Lincolnshire Day

Lincolnshire Day is celebrated every year on October 1st to honour the rich history and cultural identity of the county.

Origins

The official creation of Lincolnshire Day in 2006 marked the 470th anniversary of the Lincolnshire Rising — an uprising of local people against the policies and rule of Henry VIII.

The day is designed to help the people of Lincolnshire:

Foster pride in local heritage.
Celebrate the culture, dialect, traditions, and people of Lincolnshire.
Raise awareness of the county’s contributions to the UK, from aviation to agriculture.

How the day is celebrated

Lincolnshire Day may be a relatively modern tradition, but it’s already grown into a meaningful celebration of local identity, culture, and pride. While it’s not marked by official parades or public holidays, there are plenty of grassroots traditions and regional customs that people embrace to celebrate their county.

Flying the Lincolnshire Flag

The Lincolnshire flag, adopted in 2005, is proudly flown on homes, schools, businesses, and civic buildings. On the day many people wear flag-themed clothing or accessories.

The design of the flag is a red cross edged in yellow, set on a green and blue background with a gold fleur-de-lis in the centre. It's colours are as follows:

Red for the Saint George's cross
Green for agriculture
Blue for the sea and skies
Yellow for crops and wealth

The Fleur-de-lis as a symbol of Lincoln Cathedral and the Virgin Mary.

Food & drink

Eating and drinking plays a central role in local pride on Lincolnshire Day. Some key items people enjoy include:

Lincolnshire Sausages – made with sage and coarsely ground pork; a regional staple
Plum Bread – a rich, spiced fruit loaf often enjoyed with butter and cheese
Haslet – a spiced pork meatloaf, often served cold
Stuffed Chine – a unique local delicacy of pork neck cured and stuffed with parsley
Poacher Cheese – a strong cheddar-like cheese made in Alford/li>
Local ales and ciders often accompany these

Celebrations in Schools

Pupils learn about Lincolnshire history, local dialect, and folk traditions. They may dress in the flag's colours. Activities often include:

Baking Lincolnshire plum bread.
Local history quizzes.
Creative writing or art contests inspired by the landscape or culture.

Cultural Events and Reenactments

Local museums, historical societies, and heritage sites often host:

Talks, walks, and exhibitions on the Lincolnshire Rising, aviation history, and more.
Folk music performances, featuring Lincolnshire dialect songs and dances.
Historical reenactments, especially in Louth and Lincoln, focusing on 16th-century resistance.

Lincolnshire Dialect & Pride

Some people mark the day by celebrating local dialect words and phrases like:

"Nowt" (nothing), "summat" (something), "mardy" (grumpy), and "owt fer nowt" (something for nothing).

Social media lights up with "Happy Lincolnshire Day" messages, shared memories, or dialect word games.

Celebrating local industry and nature

Lincolnshire’s agricultural roots are honoured with farmers’ markets showcasing local produce. There are also country shows or fairs.

Connecting with the landscape, nature walks or heritage trails take place throughout locations in the county's beautiful natural scenery. The most popular destinations are the Lincolnshire Wolds or The Fens.