Explore our events and activities
Check out amazing activities and exciting events at our unique collection of Essex Country Parks and heritage places. From Forest School to parkrun there are lots of ways to make the most of the amazing places on your doorstep and beyond.
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Event search results

Essex Libraries: Summer Reading Challenge
Join the Essex Libraries for this year's Summer Reading Challenge.
- Dates: July 19 - September 6, 2025
- Times: 8:00am - 5:00pm
- 4 to 14
- Price: Free

Bugs and Butterflies Summer Trail at Hadleigh Country Park
Help our rangers find the animals hiding in the parks this summer holidays . . .
- Dates: July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Thorndon Country Park
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates: July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Thorndon Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Belhus Woods Country Park
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates:
- July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Belhus Woods Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Great Notley Country Park
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates:
- July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Cressing Temple Barns
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates:
- July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Danbury Country Park
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates:
- July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Cudmore Grove Country Park
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates:
- July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Summer Magic Trail at Weald Country Park
Add a touch of summer magic to the school holidays with our Summer Magic Trails at the Essex Country Parks...
- Dates:
- July 19 - August 31, 2025
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free

Essex Outdoors: School Holiday Activity Days - Danbury
Action-packed kids holiday club activity days at Essex Outdoors Danbury.
- Dates:
- August 15, 2025
- August 18, 2025
- August 19, 2025
- August 20, 2025
- August 21, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Danbury
- Times: 8:30am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: £40.00 per child per day.

Essex Outdoors School Holiday Activity Days: Harlow
Our action-packed activity day experiences run at our Harlow Centre during the school holidays and are the ideal way for young people aged 8-16 to try exciting new experiences in the outdoors.
- Dates:
- August 15, 2025
- August 18, 2025
- August 19, 2025
- August 20, 2025
- August 21, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: £40.00 for the whole day. Book four days, get a fifth day free. (Individuals and siblings only).

Essex Outdoors Bradwell: Sailing Experience Days
Take to the water in a keelboat to experience a day on the River Blackwater with your family.
- Dates:
- August 16, 2025
- August 17, 2025
- August 18, 2025
- August 19, 2025
- August 20, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £210 for up to seven people (minimum age seven)

Essex Outdoors: Harlow High Adventure
- Dates:
- August 16, 2025
- August 17, 2025
- August 23, 2025
- August 24, 2025
- August 30, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Burntmill Lane
- Times: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
- 8-16
- Price: High Ropes Adventure Adult – £15 Young person (aged 8-17) – £12 Under 8 – £12 Climbing Wall Adventure Adult – £12 . Young person (aged 8-17) – £10. Under 8 – £10 All sessions are 90 minutes

Place To Be: A Woodland Weaving Project
Multidisciplinary artist Eloise Pilbeam is launching a series of free weaving workshops to create a community artwork at Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, Harlow..
- Dates:
- August 16, 2025
- August 17, 2025
- August 24, 2025
- August 30, 2025
- August 31, 2025
- Times: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Mersea Island Festival 2025
The Mersea Island Festival brings together children, young people and adults with or without a physical or learning disability.
- Dates: August 17 - 25, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Mersea
- Times: 6:00pm - 6:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: Week: Adult £350.00, under-18’s £313.00. Weekend: Adult £212.00, under-18’s £188.00. Day visitors: Prices: £42.50 per person per day. Meals (lunch and dinner) available at an additional cost of £12.00.

Finchingfield Post Mill: Heritage Open Days
Visit the Grade II listed Finchingfield Post Mill, the oldest windmill in Essex.
- Dates:
- August 17, 2025
- September 21, 2025
- Venue: Finchingfield Post Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Mountnessing Post Mill: Heritage Open Days
Visit Mountnessing Post Mill, the nearest Essex mill to London.
- Dates:
- August 17, 2025
- September 21, 2025
- Venue: Mountnessing Post Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Essex Outdoors School Holiday Activity Days: Bradwell
Our action packed activity day experiences run at our Bradwell Centre during the school holidays and are the ideal way for young people aged 8-16 to try exciting new experiences in the outdoors.
- Dates:
- August 18, 2025
- August 19, 2025
- August 20, 2025
- August 21, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- 8-16
- Price: Price: £40.00 per child per day. Buy four days get the fifth free. To book this offer please call the centre on 01621 776256.

Jaywick Martello Tower: Summer Talk - Thames Barges, bringing materials and men to build the Towers
Join Jaywick Martello Tower for their summer talk series focused on the Napoleonic history of Essex.
- Dates: August 19, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
- For adults
- Price: £2.00. Refreshments provided.

Family Wild Wednesdays at Danbury Country Park
Free family fun in the great outdoors this summer
- Dates:
- August 20, 2025
- August 27, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 11:00am - 2:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free (car parking charges apply)

Art of the Roadz FREE FEST
A free urban arts festival for all the family in Colchester.
- Dates: August 24, 2025
- Venue: High Street
- Times: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Essex Outdoors School Holiday Activity Days: Mersea
Action-packed kids holiday club activity days run at our four Essex Outdoors centres during the school holidays.
- Dates:
- August 26, 2025
- August 27, 2025
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: £40.00 per child per day. Buy four days and get the fifth free. To book this offer call the centre on 01206 383226.

Jaywick Martello Tower: Summer Talk - Soldier, Soldier Won't You Marry Me
Join Jaywick Martello Tower for our summer talk series focused on the Napoleonic history of Essex.
- Dates: August 26, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £2.00. Refreshments provided.

Essex Outdoors Bradwell: Family Powerboating Experience Days
Take to the water on a powerboat to experience a day on the River Blackwater with your family.
- Dates:
- August 30, 2025
- August 31, 2025
- September 13, 2025
- September 14, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £280 for up to seven people.

Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Join us for woodland play sessions, aimed at the under-5's. Activities include forest crafts and building dens.
- Dates:
- September 8, 2025
- September 15, 2025
- September 22, 2025
- September 29, 2025
- October 6, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for September and November 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.

Forest School sessions for Home Ed: Danbury Country Park
Aimed at home educated children, this series of six sessions at Danbury Country Park includes nature activities, forest crafts, imagination, physical play and building things.
- Dates:
- September 8, 2025
- September 15, 2025
- September 22, 2025
- September 29, 2025
- October 6, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for September 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.

Family Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Don’t let the children have all the fun, connecting with nature is beneficial for everyone. Come and join us at our Family Forest School sessions.
- Dates:
- September 13, 2025
- October 4, 2025
- November 8, 2025
- December 13, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 11:00am - 2:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £10 for the first child. £6 for siblings. Accompanying adults Free. Under 18 months free.

Jaywick Martello Tower: Wise Ram Theatre - Sundream: Acting and Theatre Workshop an Introduction
Join lead artists Molly and Sofia at the Jaywick Martello for a fun and interactive drama workshop.
- Dates: September 13, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 2:00pm - 3:30pm
- For adults
- Price: Free

Beeleigh Steam Mill: Heritage Open Days
Visit Beeleigh Steam Mill, one of the most attractive and fascinating in East Anglia.
- Dates:
- September 13, 2025
- September 14, 2025
- September 21, 2025
- Venue: Beeleigh Steam Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Jaywick Martello Tower: Wise Ram Theatre - Sundream: Celebration Event - Theatre, Music and Mingling
An opportunity to come together to celebrate local creativity and storytelling!
- Dates: September 13, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 5:00pm - 7:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Alderford Water Mill - Heritage Open Days
Alderford water mill is open on the second Sunday of each month from April through to October.
- Dates:
- September 14, 2025
- October 12, 2025
- Venue: Alderford Water Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Cressing Temple Barns: Make a willow pig sculpture
One day willow weaving pig sculpture course with Jo Hammond
- Dates: September 21, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £70 to £80

Place Services: Living with Heritage Assets: How to understand and navigate the planning system
This morning course is designed to provide an understanding of the planning system for those who own a listed building or live within a Conservation Area.
- Dates: September 24, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 9:30am - 12:30pm
- For adults
- Price: £45.00

Cressing Temple Barns: Charlie Owen Autumn Shopping Fair
Come along to the extremely popular and well established Autumn Fair at Cressing Temple Barns.
- Dates:
- September 27, 2025
- September 28, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 3:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Adults £6.00, concessions £5.00 and children free

North Essex Astronomical Society at Great Notley
North Essex Astronomical Society is one of the larger astronomical societies in the UK with over 200 members. They are also one of the few providing members with access to a full-sized observatory at a dark-sky location
- Dates:
- September 27, 2025
- October 25, 2025
- November 29, 2025
- December 13, 2025
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 7:00pm - 9:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Cressing Temple Barns: Apple Day
Join The Friends of Cressing Temple for Apple Day!
- Dates: October 12, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £4.00 for adults, children (under 18-years-old) free

Place Services: House History - Researching and Understanding Your Historic Building
This course is aimed at homeowners, heritage consultants, architects and anyone interested in researching the history and development of historic buildings.
- Dates: October 22, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 11:00am - 3:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £60.00

Cressing Temple Barns: Essex Christmas Fair
A very busy and well-established Christmas Fair (by Charlie Owen Events) with over 100 exhibitors spread around the beautiful setting of Cressing Temple Barns.
- Dates:
- November 14 - 16, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Adults £7.00, Concessions £6.00, children free
Event location map

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Many of our parks and places are available for event and 3rd party hire.
