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 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: We Are Music DJ Sessions
Are you ready to unleash your inner DJ superstar?
- Dates: April 15 - May 24, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 4:30pm - 7:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: Free
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: April 15 - May 24, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 4:30pm - 7:00pm
- 8-16
- Price: 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
Essex Book Festival: Super Short Story Competition
Young people across Essex are being invited to join a Super Short Story competition!
- Dates: April 22 - May 24, 2024
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Price:
Jaywick Martello Tower: Creative Net
Free workshops on the first Wednesday of every month. Everybody welcome.
- Dates: May 1, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 11:00am - 1:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Jaywick Martello Tower: Natural Surroundings
This exhibition by artist Duffy Tomei is inspired and focuses on the beauty of our natural surroundings.
- Dates: May 2 - June 2, 2024
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
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:
- May 4, 2024
- May 5, 2024
- May 6, 2024
- May 18, 2024
- May 19, 2024
- (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 Bradwell: Family Powerboating Experience Days
Take to the water on a powerboat to experience a day on the River Blackwater with your family.
- Dates:
- May 4, 2024
- May 5, 2024
- May 6, 2024
- May 18, 2024
- May 19, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Bradwell
- Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £280 for up to seven people.
Great Notley Country Park Junior Parkrun
Join this free, weekly 2k run aimed specifically at juniors aged 4 to 14 years-old.
- Dates:
- April 28, 2024
- May 5, 2024
- May 12, 2024
- May 19, 2024
- May 26, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 6:00pm
- 4 to 14
- 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.
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:
- 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.
Finchingfield Post Mill: Heritage Open Days
Visit the Grade II listed Finchingfield Post Mill, the oldest windmill in Essex.
- Dates:
- May 11, 2024
- May 12, 2024
- June 16, 2024
- August 18, 2024
- September 15, 2024
- Venue: Finchingfield Post Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Alderford Water Mill - Heritage Open Day
Alderford water mill is open on the second Sunday of each month from April through to October.
- Dates:
- May 12, 2024
- June 9, 2024
- July 14, 2024
- August 11, 2024
- September 8, 2024
- (continued …)
- Venue: Alderford Street
- 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:
- May 12, 2024
- June 16, 2024
- July 21, 2024
- August 18, 2024
- September 15, 2024
- Venue: Mountnessing Post Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Stock Tower Mill: Heritage Open Days
Visit Stock Tower Mill, a popular five-storey Grade II listed tower mill.
- Dates:
- May 12, 2024
- June 9, 2024
- July 14, 2024
- August 11, 2024
- September 15, 2024
- Venue: Stock Tower Mill
- Times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- 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:
- April 29, 2024
- May 13, 2024
- May 20, 2024
- June 10, 2024
- June 17, 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:
- April 29, 2024
- May 13, 2024
- May 20, 2024
- June 10, 2024
- June 17, 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.
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:
- 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
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
ERO Presents Special: The Printed Maps of Essex, 1576-1805
Join speaker Peter Walker for this talk that covers the history of maps of Essex.
- Dates: May 25, 2024
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- 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
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
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
Event location map
Site Hire
Many of our parks and places are available for event and 3rd party hire.