THE HORKEY returns to The Cut Arts Centre in Halesworth on Saturday 31 October 2026, for its fourth annual celebration of Suffolk life, culture and creativity.
Organised by POETRY PEOPLE and curated by Lowestoft-born writer and poet Dean Parkin, The Horkey is a one-day mini-festival inspired by an old East Anglian tradition. A ‘horkey’ was a harvest feast and celebration — a chance to mark the end of the agricultural year with food, music and good company. Today’s Horkey brings that spirit into the arts, celebrating Suffolk’s distinctive character, its people, places, stories and traditions, both past and present.
The programme typically includes illustrated talks, archive and contemporary films, poetry, conversations, exhibitions, music and performances, alongside stalls showcasing Suffolk produce, crafts and publications. There’s also plenty of seasonal food and drink to keep everyone going.
The Horkey is as much about discovering something unexpected as it is about celebrating the familiar. It might take you from a long-forgotten Suffolk film to a conversation about the future of the countryside, from local history and folklore to contemporary art, food, poetry or music.
The 2026 programme is currently being put together, with this year’s line-up to be announced in early October.
So come along, settle in for the day, and celebrate Suffolk in all its
eccentric, creative and wonderfully down-to-earth glory.
The Horkey 2026
Saturday 31 October | 11am–5pm
The Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth
Tickets £8 (in advance) / £10 on the day
