Louth and the surrounding area has several events on across the May Bank Holiday weekend, 22 to 25 May 2026. The Brown Cow on Newmarket is running a beer and cider festival, the Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival has walks, cycling and activities across the Wolds, Tathwell’s long-running art and crafts exhibition is open at St Vedast’s Church, and the Louth Run For Life has a donation station open on Saturday morning (C&R Removals on Bolingbroke Road LN11 0WA). The Saturday market in town runs as normal.
If you’re staying local this Bank Holiday, there’s actually quite a bit happening, once you cut through the noise on the usual Facebook groups.
Here’s what we know is actually on.
Beer & Cider at the Brown Cow
The Brown Cow on Newmarket is running its #HowNow26 Beer & Cider Festival from Friday 22 May through to a sup-up day on Monday 25 May. The festival casks and kegs are already on, and from what they’ve posted, the line-up looks decent. If you can’t decide what to have, apparently the pub is happy to choose for you.
Expect a busy bar, a good range, and a proper pub doing what a proper pub does on a Bank Holiday. For the latest on what’s pouring, any food and any live music, check their Instagram: @browncowlouth.
Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival
Running from 16 to 31 May, the Wolds Outdoor Festival has over 100 events spread across two weeks, plenty of them free or close to it. This weekend’s highlights include a parkrun at QEGS, a cycling route with views across the Wolds, two walking routes connected to the 50th anniversary of the Viking Way (Horncastle to Woodhall Spa and back), a Bronze Age clay pot workshop, and a vineyard tour with wine tasting at South Ormsby Estate.
Basically, you can pick your level of effort. Miles on a bike, a gentle trail walk, making something with your hands, or sitting in a vineyard. Most sessions need a booking, even the free ones, so check the website before you go: woldsoutdoorfestival.com.
Tathwell Art & Crafts Exhibition
Now in its 36th year, this one runs from Friday 22 to Monday 25 May at St Vedast’s Church in Tathwell. Around 35 to 40 local artists show paintings, prints and cards inside the church, with crafts including glass, jewellery and leatherwork in tents and marquees in the churchyard. Friday evening is a preview with cheese and wine. The rest of the weekend is homemade cakes, cream teas and a tombola run by the scouts.
It’s a quiet, unhurried sort of afternoon out, and it’s been going long enough that it clearly does something right. Check the Lincolnshire Wolds site for times and parking: Tathwell 36th Annual Art and Crafts Exhibition 2026.
Louth Run For Life Donation Station (Saturday only)
This Saturday, 9am to 12 noon, the Run For Life team have a donation station open. They’re collecting good-quality items for tombolas, raffles and stall sales ahead of the main event. If you’ve got decent bits to pass on, bag them up and drop them off. Check the Louth Run For Life Facebook page for the location and anything specific they’re after.
Three Bridges Lane Car Boot Sale
Something for Sunday the 24th… Sellers from 11.00am and buyers from 12.00pm. Food available, dogs are welcome (but please don’t take your furry friend if it’s a scorcher). On-site toilets, etc…
The usual markets
The Saturday market runs year-round in town, so that’s on as normal. It’s worth pairing with a trip out to Tathwell or using it as a morning warm-up before heading out to the Wolds.
One thing worth saying
Details shift at short notice, food at pubs can depend on weather and staffing, and free events often still need a booking. So click through to the organiser’s page before you head out, especially if you’re travelling any distance or counting on a meal being available.
If you know of something else on this weekend that belongs in a roundup like this, and we’re talking real events, not business promos, send us the basics and we’ll look at including it next time.
Your Bank Holiday Weekend, Sorted
What events are happening in Louth this Bank Holiday weekend 2026?
Louth and the surrounding area has several events running across the May Bank Holiday weekend, 22 to 25 May 2026. The Brown Cow on Newmarket is hosting its HowNow26 Beer and Cider Festival, Tathwell’s 36th Annual Art and Crafts Exhibition is open at St Vedast’s Church, and the Louth Run For Life has a donation station open on Saturday morning. The Saturday market in town also runs as normal.
What is the Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival and when does it run?
The Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival is a two-week programme of outdoor activities and events running from 16 to 31 May 2026 across the Wolds area of Lincolnshire. It includes over 100 events, many free or low-cost, covering walking, cycling, water sports, wildlife, arts and heritage activities. Most sessions require advance booking, even when free, so checking the festival website before attending is worth doing.
What is the HowNow26 Beer and Cider Festival at the Brown Cow in Louth?
HowNow26 is the Brown Cow pub’s Bank Holiday beer and cider festival, running from Friday 22 May to Monday 25 May 2026 at their Newmarket premises in Louth. The festival features a rotating line-up of cask ales and ciders from a range of producers, served across the full weekend. For the latest on what is pouring and any food or live music, the pub’s Instagram feed is the most reliable source of updates.
What is the Tathwell Art and Crafts Exhibition?
The Tathwell Annual Art and Crafts Exhibition is a long-running community arts event held at St Vedast’s Church in the village of Tathwell, near Louth, in Lincolnshire. Now in its 36th year, the 2026 exhibition runs from 22 to 25 May and features around 35 to 40 local artists showing paintings, prints and handmade crafts including glass, jewellery and leatherwork. A preview evening with cheese and wine runs on the Friday, with cream teas and homemade cakes available across the rest of the weekend.
Does the Louth Saturday market run on Bank Holidays?
Louth’s Saturday street market runs year-round, including on Bank Holiday weekends. The market is a regular fixture in the town centre and takes place regardless of Bank Holidays falling nearby. It is worth checking with East Lindsey District Council or local listings for any changes to stall numbers or hours on specific dates.
Do I need to book for Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival events?
Most Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival sessions require advance registration or booking, even when the activity is free of charge. Turning up without booking risks missing out, as places on guided walks, cycling rides and workshops are often limited. The festival website at woldsoutdoorfestival.com carries the full listings and booking links for all activities.
What should I check before heading out to a local event this Bank Holiday?
Always check the organiser’s own website or social media feed before travelling to any local event, as timings, food availability and entertainment can change at short notice. Free events often still require a booking, and pubs or outdoor venues may adjust their offer depending on weather or staffing. Going straight to the source, rather than relying on third-party listings, is the most reliable way to avoid a wasted trip.