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
Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Autumn has arrived and the parks are brimming with colour. See how many of these seasonal sights you can spot on your next trip to an Essex Country Park.
- Dates: September 26 - November 30, 2024
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price:
Monster Mysteries Trail at Cudmore Grove Country Park
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail sheet supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
Monster Mysteries Trail at Danbury Country Park
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail sheet supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
Monster Mysteries Trail at Great Notley Country Park
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail sheet supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
Monster Mysteries Trail at Thorndon Country Park
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail sheet supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Thorndon Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
Monster Mysteries Trail at Weald Country Park
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail sheet supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
Monster Mysteries Trail at Cressing Temple Barns
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
Monster Mysteries Trail at Belhus Woods Country Park
Head to an Essex Country Park this October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
- Dates: October 19 - November 3, 2024
- Venue: Belhus Woods Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Trail is free
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:
November 1, 2024
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Danbury
- Times: 8:30am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: Price £40.00 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:
November 1, 2024
- 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.
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:
November 1, 2024
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: £40.00 for the whole day!
Jaywick Martello Tower Autumn talk: The Siege of Colchester 1648
Join Andrew Watson for a captivating exploration of the Siege of Colchester.
- Dates: November 1, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 11:00am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Entry £2.00, free refreshments provided.
Jaywick Martello Tower: We Are Music
Are you, or someone you know, interested in joining a band? Are you a part of a band and want to improve your musical skills as a group?
- Dates:
November 1, 2024- November 2, 2024
- November 3, 2024
- November 4, 2024
- November 6, 2024
- (continued …)
- 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:
- November 3, 2024
- November 10, 2024
- November 17, 2024
- November 24, 2024
- December 1, 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:
- November 4, 2024
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking: 9 September to 14 October– 6 sessions £51.00 and 4 November to 9 December – 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:
- November 4, 2024
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Sibling discounts available. Please call to enquire.
Jaywick Martello Tower: We Are Music DJ Sessions
Are you ready to unleash your inner DJ superstar?
- Dates:
- November 5, 2024
- November 12, 2024
- November 19, 2024
- November 26, 2024
- December 3, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 4:30pm - 5:30pm
- Teenagers
- Price: Free
*Cancelled* Watercolour Christmas Cards and Tags Workshop
Come and join us at Cressing Temple Barns on this beginners' watercolour and vintage lace Christmas cards and tags workshop with Julie Hunt-Terry.
- Dates: November 6, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 2:00pm
- For adults
- Price: Adults £60.00, Friends of Cressing Temple Barns £50.00
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 8 - 10, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Adults £7.00, Concessions £6.00, 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:
- November 9, 2024
- December 7, 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.
*Sold Out* Workshop: One Day Willow Deer Sculpture course with Jo Hammond
Jojn Jo Hammond at Cressing Temple Barns for this one day workshop and it's a great opportunity to work with one of East Anglia’s best willow workers.
- Dates: November 16, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price: Adult £80.00, Friends of Cressing Temple members £70.00
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:
- November 23, 2024
- December 7, 2024
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 7:00pm - 9:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Essex Record Office Presents: A round-up of archaeology in Essex
Join speakers Maria Medlycott and Zoe Bridges as they give an overview of some archaeological digs that have recently been undertaken or are still being dug and what's being dug up in Burnham!
- Dates: November 26, 2024
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 1:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £8.50
Mental Elf Festive Fun Run
Mental Elf is a festive fun run for everyone – whether you’re a seasoned runner or prefer a stroll in the park.
- Dates: November 30, 2024
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 11:00am - 1:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free to £60.00 (See website)
Luxury Christmas wreath making with Julie Hunt-Terry
Come and join Julie at Cressing Temple Barns for this creative, fun and relaxed Christmas wreath making workshop.
- Dates: December 5, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 12:30pm
- For adults
- Price: £69.00, Members £59.00.
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
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
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
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
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.