What's On in Essex

Epping Ongar Lights Express

Venue: Epping Ongar Railway

Website: www.eorailway.co.uk

Join the festive action on board and get in the party mood with a festive DJ mix of music the whole family will love. Each passenger will receive their own interactive LED wristband which is synchronised...

RHS Glow

Venue: RHS Hyde Hall

Website: www.rhs.org.uk

Create magical festive memories with loved ones at RHS Hyde Hall’s winter garden illuminations in Essex, as dazzling new installations light your way on this year’s spectacular Glow trail.Tickets must...

The New Adventures of Peter Pan

Venue: Mercury Theatre

Website: www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

Colchester’s favourite pantomime Neverland bursts to life in a spectacular production. The New Adventures of Peter Pan promises to be an awe-inspiring spectacle with the perfect blend of breath-taking...

Great Notley Country Park Junior Parkrun

Venue: Great Notley Country Park

Website: www.explore-essex.com

Join this free, weekly 2k run aimed specifically at juniors aged 4 to 14 years-old. Parkrun organise free, weekly, 2km timed runs around the world for children. They are open to everyone and take place...

Gruffalo Trail

Venue: Thorndon Country Park

Website: www.essexwt.org.uk/visit/nature-trail/gruffalo

Discover the magic of the deep dark wood with this self-led trail searching for the amazing hand crafted carvings of the Gruffalo characters. No booking required and the pathways are buggy friendly.

High Ropes Quiet Sessions

Venue: Nuclear High Ropes

Website: www.nuclearhighropes.co.uk

Embark on a uniquely tailored adventure where tranquility meets thrilling heights! The exclusive Quiet Sessions have been thoughtfully designed to cater to individuals with Special Educational Needs (SEN),...

Jigsaw Performing Arts

Venue: Chelmsford and Brentwood

Website: www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk

Jigsaw's singing, dance and drama classes are dedicated to boosting confidence, improving social and communication skills and are lots of fun! Find your place to belong this autumn, and have the chance...

Kids for a Quid

Venue: Epping Ongar Railway

Website: www.eorailway.co.uk

Keep the kids entertained on a day out with a steam and hauled heritage train service when Child tickets are just £1! Tickets offer unlimited travel on heritage steam and diesel trains and vintage London...

Laser Tag Parties

Venue: Laser Mayhem

Website: www.laser-mayhem.co.uk

Offering Laser Tag from 7+ years and Mini-Paintball from ages 8-13. Laser Mayhem activities are perfect to keep up those team bonds. The large party rooms are ideal and they also offer food packages. Call...

Little Monkeys Sessions

Venue: Nuclear High Ropes

Website: www.nuclearhighropes.co.uk

The new High Ropes Little Monkeys Sessions are crafted with your comfort in mind, offering access to the lower high ropes levels where you can build confidence at your own pace. Conquer your fears and...

Northlands Junior Parkrun

Venue: Northlands Park

Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/northlands-juniors

A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) held every Sunday at 9am. Free to join but you must register before you first go along. The aim is to have fun so go along and...

SEN Club

Venue: Time and Space in Battlesbridge

Website: www.facebook.com/sen.club.2024

SEN Club is a lively, fun club for children with special needs and their families. Activities include Lego, biscuit decorating, crafts and toys, the children also enjoy parachute games to music and a lovely...

Try a free Perform Class

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.perform.org.uk/try

Packed with fun drama-based games, singing and dancing, sessions allow reserved children to come out of their shell and give energetic children the perfect outlet to express themselves. Every child is...

Young Farmers Club

Venue: Lambourne End

Website: www.lambourne-end.org.uk/youngfarmersclub

The young farmers will be in a group of 12 and led by one member of staff along with additional team leader volunteers. The club aims to provide opportunities for young people to develop and participate...

Havering Christmas Land

Venue: Harrow Lodge Park

Website: www.haveringmind.org.uk

Mind in Havering, Barking and Dagenham will transform and illuminate the ‘secret garden’ next to the historic building: Harrow Lodge House, into a unique and immersive festive experience of magic and...

Jack and the Beanstalk

Venue: Towngate Theatre

Website: www.towngatetheatre.co.uk

Panto favourites, Sophie Ladds and Ian Hallard, will be returning as Basildon’s best baddie and fabulous flamboyant Dame!The Towngate’s award-winning, critically-acclaimed pantomimes are the jewel...

Dick Whittington

Venue: Harlow Playhouse

Website: www.harlowplayhouse.co.uk

Join Dick on his journey through panto land as he seeks fame and fortune! Facing the wicked King Rat and his rat horde threatening global chaos, Dick and friends must do all they can to save the day! This...

Enlightened 2024

Venue: Hylands Estate

Website: www.hylandsestate.co.uk

Enlightened features over a mile of specially curated illuminations that dance with delight along with a whole wealth of brand-new installations which have never been seen before at Enlightened Hylands....

Snow White

Venue: Chelmsford Theatre

Website: www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk

Snow White and friends glide into Chelmsford for the 2024 panto with all the ingredients of a perfect family Christmas treat at Chelmsford Theatre. Expect back-chatting mirrors, evil stepmothers, kind...

Enchanted Trail of Light

Venue: Colchester Zoo

Website: www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com

Experience a whole host of illuminations along a designated route, featuring an immersive blue ice tunnel, magical rainbow light bridge and life-sized animal illuminations. Plus, you can control the magic...

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

Venue: Princes Theatre

Website: www.princestheatre.co.uk

Go and see the beautiful Snow White and her seven little friends from the enchanted forest as they attempt to defeat the evil Wicked Queen who is overcome with jealously when her magic mirror declares...

Elf The Musical

Venue: Charter Hall

Website: www.colchester-events.co.uk

The hilarious tale of Buddy, who, as a baby, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and grows up in the North Pole. Raised as an elf and never quite fitting in, when Santa tells him the truth of...

Jack and the Beanstalk

Venue: Saffron Hall

Website: www.saffronhall.com

Join Jack Trott as he embarks on an extraordinary journey up the beanstalk to an enchanted land above the clouds. With hilarious antics, loveable characters, and a handful of magic beans, this traditional...

Drop-off Climbing Sessions

Venue: IndiRock

Address: Victoria Shopping Centre

Website: www.indirock.co.uk

Drop your child off with IndiRock for two hours each weekday morning throughout the school holidays, and get yourself a break! 10am-12pm every weekday. Suitable for ages 6-13 years.

The Owl Who Came For Christmas

Venue: Palace Theatre

Website: www.trafalgartickets.com/palace-theatre-southend

Inspired by the true story of Rosie the Owl, this charming tale celebrates the power of love, kindness, and the magic of Christmas. With toe-tapping songs, captivating puppetry, and plenty of opportunities...

Winter Reading Challenge

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.libraries.essex.gov.uk

Kids will take part in various exciting challenges ranging from reading to creating art to acting! They’ll choose from 12 challenges, and as they complete them, they’ll earn stickers to help the dragons...

The Royal Ballet and Opera: The Nutcracker

Venue: Chelmsford Theatre

Website: www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk

Join Clara at a delightful Christmas Eve party that becomes a magical adventure once everyone else is tucked up in bed. Marvel at the brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s score, as Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker...

Taylormania

Venue: Charter Hall

Website: www.colchester-events.co.uk

An award-winning extravaganza that plays tribute to one of the leading contemporary recording artists of our time. Katy Ellis, a talented ‘Swiftie’ with an incredible live band and dancers promises...

Colchester Operatic Society – The Little Mermaid

Venue: Mercury Theatre

Website: www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

Let Colchester Operatic Society take you on an ‘under the sea’ musical adventure following the timeless tale of Ariel, a spirited young mermaid, who longs to be part of the human world. But transforming...

Pop Princesses

Venue: Towngate Theatre

Website: www.towngatetheatre.co.uk

A magical show where beautiful Princesses become Pop Stars. They just love to sing! Featuring a soundtrack of top pop hits from artists such as Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Lizzo,...