| Where: | Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre. |
| When: | Weekends in August |
| Time: | From 11 am each day (usually) |
The ever popular outlaw and his merry men are celebrated each August at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre near Edwinstowe. It’s a relatively modern event, but has been well established for over quarter of a century and is aimed at families (of all ages!). Expect drama, jesters, juggling, jousting, falconry, living history and story telling, with maybe an archery competition for the famous Silver Arrow.
Helpful Hints
It now takes place over several weekends during August and the scheduled events vary a little from year to year so check the link below for up-to-date info on the performances. From 2022 the dates were spread over a longer period than formerly, and based around a series of weekends, rather than a daily series of events in a single week.
The 2026 dates are: 1st & 2nd August, 8th & 9th August, and 29th -31st August, each with a different focus (check links below for full details).
Parking cost £15 in 2024 but entry to the festival is free and the Visitor Centre opens at 10 am. It’s a really fun event and fantastic value. We stayed all day!
Click here for the event webpage: https://www.visitsherwood.co.uk/home/robin-hood-festival-2023/
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/robinhoodfestival/
this is a great day out for all ages. parking is £5 but entry is free. I got there at 1145 a.m.
and had to park in the overspill carpark.
there is a lot of walking, some on slightly rough tracks, as the event is spread out into different areas around the forest and visitor centre. it is possible to hire a mobility scooter.
tons to do and see including musicians, story tellers, potters as well as the jousting events and falconry. plenty of areas for kids to let off steam ( you can buy robin hood hats just like Erroll Flyn’s and Maid Marion chaplets).Lots of picnic spots and there are food stalls and cafes too. And if you don’t care for any of that you can always walk through the forest on one of the coloured way marked paths.
As ever I spent lots of money (mainly on mythical beasts and beings) and would definitely go again. one of the stall holders said they pack up around 3 ish, a pity as this would be nice to attend in the evening as well.