Discover what’s on this summer

There’s plenty to do this summer in Chelmsford with a host of free and paid-for events available. You can enjoy everything from animatronic dinosaurs in the park, to codebreaking fun at Chelmsford Museum. Read on to plan for summer.

Romans Week at Chelmsford Museum

From 8 to 12 August, children can come along to Chelmsford Museum to explore Roman artefacts on the object handling tables, create pictures and patterns using mosaic tiles to make coasters to take home. There are also exciting trails around the Roman exhibition and plenty of learning opportunities along the way. Tickets cost £5 per child and can be bought on the Chelmsford Museum website.

Rapunzel Outdoor Theatre

A brand-new musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, is coming to Hylands Estate on Monday 15 August at 1pm and 4pm. Showing on the back lawn of Hylands House, the production promises to bring enjoyment and laughter for the whole family. Tickets can be purchased on the Hylands Estate website, but be quick as tickets are selling fast!

Codebreaker Week at Chelmsford Museum

Chelmsford Museum is inviting children to come and experience the life of a codebreaker between 15 and 19 August. The museum team and volunteers will help children to create bracelets or necklaces with their own Morse code. They will be shown how to tap out their own messages using the codebreaker handling table with Morse code equipment.  In addition, they’ll have a trail around the museum plus a chance to go undercover using the dressing up box. Tickets cost £5 per child and can be purchased on the Chelmsford Museum website. Can you crack the code?

Dinosaurs in the Park

Dinosaurs in the Park is an interactive and immersive experience for the whole family. The whole-day event includes a feeding zone, a trail,  fairground rides and 35 life-sized animatronic models! Dino fans of all ages will be sure to enjoy this adventure which comes to Hylands Estate over the summer holidays from Thursday 18 August to Sunday 4 September. Purchase your tickets and find more information on the Hylands website.

Explore Chelmsford on your bike

If you’re looking for something free to do during the summer holidays, there are plenty of cycling routes to try across Chelmsford. The Chelmsford City Sports team have suggested some routes that are suitable for the whole family and with a variety of short, medium, and long route options to choose from. The shorter cycle routes are ideal for families with younger children. Each route takes you through Chelmsford’s beautiful scenery and avoids large roads, with safety in mind. To discover what cycle routes to take, go to the Chelmsford City Sports website.

Green City – free family fun

Chelmsford For You is bringing a brand-new free family event to Chelmsford this summer from Monday 22 – Sunday 28 August. Chelmsford high street is set to come to life with entertainment such as shows, workshops and walkabout entertainment. There’ll be everything from seed bomb making sessions for the bees, a bee quest around the city centre, a green market full of some great environmentally focused caterers and more. The week-long programme will explore key environmental topics such as sustainability, plastic waste, waterways, and green natural spaces.

More information can be found on the Chelmsford For You website. The full schedule including days and times will be released soon.

Get In! holiday courses

Four of the Council’s leisure centres across Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers offer holiday activities for kids throughout the summer holidays. Activities include swimming, ice skating, athletics, Lego building, scuba diving, dance and more. Ages and timings vary, so make sure to check the Chelmsford City Sports website for more information and to purchase your tickets.

Visit our parks

Chelmsford’s parks are beautiful to explore this time of year. You can visit the Love Your Chelmsford website to see a list of all Chelmsford City Council’s green spaces, as well as the facilities that can be found in each location.