Discover what’s on in Chelmsford this summer
The summer holidays are almost here, and Chelmsford is packed with ways to keep children, teens and families entertained. From free park sessions, creative workshops and hands-on history to outdoor adventures, wildlife walks and big days out, there’s something for everyone. Here’s your guide to making the most of summer in and around the city.
Have fun for free
Iron Age Day at the Museum of Chelmsford
Your school holiday adventure kicks off with a free Iron Age Day on Saturday 18 July, running from 10am to 5pm across the museum and the back lawn of Oaklands Park. Award-winning re-enactment group Britannia will bring the ancient past to life with displays of historical life and combat. Try your hand at archery, meet an Iron Age chieftain or Roman praetorian guard, see a catapult in action, and step back in time through face painting, storytelling, coin making and more!
Play in the Park
No summer calendar would be complete without Play in the Park! These free, two-hour multi-activity school holiday sessions are run by the council's Community Sport and Wellbeing team at venues across the Chelmsford district. Kids can join playworkers at a park near you between 22 July and 21 August. Activities vary by location, but expect plenty of inflatables, skateboarding lessons, parkour, circus skills and crafting. Check out the timetable to see what’s happening in your neighbourhood, and remember that booking in advance is essential.
Chelmsford Market Family Fun Day
Families are invited over to Market Square on Saturday 25 July as Chelmsford Market hosts its Family Fun Day. Pop down on the day for face painting, balloon modelling, a petting zoo, a children’s fairground ride and soft play area, with Essex Cosplayers meeting and greeting shoppers too.
Picnic in the Park
Picnic in the Park is back in Melbourne Park from 27 to 31 July with its usual selection of activities for 3 to 11-year-olds, including a climbing wall, have-a-go balance bikes, superhero parkour training, an inflatable disco dome and a range of arts and crafts. There’ll also be food demonstrations and tasting workshops, pick-your-own fruit and veg sessions and, of course, a free hot lunch for eligible children. Find out more on the Picnic in the Park webpage.
Hylands Estate Open Day
The Essex Foodies Big Summer Festival is back at Hylands for its August Open Estate Day. On Sunday 9 August from 10am to 3pm, the market will take over the back lawn with delicious street-food-inspired vendors, drinks vans and craft traders, alongside live music, outdoor games with Dovedale Sports Centre and storytelling with Mike Dodsworth in the Drawing Room. Bring the whole family and make a day of it.
Be a changemaker with Spark!
Teens and young people aged 13 to 25 can join Spark!, a group using art, culture and creativity to make Chelmsford an even more fun and inspiring place to live. The group meets on Monday evenings from 5pm to 7pm at Chelmer Gate Youth Centre, with optional creative workshops and extra activities also available.
Summer Reading Challenge 2026
Essex Libraries’ annual Summer Reading Challenge returns this year and the theme is ‘Read to the Beat’, inspiring children to explore the connection between stories and songs.
From now until 5 September, children can earn stickers by enjoying a book of their choice and sharing their thoughts about it with library staff or volunteers. Collect six stickers to complete the challenge and receive a medal. There are also Read to the Beat events across Essex, including a free song writing workshop, musical instrument discovery session and even a Paws & Pages reading workshop with therapy dogs!
Essex ActivAte
A jam-packed schedule of activities is available through the ActivAte programme which provides free holiday clubs, activities and meals for eligible children receiving benefits-based free school meals. Here in Chelmsford, the scheme gives children access to football fun camps run by Chelmsford City FC Foundation, DJ sessions with the Essex Music Service and MiniMe Mindfulness sessions to name just a few. Take a look at the Active Essex website for more information.
There's an exciting range of free activities on offer across Chelmsford this summer.
Crafty and creative
Get hands-on with history at the Museum of Chelmsford
The Museum of Chelmsford is bringing the Great Baddow Hoard to life this summer with its Holiday Hoard Heroes sessions for young visitors. The workshops explore a different theme through crafts and games, starting with Treasure from 21 to 30 July, then on to Celts from 4 to 13 August, and finishing with Become a Curator from 18 to 27 August. Sessions can be booked online and cost £5 for members and £6 for non-members, with one free adult admission per paying child.
Pokémon U16s Learn to Play Day at Greek Retreat
Young Pokémon fans can learn how to play Pokémon TCG with the Geek Retreat team in store. A Pokémon expert will explain how the game works, with a take-home guide to follow during the session. Afterwards, players can join a friendly, non-competitive tournament, with prize packs up for grabs for the top players. There are two summer holiday dates to choose from, 25 July and 19 August, and tickets cost £7.
Chelmsford Theatre’s Discover workshops
Chelmsford Theatre is getting ready for a summer of acting, dancing and singing with a new series of Discover workshops for young performers. There’s plenty on offer for primary-aged children, including Disney-inspired musical theatre workshops, a playful puppetry make-and-perform session and a street dance class. Teens can take their pick from creative activities ranging from stage combat to an intensive full-day session exploring and performing numbers from the West End hit Hamilton. Book now before they sell out.
Little Locals workshops at Patch
There are plenty of opportunities to cut, stick, bake and create at Patch Chelmsford this summer, with crafty sessions for kids and their adults coming up over the next few weeks. Try a Henri Matisse-inspired collage workshop, an under-the-sea cupcake decorating masterclass or a hands-on summer flower and clay tile session.
Youth Creative Writing programme
Young storytellers can join Chelmsford Library’s free Youth Creative Writing Programme on 20 August. Aimed at anyone aged 12 to 18 who loves creating, improving or sharing ideas, this programme is part of the Essex Young Writers initiative and offers a relaxed, supportive place for teens to share their work, from short stories to poetry.
Inspire creative young minds with expert led workshops and classes.
Explore outdoors
RHS Hyde Hall Brick Explorers
This summer, RHS Garden Hyde Hall is inviting families to become Brick Explorers. Running from 18 July to 31 August, the trail celebrates the brilliant biodiversity found in the gardens, with wildlife sculptures built from hundreds of thousands of bricks. Pick up an activity booklet, follow the trail, tackle fun facts and challenges, then get hands-on at the interactive brick-building station – all inspired by the plants and animals that share our green spaces.
Writtle Sunflowers
This family-run pick-your-own flower field is now open for the season, with sunflowers and wild flowers ready to enjoy. It may only be open for a couple of weeks while the flowers are blooming, so don’t miss out! Every child’s ticket comes with a Sunflower Safari activity trail sheet to enjoy along the way. As well as flower picking, this summer Writtle Sunflowers is running new family-friendly sessions including floral arranging, yoga experiences and jewellery making.
Wild Wednesdays at Danbury Country Park
Essex Country Parks’ Outdoor Learning Team is running child-led free play sessions on Wednesdays at Danbury Country Park. Activities and equipment will vary depending on the weather, but may include den building, a mud kitchen, water play and hapa zome leaf dyeing. There’s no need to book – just drop in and enjoy. You can also download the free Summer Magic Trail sheet to explore any day of the week.
Bat walks at Hanningfield Reservoir
This after-dark wildlife experience at Hanningfield Woods is a great way to learn more about these little nocturnal creatures The evening begins with an introduction to the species found around Hanningfield by the Essex Wildlife Trust, before heading outdoors with bat detectors to listen out for their calls and look for them flying after dusk. Sessions run on selected dates from 23 July to 20 August, starting at either 7pm or 7.30pm and are suitable for children aged 8 and over accompanied by an adult.
Enjoy the great outdoors on your doorstep.
Get active
Get In! holiday courses at leisure centres
Leisure centres across Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers are ready to help children burn off some energy this holiday with mini camps, city camps and kids’ courses for ages 4 to 12. There’s plenty to keep them entertained, including scuba diving, inflatable swim sessions, gymnastics and ice skating. Book now and don’t forget there’s a sibling discount on all courses.
Cycling skills and family trails
Chelmsford City Sports has put together a set of family-friendly cycling routes all around the Chelmsford area with short, medium and long options available to suit all ages and fitness levels. Each route takes in beautiful scenery and avoids busy roads, so it’s a great way to explore somewhere new while feeling good.
For little ones who are still finding their confidence on two wheels, don’t forget the free cycle skills circuit in Tower Gardens. Whether your child is starting out on a balance bike or mastering the skills needed to ride safely on the road, this is the perfect space to learn.
High rise adventures at Go Ape
If you fancy braving the treetops at Hylands Park, Go Ape Chelmsford is open all summer. With treetop crossings, ziplines, and a not-for-the-faint-hearted free-fall Tarzan swing, there's plenty of adrenaline-fuelled fun for ages four and up. Younger adventurers can build their confidence on the Treetop Adventure course, while older children, teens and adults can take on bigger obstacles and higher platforms for a proper challenge among the trees.
Learn new skills, burn off some energy and stay active during the holidays.
Big days out
Marsh Farm Bubble ‘n Bop Festival
Marsh Farm is turning up the energy this summer with Bubble ‘n Bop, a lively festival packed with family entertainment. Children can dance their way through foam parties, explore the Upside Down House and enjoy meet-and-greets with surprise characters. With rides, hands-on activities and all the usual farm favourites included, it’s a bright, bubbly day out designed to keep little ones entertained from start to finish.
DOSE Fest
Begin the holidays with a little wind down time at DOSE Fest, a new one-day feel-good festival designed to help people find what brings them joy! Taking place on Saturday 18 July at the Angel Pavilion in Broomfield, the festival will include a mix of hands-on activities that children can get involved in including pop-up science experiments, trampolines, climbing wall and a DOSE adventure trail.
Zoo Groove Rangers at Call of the Wild Zoo
Take a walk on the wild side with the Zoo Groove Rangers who will be in residence at Call of the Wild Zoo from 18 July – 31 August. The Rangers will be on hand to take children on an action-packed zoo adventure filled with music and dancing and with the chance to meet more than 90 incredible creature species, listen to daily animal talks, and expend some energy in the soft play centre or outside play area.
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