Explore our events and activities
Keep your family busy this season at the Explore Essex unique collection of Essex Country Parks, heritage places and Essex Outdoors centres.
Check out amazing activities and exciting events. From Forest School to parkrun there are lots of ways to make the most of the amazing places on your doorstep and beyond.
Read our Essex Explorer magazine for fascinating features, more listings and seasonal inspiration for days out with your family and furry friends.
Discover our annual Explorer Pass to help you save money on car parking at all the Essex Country Parks and more and 'get out more' with family and friends this season.
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Event search results
25 ways to Explore Essex for 2025
From coastal strolls to learning something new, kickstart 2025 with our 25 things to do this New Year.
- Dates: January 1 - March 31, 2025
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Various
Sky Ropes and Sky Ropes Junior at Great Notley
Your family adventure starts here!
- Dates:
- February 15 - 23, 2025
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- For the whole family
- Price: Adult £13.00 Young person (8-17) £13.00, Under 8 £13.00
Essex Outdoors School Holiday Activity Days
Keep your kids (8-16) active, entertained and coming back for more this half term
- Dates: February 17 - 21, 2025
- Times: 9:00am - 4:30pm
- 8-16
- Price: £20 per child per day (February dates only).
Jaywick Martello Tower: Eco-Youth Exhibition
Come see the artwork produced by young people from the Eco Youth Project, run by artist Jane Stewart in Harwich and around Tendring.
- Dates:
- February 22, 2025
- February 23, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
The Lock Climbing Wall: Kids Fun Climb
These fun sessions for children are ideal if they want to try climbing before committing to more structured lessons.
- Dates:
- February 22, 2025
- March 1, 2025
- March 8, 2025
- March 15, 2025
- March 22, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
- 8-16
- Price: £13.00
Jaywick Martello Tower: To Guard the Sea – Mercury Theatre
Step back in time with a free, captivating promenade theatre experience at Jaywick Martello Tower.
- Dates: February 22, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Woodland Play at Danbury Country Park
Join us for woodland play sessions, aimed at the under-5's. Activities include forest crafts and building dens.
- Dates:
- February 24, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- June 2, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for 2025. Price £34.00 for four weeks 20 January to 10 February.
Home Education Forest School sessions at 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:
- February 24, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- June 2, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for January 2025. Sibling discounts available.
The Lock Climbing Wall: Give it a go sessions (Adults)
If you want to see what all the fuss is about and want to try climbing for the first time, then this is the course for you. No experience required, just a desire to give it a go!
- Dates:
- February 27, 2025
- March 27, 2025
- April 24, 2025
- May 22, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
- For adults
- Price: £22.00 (course fee includes all tuition and kit hire).
Family Forest School at 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:
- March 1, 2025
- April 5, 2025
- May 10, 2025
- June 7, 2025
- July 5, 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.
ERO Presents Special: Fanny, Stella and Fred Spalding
Join speakers Neil McKenna and Chris Lambert and discover more about the young men who shocked Victorian Britain and their photographer.
- Dates: March 1, 2025
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 2:00pm - 3:30pm
- For adults
- Price: £7.00
The Lock Climbing Wall: Learn to Climb (Two evenings)
This course is recommended for those who want to learn the fundamentals of climbing and how to stay safe in a climbing wall. The course covers all the basics you will need to be able to climb unsupervised in an indoor climbing wall.
- Dates:
- March 6, 2025
- March 13, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £75.00 course fee includes all tuition and kit hire plus wall membership (approx. £20.00) to make climbing at The Lock even easier.
The Lock Climbing Wall: Climbing Refresher
Climbed before? Had a lengthy break from climbing? Want to build on a previous experience? This is the course for you.
- Dates:
- March 20, 2025
- May 15, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £35.00 course fee includes all tuition and equipment hire.
Cressing Temple Barns: One Day Egg Basket course workshop with Jo Hammond
Join Jo Hammond for this workshop where you'll weave a small traditional basket, complete with handle, it's ideal for collecting eggs or fruit.
- Dates: March 22, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price: Tickets: Adult £80.00. Friends of Cressing Temple Barns: £70.00
The Lock Climbing Wall: Youth Learn to Climb
An intensive introduction to indoor climbing for students aged 14 to 17-years-old.
- Dates: March 23, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Teenagers
- Price: £60.00 (with a valid NUS card)
Essex International Film Festival 2025
The Essex International Film Festival 2025 is a celebration of independent filmmaking.
- Dates: March 27 - 30, 2025
- Times: 12:00pm - 9:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: For tickets see website.
Cressing Temple Barns: Charlie Owen Essex Spring Shopping Fair
The Charlie Owens Essex Spring Fair comes to Cressing Temple Barns.
- Dates: April 12 - 13, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- 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
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 7:00pm - 9:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Parkrun: Great Notley Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free to take part
Parkrun: Cudmore Grove Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Parkrun: Hadleigh Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Parkrun: Marsh Farm Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Marsh Farm Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Parkrun: Weald Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Event location map
Site Hire
Many of our parks and places are available for event and 3rd party hire.
