Picnic in Melbourne Park with us this summer

Picnic in the Park is back for summer 2024. The week of free activity sessions in Melbourne Park provides free lunches to children entitled to free school meals and is open to all children aged 5-11 years old.

Picnic in the Park 2023

What to expect from Picnic in the Park 

Think Play in the Park, but with added Picnic! Picnic in the Park involves two sessions per day, running from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, from Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August. 

In between the morning and afternoon sessions there is a break for lunch, where food trucks on site provide a nutritious meal; free to children entitled to free school meals and available to purchase for any other attendees. If you’d rather bring your own picnic, you are welcome to.

Catering at Picnic in the Park 2023

There will also be an ice cream truck and a ‘Fender Blender’ smoothie bike, where children can make their own healthy snack!

A week of free entertainment 

Picnic in the Park takes place throughout the first week of the school holidays, and families are welcome to attend any and all of the sessions.  

Each day Melbourne Park will host inflatables, an arts and crafts tent, and sports and games on the field, plus special guest entertainment. Some of the activities include: 

• scooter and skateboard workshops, 

• a rock-climbing wall, 

• face painting, 

• a nerf battle arena and 

• party time with popular children’s entertainer, Mr B 

Free nutritious meals 

This is a community event, designed to help families keep their children busy during the school holidays and provide them with a balanced meal, too. 

If your child is entitled to free school meals, their school should have shared a booking link with you to book a space and secure a free meal. If you didn’t receive the link and believe you are entitled to a free meal, please speak with staff on the day and they will be happy to help. 

The menu for the week will include a range of hot and cold meals including sandwiches, pasta bowls, burgers, and hotdogs. There will be vegetarian options and catering for other dietary requirements. 

For those who aren’t entitled to free school meals, don’t let that stop you joining in the fun! Everyone is welcome at Picnic in the Park, and you can purchase a meal from the food trucks or bring a picnic with you. 

Entertainment at Play in the Park 2023

How to secure your space 

Picnic in the Park is a free event for children aged 5-11. Please note, children must be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout. 

General admission tickets are available on a first come first served basis. The event does have a limited capacity, so we recommend booking your space early. If for any reason you are unable to come, please cancel your ticket to free up the space for other people to attend. 

You can book your child(ren)’s place online by visiting www.chelmsford.gov.uk, where you will also find a full list of entertainment for each day.