30 days of fun at Chelmsford Festival

If you’re looking for something fun to get involved in this summer, look no further than Chelmsford Festival.

It’s a 30-day long celebration of community, bringing together artists, creative organisations, businesses, groups and individuals from 10 June to 9 July. We’ve picked some of the eclectic events on offer, but whatever your age or interests, you’re sure to find one that takes your fancy!

The Big Lunch kicks off the festival in Central Park

On Saturday 10 June, from 12:30 to 2:30pm, residents are invited to a community picnic in Central Park to launch Chelmsford Festival. It is a lovely opportunity to meet local communities, share stories and make friends. There may even be some games! Bring a blanket, your favourite food and drink, and a smile.

Beautiful pieces to see at The Art Place

Love art? Drop into The Art Place in The Meadows Shopping Centre any time you like throughout the course of the festival to see beautiful artwork by local artists. There’ll also be an art trail during the festival and an art & crafts fair on 11 June in Tindal Square.

The Art Place, run by Ideas Hub, is a creative community space dedicated to showcasing visual arts of all kinds. It’s open from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10:30am-4pm on Sundays. There are lots of art workshops and activities on offer throughout the year, as well as social group meetups for a mixture of ages and abilities to enjoy. Keep your eyes peeled for these on The Art Place social media channels.

Dress up, dance and get creative at Chelmsford Carnival

Chelmsford Carnival is proud to be one of the first eco-friendly parades in the UK. Everyone is encouraged to dress up and join a colourful, fun and inclusive street procession that brings communities together. Walk, dance or skip through Chelmsford, make your own flag, banner or outfit – do whatever takes your fancy! If you wish to take part in the parade, please email info@chelmsfordcarnival.co.uk to register your interest.

Chelmsford Carnival takes place from 1pm on Sunday 2 July. It follows a special route through Chelmsford City Centre, and finishes in Oaklands Park. You can find out more about this fabulous event, including the new route for this year, via the Chelmsford Carnival website.

Streets Alive to end Chelmsford Festival

Chelmsford Festival will end with a fabulous finale on Sunday 9 July in the city centre. Come along anytime from 12 to 3pm for an afternoon of fun, laughter and general silliness. What to expect: some of the best street theatre groups in the UK getting up to all sorts of mischief. Expect the unexpected!

You can find out more about Chelmsford Festival here, including a full list of events. You can also take a look at videos from previous years via the official Chelmsford Festival YouTube channel.