What to do in Suffolk this November

Frosty mornings, woolly jumpers and cosy evenings by the fire; November is here! Read on to find out what to do in Suffolk this November.

November is always a busy month with the run up to Christmas gaining momentum. Bonfire night quickly makes way for early festive markets and Christmas craft workshops.

This year I’m determined to make it to the Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre. I’ve always missed it in the past but it looks like the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit.

If you’re looking for things to do this month, check out all the fabulous events below.

2^nd November – Bonfire Night at the Sorrel Horse
The Sorrel Horse in Shottisham hosts a popular bonfire night event each year. Join the team for a fantastic firework display, outside bar, pizza, bbq and live music.
The event begins at 6pm, there will be delicious pizza from the Gozney Pizza Oven and live music from local band Flaming Cheek.

2^nd – 4^th November – Poetry in Aldeburgh
The Poetry in Aldeburgh festival is a weekend of poetry, film and art by the sea. There will be 100 poets, artists and filmmakers over five venues in the seaside town. The event includes poetry workshops, literary discussions and film screenings.

3^rd November, 8^th November, 12^th November, 21^st November, 30^th November – Lavenham by Lantern Light
These events, hosted by the National Trust, will see visitors escorted around the medieval village of Lavenham by lantern light. You will discover the stories of the town through the ages and end the evening with hot drinks and cakes in the Guildhall. Tickets cost £11 per person.

9th-11^th November – November Noggin Festival at the Low House in Laxfield
The November Noggin Winter Beer and Music Festival at the Low House in Laxfield will be offering a warming weekend of winter beers and comfort food from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon.
Sample dark and light beers, porters, wines, ciders and gins and try out additional food by Brooks Cooks.
On Friday evening there will be live music from Caswell and on Saturday evening there will be a talk at 3pm with special acknowledgement to families in Laxfield who were affected by WWI.
Saturday night includes Americana/Blues music from Al’s Kitchen plus an act from the Inn Crowd, a unique arts project supporting rural pubs to host spoken word performances.
On Sunday there is a really exciting event at 12.30pm when The Sunday Times journalist and author, India Knight, will be interviewed by BBC Radio 2 and 4 presenter Paddy O’Connell.

13^th November – Millicent Fawcett and the Woman’s Suffrage Movement
Moyse’s Hall Museum will welcome guest speaker Eleanor Rehan of the Fawcett Society for an illustrated talk discussing the legacy of Millicent Fawcett, the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the formation of the Fawcett Society. This is particular poignant during this centenary year that marks women gaining the vote. The talk runs from 7pm-8:30pm with tickets costing £10 for adults and £5 for children.

15^th -16^th November – The Style Edit
The Style Edit returns to The Granary Barns, near Newmarket, for its second fashion extravaganza of the year. The event will see a mix of local and national brands take to the runway to reveal winter trends and festive occasion wear that will inspire your next shopping spree.
The event will also provide a fantastic opportunity for picking up unique Christmas gifts for loved ones. The Style Edit has curated a collection of retailers that will be selling their wares, from fashion to beauty and artisan items. There will also be a selection of refreshments and treats to enjoy throughout the evening. I remember the brownies from last year being delicious!
Tickets cost £15 plus a £1.76 booking fee.
To find out more you can read my review of the summer Style Edit event here.

16^th November – Man Like Wine Christmas Showcase
Local wine company, Man Like Wine, is hosting a wine and cheese tasting evening at Southwold Golf Club to introduce the team’s top picks of sparkling, white and red wine for Christmas. The wines will be paired with sumptuous cheeses from Slate Cheese. The informal evening starts with a blind sparkling welcome, which will ask whether you can guess the champagne. This will be a great occasion to purchase wine as gifts or find the right tipples for your festive parties.

17-18^th November – Celebrating Yule at West Stow
Join the West Stow Friends costume group, Stowacynn, as they re-enact getting ready for Christmas in an Anglo-Saxon Village. The group will be decorating the hall for Yule and cooking in preparation for a huge evening feast.

22^nd – 25^th November – Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre
Every year Bury St Edmunds turns into a winter wonderland that will fill visitors with Christmas spirit. The town will host a huge fayre with over 300 stalls selling all kinds of gifts, food and crafts. There will be fireworks, cookery demonstrations in the Cathedral grounds, free children’s activities and fun fairs. Every part of the town will be surrounded in festivities, from The Apex crafts stalls, to Santa’s Grotto in the Abbey Gardens.

24^th November – 28^th April – Kiss and tell: Rodin and Suffolk Sculpture
Christchurch Mansion is hosting a landmark exhibition where visitors will be able to discover the tale behind the lovers in Auguste Rodin’s life-size marble sculpture, The Kiss.
The sculpture is on loan from the Tate, as are a number of Rodin’s sculptures. The exhibition will reveal depictions of the body in its natural state and in movement, and will include works by Pre-Raphaelite sculpture Thomas Woolner, Ellen Mary Rope, Henry Moore, Maggi Hambling and Elisabeth Frink.

24^th November – 5^th Jan – Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival
The Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival is now in its 14^th year and will showcase spectacular Christmas Trees in the Parish Church, Abbots Hall and Town Library.
The trees are adorned in festive sparkle and will fill visitors with the spirit of the holiday season. Children especially will be wowed by this spectacle.

25^th November – Orford Festive Makers Market
The market will be held in Orford Town Hall from 10am-4pm and will feature a number of local makers. Find unique Christmas pressies including prints, jewellery, stationery, textiles and candles.