Summer Solstice at Stanwick Lakes 2026 – Free Family Fun and Evening Experiences

If you’re looking for something a little bit different to do this June, this one is worth saving to your calendar right now. Stanwick Lakes is celebrating the Summer Solstice in the most brilliant way — with a full day of free family activities followed by ticketed evening experiences that run all the way through to midnight. It’s the kind of event that feels properly special, and with the daytime section being completely free to enter, it’s a great option if you’re after something more memorable than your average summer day out.

Daytime Festival — Free Entry

The daytime festival runs from 12pm to 8pm and is free to enter — you just pay for parking. There’s a brilliant line-up of living history and heritage activities to enjoy with the family, including:

• Roman and Viking living history camps
• Heritage craft demonstrations
• Corn dolly making
• Children’s Solstice activities
• Storytelling and more

Evening Experiences — Ticketed

As the sun starts to go down, the evening comes alive with a series of ticketed experiences running from 8pm through to midnight. These include workshops and the headline event — a night swim on the lake under the midsummer sky. Tickets for evening sessions are sold separately, so check the Stanwick Lakes website for details and availability.

Practical information

Date: Saturday 20th June 2026
Daytime festival: 12pm–8pm (free entry, parking charges apply)
Evening sessions: From 8pm (ticketed separately)
Location: Stanwick Lakes, Northamptonshire

Please check the Stanwick Lakes visitor info page for current parking charges before you visit.

For more brilliant family events happening across Northamptonshire this summer, make sure you’re signed up to my weekly what’s on newsletter — I send it out every week with the best things to do with the kids locally. And if you’re on the lookout for ideas for those tricky days when the weather lets you down, grab my free rainy day ideas pack too.

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.