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
Stick Man Sculpture Trail and Colouring Competition at Weald Country Park
Come and enjoy the The Stick Man sculpture trail this winter at Weald Country Park.
- Dates: November 18, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 8:00am - 4:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free*
Christmas Colouring
Spread some seasonal cheer with our cute colouring sheet
- Dates: November 18 - December 31, 2024
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free. Print at home.
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Belhus Woods
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Belhus Woods Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Cudmore Grove
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Great Notley
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Hadleigh
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Thorndon Country Park
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Thorndon Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Weald Country Park
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Cressing Temple Barns
Enjoy this festive trail funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 1, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at Danbury Country Park
Enjoy this festive trail at the Essex Country Parks funded by the Year of Numbers.
- Dates: December 2, 2024 - January 5, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Free*
Jaywick Martello Tower: We Are Music DJ Sessions
Are you ready to unleash your inner DJ superstar?
- Dates:
December 10, 2024- December 17, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 4:30pm - 5:30pm
- Teenagers
- Price: Free
Great Notley Country Park Junior Parkrun
Join this free, weekly 2k run aimed specifically at juniors aged 4 to 14 years-old.
- Dates:
- December 15, 2024
- December 22, 2024
- December 29, 2024
- January 5, 2025
- January 12, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 6:00pm
- 4 to 14
- Price: Free
Braintree and Great Notley Santa Fun Run
A festive 5km run/walk to raise money for Essex homelessness charity, Hope House Essex - breaking the cycle of homelessness.
- Dates: December 15, 2024
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free to £25.00
ERO Presents: Brigade-Major Hope and Major Reynolds and the defence of Essex
Join Neil Wiffen as he speaks about Brigade-Major Alexander Hope of Luffness and Major Thomas Vincent Reynolds of Great Baddow and the defence of Essex, 1797-8.
- Dates: January 7, 2025
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £6.25
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:
- January 20, 2025
- 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:
- January 20, 2025
- 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.
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:
- February 1, 2025
- March 1, 2025
- April 5, 2025
- May 10, 2025
- June 7, 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 Lady Anne Bacon: A woman of learning at the Tudor Court
Join speaker Deborah Spring as she talks about an intelligent and astute woman who lived through the great political and religious transitions of five reigns.
- Dates: February 4, 2025
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £6.25
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
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
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
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
Event location map
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Many of our parks and places are available for event and 3rd party hire.