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Free family fun day returns to Suffolk New College in May

Tickets are now on sale for the Big Day Out, a free family event taking place at Suffolk New College's rural campus in Otley on Saturday, 9 May 2026.

Organiser of Big Day Out Charlotte Rossiter
Organiser of Big Day Out Charlotte Rossiter
(Suffolk New CollegeSuffolk New College)

Why it matters: The event regularly attracts between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors and offers families a free day of entertainment.

The big picture: Big Day Out celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, having first launched in 2005. The campus will transform into what organiser Charlotte Rossiter describes as a "vibrant hub, offering a variety of stalls showcasing handmade crafts, deli products, sweet treats, and a selection of delicious food from local vendors."

The details: The event runs from 10:00-16:00 and will feature football activities ahead of the World Cup, demonstrations in the animal unit, a climbing wall, face painting, tractor displays, handmade crafts and local food vendors.

What they're saying: "The campus will be transformed into a vibrant hub, offering a variety of stalls showcasing handmade crafts, deli products, sweet treats, and a selection of delicious food from local vendors," said Charlotte Rossiter from Suffolk New College.

"This event offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy quality time with family, as well as seeing the huge investment that has taken place at Suffolk Rural," she added.

The bottom line: Big Day Out provides families with a free day of entertainment while showcasing the facilities at Suffolk New College's rural campus in Otley.

Car parking costs £5 per vehicle, but entrance is free.

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Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

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