Celebrate St Edmund's Day on November 20

As part of the celebrations of the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund, a light show will take place over St Edmund's Day weekend.

Using innovative 3D projections onto the historic Norman Tower and the Cathedral Tower and an enchanting light trail through the Abbey Ruins in the historic Abbey Gardens this will be an event not to be missed.

The 3D projections will include carefully researched historical images and sound, as well as contemporary art and voices.

This event will run on the evenings of November 17, 18, 19 and 20.

Entry £3. Booking will open soon!

Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for their support of this event.

Part of the Abbey 1000 celebrations to celebrate 1,000 years since the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds. For more Abbey 1000 events see our Abbey 1000 Guide.

The Edmund Lecture on Saturday 19 November will be given in the Cathedral Nave by a prominent contemporary speaker.

It will explore the parallels in the medieval conflicts between the Abbey and the town and the modern conflicts we know only too well within our national and international relations.

Guest lecturer to be announced. Part of the Abbey 1000 celebrations.

There will be special celebrations on St Edmund’s Day itself at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and St Edmund's RC Church to conclude the Abbey 1000 celebrations.

Services times to be publicised nearer the time.

No booking required. Visit https://stedscathedral.org/abbey-1000-events/ for more information.

The St Edmund’s flag will be flown on top of the Abbey Gate and The Angel Hotel on Angel Hill as well as the town’s Police Station in Raingate Street and The Apex in Charter Square.

Additionally, the flag is also flown every year at West Suffolk’s Council’s offices in West Suffolk House in Western Way and at the Greene King Brewery in Westgate Street.

Businesses in the town will also be decorating their premises with St Edmund’s bunting, including the arc shopping centre.

A free children’s activity pack created by Bury St Edmunds designer Rebecca Austin is available to download at www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/st-edmunds-day. The pack includes details about St Edmund and St Edmund’s Day as well as the former Patron Saint’s flag, which children are encouraged to colour in and display in their home or school windows throughout St Edmund’s day weekend.

It also contains a drawing of the Abbey Gate; during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 the sculptures that once adorned the archway were removed and presumed destroyed. Children are encouraged to create their own sculptures and draw them where the statues used to be in the archway.

Bury St Edmunds and Beyond has created St Edmund’s Day branded frames for Facebook and a Twibbon for Twitter so that people can show their support for St Edmund’s Day. These can be downloaded for your profile by following the instructions at www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/st-edmunds-day - just click on Download Social Media Frames.

For more details about St Edmund’s Day celebrations visit our St Edmund's Day Guide.