Countyfile: Norfolk - Far from flat, with its history, circus and food festivals

Polkey's Mill, Reedham on the Norfolk Broads (Evelyn Simak)

Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish are among the competitors racing in this year's Tour of Britain Cycle Race. Cheer them on today at the Taste the Best of Norfolk Food & Drink Festival (01603 881939; norfolkfoodfestival.co.uk). They are expected to cross the finishing line of the Norfolk leg at the Showground in Norwich at 2.44pm, but the free event has a packed schedule which runs from 11am to 4pm.

The fun day is part of the Norfolk Food & Drink Festival, a programme of appetising events taking place across the county until 7 October. Other highlights include the Brecks Food and Drink Festival at Swaffham, 14-16 September, and the Aylsham Food Festival, 5-7 October.

Head to St George's Park in Great Yarmouth today for the Out There International Festival of Circus and Street Arts (01493 745458; seachangearts.org.uk/out-there-2012; free). Prepare to be amazed by the inspired creativity of a variety of acts.

Grab the final chance to take part in Norfolk's Heritage Open Days (01603 213999; www.heritagecity.org), which end today. This celebration of the county's history offers access to special events and attractions across the county for free. For example, Polkey's Mill and Reedham Marsh Steam Engine House (01362 869394; www.norfolkwindmills.co.uk; 1pm-4pm), at Reedham on the Norfolk Broads, will open for the afternoon today so you can learn about the role played by this restored Victorian mill in draining the marshes over the years.

A guided walk around Norwich is now available on a smart phone app – Norwich: Heritage City – which launched last weekend and is available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Seventy years after the United States 8th Army Air Force was stationed in the county, Norfolk is celebrating the many links it has made with the US during the past 400 years. Norfolk's American Connections (07789 282236; norfolksamericanconnections.com; various prices), a four-month project, will kick off with a new exhibition of the same name at The Archive Centre in Norwich (01603 222599; archives.norfolk.gov.uk; free).

Norfolk joins with its neighbour Suffolk this autumn to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the composer Benjamin Britten. Familiar Fields (01603 503718; familiarfields.org; various prices) is a year-long project, starting in November, that will bring together music and art organisations for a range of events and performances.

For further information go to visitnorfolk.co.uk and visiteastofengland.com.