East Devon does not shout about itself, but its calendar is surprisingly full. Within a half-hour drive of Hole Mill you can catch one of the most respected folk festivals in the world, a Regency literary festival, a fishing-village regatta, a seafront air show and — on Bonfire Night — a town that quite literally sets itself on fire. This is the local's guide to the events worth planning a stay around, roughly in calendar order, with honest notes on what each is like and how far it is from the mill.

A word of warning before you book around any of these: dates move every year, and some smaller village events are confirmed only a few months ahead. Treat the timings here as a guide to the season, and check the official source before committing. We have linked them where they exist.

Right on the doorstep — Branscombe

The Mason's Arms spit roasts

The Mason's Arms in the village — a 12-minute walk down the lane from Hole Mill — is known for its open-fire spit roasts, run on selected weekends and bank holidays through the warmer months in the front bar with the inglenook fire going. They also host occasional live music and beer events. There is no fixed annual schedule, so ring the pub or check their board when you arrive to see what is on during your stay.

Distance from Hole Mill: half a mile, about 12 minutes' walk. When: spring to autumn, selected weekends. Best for: an easy walk-to evening with no car needed.

Branscombe Vale Brewery and village beer & music

Branscombe Vale Brewery is brewed about 200 metres up the valley from The Fountain Head, and local beer is a serious part of the village's identity. Branscombe runs occasional beer and music gatherings through the summer — usually centred on the village hall, the playing field or the pubs — alongside the traditional summer village fete. These are small, friendly, properly local affairs rather than ticketed festivals. Ask in the village or watch the parish noticeboards for dates.

Distance from Hole Mill: in the village, walking distance. When: summer. Best for: a genuinely local pint and a relaxed afternoon.

Beer — regatta and music

The fishing village of Beer, four miles along the coast, has one of the best summer calendars in the area.

Beer Regatta & Carnival

A week of events in mid-to-late August — raft races, rowing gigs launched off the pebble beach, a fancy-dress carnival procession through the village, food stalls and fireworks over the cove. The gig racing is the highlight: Beer has a strong rowing tradition and the boats launching straight off the beach are a proper spectacle.

Distance from Hole Mill: 4 miles, 10 minutes by car. When: August. Best for: a classic English seaside-village week.

Beer Rhythm & Blues Festival

A long-running music weekend bringing live blues and roots bands to the village's pubs and venues, usually in early autumn. Informal, well-attended, and a good excuse for a night in Beer.

Distance from Hole Mill: 4 miles, 10 minutes by car. When: autumn. Best for: live music in a village setting.

Sidmouth — the big one

Sidmouth FolkWeek

The headline event of the East Devon calendar. Sidmouth FolkWeek (often just "Sidmouth Folk Festival") runs for eight days from the first Friday in August and is one of the longest-established and most respected folk festivals in the world — drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the Regency seafront town. Concerts, ceilidhs, workshops, street performances, the famous late-night sessions in the pubs, and a torchlight procession to close. Much of the fringe is free; ticketed concerts sell out well ahead. See Sidmouth FolkWeek for the programme and tickets.

Distance from Hole Mill: 7 miles, 15 minutes by car. When: early August (8 days from the first Friday). Best for: the standout cultural week of the year — book accommodation early.

Sidmouth Regatta and Sea Fest

A summer regatta on and around the seafront with boat races, stalls and family events, plus a separate Sea Fest celebrating the town's fishing and maritime heritage. Lower-key than FolkWeek but a pleasant day out.

Distance from Hole Mill: 7 miles, 15 minutes by car. When: summer. Best for: a relaxed seafront afternoon.

Sidmouth Science Festival

A genuinely good ten-day science festival in October — talks, hands-on activities and family events across the town. Unusual for a small seaside town and well worth catching if your stay aligns.

Distance from Hole Mill: 7 miles, 15 minutes by car. When: October. Best for: families and curious minds in the shoulder season.

Budleigh Salterton — literature and music

Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival

Held in mid-September, this is a genuinely well-run independent festival — past speakers have included Hilary Mantel, Margaret Atwood and Sebastian Faulks. Tickets sell out quickly. See Budleigh Lit Fest for the current programme.

Distance from Hole Mill: 18 miles, 35 minutes by car. When: September. Best for: book lovers; pair it with the riverside walk to Otterton.

Budleigh Music Festival and Gala Week

A classical and chamber music festival in summer, plus the town's traditional Gala Week of community events. Quietly excellent.

Distance from Hole Mill: 18 miles, 35 minutes by car. When: summer. Best for: classical music in an intimate setting.

The air show

The big regional spectacle is the Dawlish Air Show — a free two-day seafront show in late August with the Red Arrows and historic aircraft displaying directly over the bay. It is one of the largest free air shows in the South West and draws big crowds, so go early and expect slow roads. See Dawlish Air Show for the year's line-up.

Closer to home, Branscombe Airfield — a grass strip just up the coast — holds occasional fly-ins and open days through the summer, where vintage and light aircraft gather. Far smaller than Dawlish, but charming and genuinely local; check locally for dates.

Distance from Hole Mill: Dawlish approximately 35 miles, 50 minutes by car; Branscombe Airfield a few minutes away. When: late August (Dawlish); summer (Branscombe fly-ins). Best for: a proper day-out spectacle (Dawlish) or a low-key local one (Branscombe).

Ottery St Mary — the town that sets itself on fire

On 5 November, Ottery St Mary holds the Tar Barrels — locals running flaming barrels of tar through packed streets in one of the most extraordinary and unmodernised Bonfire Night traditions in Britain. It is a 25-minute drive from Hole Mill and an unforgettable evening if your stay aligns. We have written a full guide: see Ottery St Mary — the town that sets itself on fire.

Distance from Hole Mill: 12 miles, 25-30 minutes by car. When: 5 November. Best for: a once-seen-never-forgotten spectacle.

Honiton and the Axe Valley

Honiton Agricultural Show

A traditional one-day agricultural show in early August — livestock, show jumping, food and craft tents, vintage machinery. A proper Devon country show.

Distance from Hole Mill: 12 miles, 25 minutes by car. When: August. Best for: a classic country show day for families.

Honiton Hot Pennies Day

A quirky old custom in July marking the start of the town fair, where hot pennies are thrown from the windows of the high street for the crowd to catch — a 13th-century tradition still going strong.

Distance from Hole Mill: 12 miles, 25 minutes by car. When: July. Best for: a slice of genuine Devon eccentricity.

Axe Vale Festival (Axminster)

A large two-day community festival in June at Axminster — show gardens, marquees, arena events, food and craft stalls — and the main fundraiser for local good causes.

Distance from Hole Mill: 12 miles, 25 minutes by car. When: June. Best for: a busy, family-friendly festival weekend.

A rough month-by-month calendar

A loose guide to the season — always confirm exact dates before booking around an event:

  • June: Axe Vale Festival (Axminster); Budleigh music and gala events begin.
  • July: Honiton Hot Pennies Day; village fetes across the area.
  • August: Sidmouth FolkWeek (the big one, early August); Honiton Agricultural Show; Beer Regatta & Carnival; Dawlish Air Show (late August); Branscombe fly-ins.
  • September: Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival; Beer Rhythm & Blues.
  • October: Sidmouth Science Festival.
  • 5 November: Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels.
  • Spring–autumn, ongoing: Mason's Arms spit roasts and Branscombe village events.

Practical tips

  • Book your stay early for the big weeks. Sidmouth FolkWeek (early August) and the 5 November Tar Barrels are two of the most in-demand weeks in our calendar — they go months ahead.
  • Expect slow roads around the larger events. The Dawlish Air Show and Sidmouth FolkWeek both bring heavy traffic; leave early, and use park-and-ride where it is offered.
  • Many events are free — FolkWeek's fringe, the Dawlish Air Show, and most village fetes cost nothing. Budget for the ticketed concerts and festival headliners only.
  • Check the official source. Dates here are seasonal guides, not guarantees. Village events in particular are confirmed late.

Whatever time of year you visit, there is usually something on within half an hour of the mill — from a world-class folk festival to a flaming barrel run through a packed Devon street. Check our availability for your dates and we'll point you to whatever's happening that week.