Discover what’s on this March

As the winter months end and with spring around the corner, discover indoor and outdoor events in Chelmsford this March.

Chelmsford Takeover

Chelmsford Takeover is a brand-new free event taking place in Chelmsford High Street on Saturday 18 March, from 10am-4pm.

The city centre will come to life with walkabout characters and show cars from the big screen, including The DeLorean from Back to the Future, Lightning McQueen from Cars and ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. There will also be workshops and activities to take part in, like superhero cape making, lightsabre training, and face painting.

Fans of Doctor Who will want to head over to High Chelmer for a surprise, and Cosplay fanatics can enter competitions. If that wasn’t enough, Park and Ride bus journeys will be free to anyone in costume on the day!

The event is organised by Chelmsford For You in partnership with Essex Cosplayers, to raise funds for Little Havens Hospice. Little Havens Hospice is a brilliant local charity offering palliative care for children.

You can find out more about the event via the Chelmsford For You website.

Young Musician Competition at Chelmsford Cathedral

On Saturday 18 March, from 7pm to 8:15pm, head on over to Chelmsford Cathedral to hear talented young people showcasing their musicianship. This free event is part of Chelmsford’s Rotary Regional Young Musician Competition, promoted by Rotary International around Great Britain and Ireland.

Rotary youth competitions are open to schools, colleges and community organisations e.g. Scout Groups in Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the age range for participants is anyone in full time education, up to the age of 17.

Rotary International’s aim is to encourage gifted young people to have fun and demonstrate their musical skills. Each Rotary club organises the initial competition within its area and entrants then have the opportunity to progress from district and regional finals to a prestigious national final. Come along and see the next generation of Chelmsford’s vocalists and instrumentalists present their talents!

Find out what else is on at Chelmsford Cathedral, including a free lunchtime concert on Friday 31 March.

You can learn more about Rotary International, and find out about future events and competitions.

Mothering Sunday Open Estate Day at Hylands

Hylands free Open Estate Days (hosted every third Sunday of the month) are a lovely way to spend your day. Bring your mother along to Hylands Estate on Sunday 19 March from 10am-3pm and explore at your leisure. The team have been working hard to make this year’s Open Estate Days better than ever!

What to expect: free guided tours and a ‘Weddings and Royal Visits’ library exhibition. Additionally, in the Banqueting room, there will be fun activities for children to take part in, such as making royal crowns and designing wedding dresses.

Beloved storyteller Mike Dodsworth will also be returning with brand new stories themed around the exhibitions. You can listen to Mike’s tales in the Drawing Room at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm.

Meanwhile, Urban Food Fest are bringing traders to the courtyard, who will provide mouth-watering street food and bespoke handmade gifts. You can also enjoy vibrant live music from Hot Box and learn more about resident artists at the Artist Studios.

You can find out more about Hylands Open Estate Days, including a full list of 2023 dates.

Shows for all ages at Chelmsford Theatre

Join the funny, loveable Twirlywoos for a whirlwind adventure on Thursday 30 March. Perfect for children aged 1+, watch your little ones become entranced by the ingenious puppetry of this fun-filled, joyous show.

From producers of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Sarah and Duck Live, Twirlywoos is a delightful introduction to theatre.

Set sail in a big red boat with Great BigHoo and friends as they discover the wonders of the world. Expect mischief, songs and surprises galore!

You can watch the colourful trailer here:

Book your tickets now via the Chelmsford Theatre website.

As seen on Mock the Week and QI, Eshaan Akbar brings his debut tour, The Pretender, to Chelmsford Theatre.

Listen to Eshaan’s down to earth, honest life observations, and laugh at how adults pretend they know what they’re doing!

Sound like a laugh? The ‘too white to be Asian, and too Asian to be white!’ comedian comes to Chelmsford on Thursday 30 March. Book your tickets now.

Chelmsford Museum Mystery Trail

Visit Chelmsford Museum anytime until 31 March and test your detective skills as part of the national Montgomery Bonbon: Museum Mystery Trail. The trail is completely free.

The trail has been expertly organised by Kids in Museums and Walker Books. It celebrates the release of new children’s book “Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum”, written by comedian Alasdair Beckett-King and illustrated by Claire Powell. Children (and adults!) are challenged to put their thinking hats on, grab an activity sheet and solve puzzles in a relaxed setting.

There is also a brand new explorer zone, where children can borrow explorer bags and other fun trails (at no extra charge!) to help them explore the museum and Oaklands Park.

For a well earned break, the Hive Cafe is open from 8am-4pm every day. The Hive offers a varied menu of delicious, locally sourced food and drink, with plenty of options for all.

There is also the beautiful, award winning Oaklands Park to enjoy (weather permitting!). With 12 acres of grounds, a lovely rose garden and two play areas for children to let their energy out, it is a great way to extend your museum visit and get some fresh air.

Chelmsford Museum (and its delightful gift shop) is open everyday from 10am-4pm, and from 27 March, 10am to 5pm. For more information about the trail and Chelmsford Museum, visit here.