had gone to enormous lengths to be authentic. Some people had even dressed their dogs!
We stopped for tea and scones in one of the many lovely cafes in the town enjoying the ambience and the 1940's music and admired the people around us dressed up.
Over the weekend we spotted a French policeman (think "Allo, 'Allo), a chimney sweep, Biggles, an undertaker, a couple of repo men, many soldiers and sailors, many glam women with many a red lip and a couple of Churchills.
We watched the fabulous girl group, The Knightingales, who sang some classics from the era while the A2 Jive group danced in the centre of town.
We wandered up to the railway station to see the steam trains but because there was a special event on we couldn't get onto the platform without a ticket - note for next year, book train tickets! However we spotted a queue of vintage buses offering free trips to the nearby town of Holt where an additional 1940's event was being held. There was an entrance fee and we wanted to continue exploring Sheringham so we decided to hop back onto a bus and head back to the Wyndham Arms for some musical entertainment and £4 pints. (Gin for me)
Next we headed to Dave's chip bar for traditional fish and chips eaten as we tend to do watching the sun setting on the seafront with a glass of wine. This is my happy place.
Next on the agenda was the vintage vehicle parade which was very uplifting with onlookers cheering and camera flashes lighting up the street. You can check out a video of the parade via my TikTok account.
Then we had to decided which of the live performers we wanted to see next - our friends who have local knowledge suggested The Foreign Locals - a straight faced accordionist and a bonkers charismatic singer/guitarist who describe themselves as "a musical collective built on rumours and word of mouth" performing what I can only describe as Greek style reggae at The Lobster.
Feeling slightly bemused but definitely uplifted we headed to the Fishmonger's Tavern to see Buffalo Blonde. Louder than a loud thing performing a wide range of songs with talent and enthusiasm and lots of chat. Who knew Abba could be gritty?
Exhausted by this point we headed home in the interval reluctantly admitting that it was bed time.
On Sunday's agenda along with a trip to another lovely cafe and another look at the beautifully decorated High Street was another event at The Wyndham Arms- a performance by the Sheringham Shantymen. An hour before they were due to sing the pub garden was packed and we ended up sitting in the car park and consequently couldn't see much, but thoroughly enjoyed hearing this amazing collective who raise thousands for charity including the RNLI. Did you know they have a lifeboat named after them?
All in all it was a wonderful weekend and I heartily recommend you pencil it into your diary for next year. There's lots of lovely accommodation in Sheringham, but maybe think about booking well in advance as this is a very popular annual event.
The festival dates have provisionally been set for Friday, September 17 to Sunday, September 19, 2027 but may change.
