Explore our events and activities
Keep your family busy this season. Check out amazing activities and exciting events taking place in our Essex Country Parks, at our Heritage Places and Essex Outdoors centres. From Forest School to parkrun there are lots of ways to Explore Essex.
We're excited to have supported lots of exciting community events and programmes through the Essex County Council Arts and Cultural Fund. Keep an eye on the below for lots of interesting sessions to enjoy near you.
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 Essex 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.
Sign-up to our Explore Essex newsletters to receive regular news and inspiration, discover what's going on around the county direct to your inbox.
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Event search results
The Deepenings Trail at Cudmore Grove
Enjoy this walking trail as you explore The Deepenings.
- Dates: October 12, 2023 - April 30, 2024
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
The Gruffalo and Friends 25th Birthday Colouring Competition
Win £50 of goodies every month with our colouring competition
- Dates: February 3 - August 31, 2024
- Venue: Thorndon Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free to enter
Jaywick Martello Tower: Growing up, digging deep: The story of Scouts, food and farming
Food is central to our lives. We all eat it, talk about it and most of us have a go at cooking or even growing it.
- Dates: March 2 - April 28, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Welcome to Essex: A sculptural installation by Lata Upadhyaya (Chelmsford Library)
Welcome to Essex (2023) transforms a family of three Matryoshka dolls with the identities of the communities that call Essex home, celebrating the rich diversity of contemporary Britain and reflecting on the valuable contribution that immigration has made to British society.
- Dates: March 18 - April 19, 2024
- Venue: Market Road
- Times: 9:00am - 7:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Jaywick Martello Tower: Spring Talks
Join us at Jaywick Martello Tower for our 2024 series of Spring Talks.
- Dates:
- March 22, 2024
- March 29, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 11:00am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £2.00
Great Notley Country Park Junior Parkrun
Join this free, weekly 2k run aimed specifically at juniors aged 4 to 14 years-old.
- Dates:
- March 24, 2024
- March 31, 2024
- April 7, 2024
- April 14, 2024
- April 21, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 6:00pm
- 4 to 14
- 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:
- March 25, 2024
- April 15, 2024
- April 22, 2024
- April 29, 2024
- May 13, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking: 15 April to 30 May – 5 sessions £42.50. 10 June to 15 July – 6 sessions £51.00. Sibling discounts available. Call to enquire.
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:
- March 25, 2024
- April 15, 2024
- April 22, 2024
- April 29, 2024
- May 13, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking: 15 April to 30 May – 5 sessions £42.50. 10 June to 15 July – 6 sessions £51.00. Sibling discounts available. Please call to enquire.
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Great Notley
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Thorndon
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Thorndon Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Weald
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Hadleigh
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Cressing Temple Barns
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Danbury
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Cudmore Grove
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates: March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Animal Mysteries Easter Trail: Belhus Woods
Enjoy our Eggscellent Easter Trails at the Essex Country Parks this school holiday
- Dates:
- March 29 - April 14, 2024
- Venue: Belhus Woods Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free
Sky Ropes and Sky Ropes Junior at Great Notley
Your family adventure starts here!
- Dates:
- March 29, 2024
- March 30, 2024
- March 31, 2024
- April 1, 2024
- April 2, 2024
- April 3, 2024
- (continued …)
- 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: 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:
- April 2, 2024
- April 3, 2024
- April 4, 2024
- April 5, 2024
- April 8, 2024
- April 9, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: £37.50 for the whole day! Book four days get fifth free! (Must be for the same individual or siblings) Call us on 01279 620270 for the discount.
Essex Outdoors School Holiday Activity Days: Danbury
Our action packed activity day experiences run at our Danbury 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:
- April 2, 2024
- April 3, 2024
- April 4, 2024
- April 5, 2024
- April 8, 2024
- April 9, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Danbury
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: Price £37.50 per child per day.
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:
- April 2, 2024
- April 3, 2024
- April 4, 2024
- April 8, 2024
- April 9, 2024
- April 10, 2024
- (continued …)
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: £37.50 per child per day.
Easter Forest School at Thorndon Country Park - featuring The Gruffalo
Join us for this special session of Forest School as part of our Gruffalo 25th birthday celebrations
- Dates:
- April 3, 2024
- April 10, 2024
- Venue: Thorndon Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: £10 (price includes car parking and accompanying adults)
*New* Family Forest School at Great Notley Country Park
Following the success of Spooky Forest School in 2023, we are pleased to confirm a brand NEW Family Forest School running once a month on Saturdays at Great Notley Country Park.
- Dates:
- April 6, 2024
- May 18, 2024
- June 1, 2024
- July 6, 2024
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 11:00am - 2:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £10
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:
- April 8 - 9, 2024
- April 10 - 11, 2024
- April 11 - 12, 2024
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: Price: £37.50 per child per day. Buy four days get the fifth free. To book this offer please call the centre on 01621 776256.
ERO Presents: Out of Essex
The Escapes and Adventures of Kitty Marshall and her Friendship with Mrs Pankhurst.
- Dates: April 9, 2024
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £6.25
Charlie Owen Essex Spring Shopping Fair
The Charlie Owens Essex Spring Fair comes to Cressing Temple Barns
- Dates: April 20 - 21, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- For the whole family
- Price: Adults £5, Concessions £4 and children free
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:
- April 20, 2024
- May 11, 2024
- June 8, 2024
- July 13, 2024
- 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.
Welcome to Essex: A sculptural installation by Lata Upadhyaya (Harlow Library)
Welcome to Essex (2023) transforms a family of three Matryoshka dolls with the identities of the communities that call Essex home, celebrating the rich diversity of contemporary Britain and reflecting on the valuable contribution that immigration has made to British society.
- Dates: April 22 - May 24, 2024
- Times: 9:00am - 5:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
ERO Presents: Beach Hut People
Have you ever wondered about the people who choose to spend summer days in their beach huts? Maybe you’ve taken pictures of the huts and chuckled at their cheeky names?
- Dates: May 7, 2024
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £6.25
Temple at War: Keeping History Alive
Temple at War is a two day military and vintage event packed full of everything to create one of the largest interactive and immersive historic re-enactment events in the south east of England whilst being totally family friendly.
- Dates:
- May 11, 2024
- May 12, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Saturday and Sunday tickets: £8.00 to £53.00. Weekend ticket: £17.00 to £72.00.
One Day Willow Bird Sculpture course with Jo Hammond
Join experienced tutor Jo Hammond for this workshop at Cressing Temple Barns.
- Dates: May 25, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £70.00 - £80.00
Helen Rollason Vintage Weekend
Shoppers and classic vehicle enthusiasts, start your engines as Helen Rollason Cancer Charity invites vintage and retro lovers to roll back the years and dress to impress for the Vintage Weekend.
- Dates: July 14, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Adults: £8 per person. Concessions (over 65): £7 per person. Children Uncer-16: £2 per person.
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 28, 2024
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 7:00pm - 9:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Great Notley Country Park Parkrun
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
Weald Country Park Parkrun
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Hadleigh Country Park Parkrun
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Marsh Farm Country Park Parkrun
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Marsh Farm Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
Cudmore Grove Country Park Parkrun
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Cudmore Grove 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.