Combe Martin Events and Festivities

Last modified on April 29, 2025

We do not organise any events, and this independent website has no connection or affiliation with any other organisation.

This information is up to date and accurate to the best of our knowledge.

• VE Day (80) 2025: Combe Martin Parish Council is inviting residents to decorate their homes with flags and bunting, starting the weekend of May 3.

• “VE Day 80” events will be held nationally from May 5 to May 8, 2025, to honour veterans and mark the end of the Second World War.

• Throughout the VE Day commemorations, a ‘best dressed house’ competition will take place in Combe Martin, with judging by a local veteran. Additionally, the council will unveil a Royal British Legion ‘Unknown Tommy’ statue, made possible through a generous donation.

• Visit Combe Martin Museum> on Cross Street near the Kiln Car Park and beach. Open daily for local heritage and information, shop, maps, books, and tourism.

• The museum will be commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day).

• The museum's forthcoming community events are advertised on social media, in the museum window and on their notice boards.

• Hunting the Earl of Rone at Combe Martin: Traditionally held in May, during the last four days of the annual spring bank holiday. The festival features a parade, bands and dancers, with the Monday evening finale on the Seaside harbour beach. Probably best to book your holiday in advance.

• Combe Martin Farmers' Markets 2025: The next monthly Shammickite Farmers' Market, at Combe Martin Village Hall, High Street, is advertised for May 17, 2025, 9.30am to 12.30pm.

• For updating information on Village Hall events, go to What's on at Combe Martin Village Hall>. 

• Combe Martin's Summer Carnival: Last held on August 10th, 2024, and usually features a parade, Carnival Queen, costumes, floats, carts and a wheelbarrow race. Plans for 2025 are not available.

• Books and Jeans Fair: Thousands of books, and beloved denims, are on sale at Combe Martin Village Hall during holiday periods>. Provisional dates for the next Fair: July 24th to August 31, 2025.

• Churches: Our local Parish church, Baptist and Methodist churches, run services, coffee mornings, shows, lunches and community events during the year.

• The Legendary Mini Cars Grand Tour: This annual motoring event, with up to 250 Mini cars, should pass through Combe Martin on Monday August 25^th, at approximately 3:30 pm (see the itinerary).

• Combe Martin Pubs Folk Music and Entertainment: Check with the local Pubs and in the Shammickite magazine available from local outlets.

• Visitcombemartin.com has a list of Events with dates and times for 2025.

• Pick up the Shammickite Magazine available from local outlets. And check on social media. 

Victory in Europe ("VE Day 80") May 8, 2025

[View More Details of Events]

Combe Martin Village Hall Book Sales (Holiday Periods)

Old Photos of Combe Martin Summer Carnival 

Highlights of the Combe Martin Carnival in 2024

The Annual Earl of Rone Festival in Combe Martin, May Bank Holiday

Combe Martin Village Hall holds Numerous Events throughout the Year

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The organisations listed here should have up-to-date information for their respective events, which may be subject to change. Check in the Shammickite magazine and on social media.

VE Day (80) 2025: Combe Martin Parish Council is inviting residents to decorate their homes with flags and bunting, starting the weekend of May 3. “VE Day 80” events will be held nationally from May 5 to May 8, 2025, to honour veterans and mark the end of the Second World War.

Use the website at VE Day and VJ Day 80 to find ways to take part in the commemorations.

Combe Martin Museum> on Cross Street. Open daily. Hosts events, coffee mornings, sea safaris, and presentations. Daytime and evening events take place in the museum Sail Loft. Bookings for these events are usually available from Combe Martin Museum; call 01271-889031 during opening hours.

The Hunting of the Earl of Rone> is a historic Combe Martin festival that traditionally takes place during May, over the last four days of the Spring Bank Holiday. Recorded in old texts, this folk play was held over Ascensiontide until 1837, and reconstructed from 1970 onwards.

Combe Martin Village Hall> on the High Street, formerly the Drill Hall, has a busy calendar with shows, Bingo, markets, plant sales and crafts, sports and local clubs throughout the year. 

The Popular Village Hall Book Fair is provisionally planned for July 23rd to August 31st, 2025. Visit the Village Hall website˃ 

Combe Martin Shammick Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair is held in the Village Hall> on High Street, monthly on Saturday mornings. The next market is advertised for May 17, 2025. Market tables may be booked in advance. Check the Village Hall What's On/Calendar for more details.

Christian Social Events: Our Combe Martin Anglican, Baptist, and Methodist churches host various activities throughout the year, including services, coffee mornings, flower shows, lunches, and community events.

Combe Martin Clubs such as the Women's Institute and Garden Club meet at St. Peter's Church Hall. Details and dates are shared on social media, and in the Shammickite magazine available from local outlets.

Combe Martin's August Carnival has been a cherished local tradition for over a century, and does not happen every year. The local summer custom features a vibrant parade with costumes, music, elaborately decorated floats, and carts.

When the carnival does take place, it usually includes a wheelbarrow race along the village's main street.

Combe Martin's Carnival 2024 took place on August 10th. A popular and unique event, spectators lined the streets and gathered on the harbour beach to enjoy the festivities. The community> is keen to preserve this long-running local custom for the future.

The Uncle Tom Cobley float usually brings up the rear of the carnival procession, and it has been part of the Combe Martin Carnival since 1911. “Uncle Tom Cobley”> is a character from the famous English folk song “Widecombe Fair.”

The early nineteenth-century song tells the story of Tom Pearce, who lends his grey mare to a group of friends to travel to Widecombe Fair in Devon. Unfortunately, the mare dies during the journey.

The chorus of the song lists the names of the friends including Tom Cobley. The song ends with “Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,” and it's become an idiom meaning “everyone” or "a large group of people".

The Legendary North Devon Mini Cars Grand Tour (LGT): On its way round North Devon, the annual North Devon Grand Tour (LGT) is advertised to pass  through Combe Martin on Monday, August 25, 2025 at 3:30 pm. It then passes through Ilfracombe on its way to Fremington.

The LGT is still going strong and raising charity funds after 25 years. Up to 250 Minis travel in a convoy, creating a spectacle nearly 10 miles long. 

The LGT brings out thousands of spectators, and the highlight is the arrival and raucous welcome at Children's Hospice South West, Little Bridge House, Redlands Road, Fremington, Barnstaple EX31 2PZ.

St Peter ad Vincula Church> Combe Martin often holds 'Messy Church', crafts, games and activities. There is usually a Village Flower Festival at the parish church during August. These events and others are advertised on Facebook/St Peter ad Vincula Combe Martin.

You can watch video footage of the Earl of Rone on YouTube ➡

In 2024, the Hunting of the Earl of Rone> festival took place from May 24-27. Official details and times are posted on the Earl of Rone website. Don't miss it in 2025.

Over the bank holiday weekend, the Grenadiers, ‘Obby Oss’, the Fool, and villagers, hunt for the fugitive Earl of Rone in the village, finally finding him on the Monday night.

Watched by hundreds of spectators, the captured Earl is placed backwards on a donkey, then paraded, 'shot', and heckled through the streets of Combe Martin. The parade pauses at the Pack o' Cards Inn>.

The Earl of Rone festivities end at the harbour beach on the Monday evening, where the Earl is summarily 'executed' and 'thrown into the sea'. Visit the official Earl of Rone website for full details➡

See the costumes, a video, and photographs, at Combe Martin Museum on Cross Street. 

Combe Martin’s Strawberry Fair marks the start of the famous 'strawberry season' on Saturday June 7, 2025. The annual Strawberry Fair including crafts and activities usually take place at Combe Martin Village Hall, High Street, and on the old Bowling Green behind the Castle Inn on Castle Street.

Combe Martin Gardening Club and Women’s Institute meet regularly at the Parish Church Hall, Rectory Road, Combe Martin. Details can be found on Facebook and websites.

Where to Find Info

Combe Martin's events are subject to change. Visit the Combe Martin Village Hall website> for news of upcoming events, meetings and parties, and check out Visit Combe Martin online. Also visit  Facebook/What's on Combe Martin. 

Combe Martin Museum> on Cross Street is open on weekdays, and pick up the local Shammickite magazine available from several outlets. Also check with Combe Martin's Pubs> for their upcoming events and music. 

We thank local archaeologist Trevor Dunkerley for the Carnival photo from 1956. 

Carnival Flashback - Do you recognise any local names in this local news item from 1945? Download the List˃

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Our Combe Martin Earl of Rone Video on YouTube