What’s on in Chelmsford over the school holidays

With Easter just around the corner, spring flowers in bloom, and the school holidays under way it’s the perfect time to get out and about in Chelmsford. As ever, there are plenty of brilliant family-friendly activities to keep kids and adults entertained. Here’s our round-up of just some of what’s on offer across the district.

Easter egg and bunny hunts

Lathcoats Farm Easter Trail, 21 March – 11 April. Can you help to track down the Easter Bunny’s eggs? Follow the trail, solve the clues, and earn a delicious Easter treat as a reward.

Chelmsford For You Big Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday 28 March to Sunday 12 April. Find Easter Eggs in the windows of local businesses, download a scorecard, add up the hidden numbers and submit the total for a chance to win fabulous prizes.

RHS Hyde Hall has interactive Easter trail 'Who framed the Easter Bunny?' from 28 March to 12 April. Follow clues and solve the mystery of the missing Easter eggs with your detective pack and earn a chocolate bunny. 

Galleywood Bunny Hunt, Galleywood Heritage Centre, 3 April, 10am and 12pm. There are two slots for this bunny hunt on Galleywood Common, with face painting, bouncy castles and rides available on site too. Tickets are £6 per child with last entry at 2pm. Email events@galleywoodheritagecentre.org.uk for tickets.

Easter Bunny Hunt in Admirals Park, Sunday 5 April from 9am. Tickets are £6 per child, including a chocolate prize. Organised by Chelmsford Ladies Circle in support of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

Whole days out

Easter at Call of the Wild Zoo, 28 March – 12 April. There are activities a-plenty this school holiday, with a trail, Easter crafts, animal talks and a visit from Peter Rabbit on 3 April.

Marsh Farm Easter Egg-stravaganza, 28 March – 12 April. The popular South Woodham Ferrers venue promises themed activities, exciting rides, live shows and adorable animals.

Outdoor fun

Go Ape Egg Venture at Hylands, 28 March – 19 April. Find hidden letters in a brand-new Easter trail as you make your way along the famous high ropes and zip lines to solve the Egg-venture puzzle.

FREE Play in the Park, 31 March – 10 April, 10am – 3pm. A series of city council-run FREE, two-hour multi-activity sessions run for Chelmsford children at community and parish venues. Locations include Melbourne, Beaulieu, Springfield, Chelmer Village, Great Leighs, South Woodham Ferrers and Great Baddow.

Essex Wildlife Trust holiday events at Hanningfield Reservoir, 31 March – 11 April. Head to Hanningfield for brilliant outdoor events, including the EWT Wilder Holiday Club, a Nature Tots and Babies Easter Special, Hanningfield Egg-citing Easter, Forestmasters, Family Forest Fun and Spring Explorers.

Easter Forest School at Danbury Country Park, 1 – 8 April, 10am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Two-hour holiday Forest School sessions suitable for 3 to 10-year-olds are taking place in Danbury Country Park, led by Education Rangers. Book online to secure your place (no walk-ins permitted).

FREE Skate Create artist-led workshop in Central Park, 4 April, 11am to 3pm. Join SPARK! at the Central Park Skatepark to create ideas for two new murals to be painted as part of their contribution to the Concrete Canvas Street Party in May.

Family shows and indoor activities

Oi, it’s the Easter Holidays! 31 March to 9 April, 10.30am and 1.30pm. Join the Museum of Chelmsford for dinosaur puppet making, digging for fossils and making a dinosaur egg! It’s all inspired by Kes Gray’s 'Oi Dinosaur' and is perfect for 5 to 10-year-olds.

The Very Busy Bumblebee, Beaulieu Community Centre, 1 April, 11am. This live ballet production for under-8s from The Let’s All Dance Ballet Company is a heartwarming show with themes of friendship and sustainability. All tickets are £6.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea at Chelmsford Theatre, 3 – 5 April, 11am and 2pm. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this Olivier Award-nominated hit family show, suitable for children aged 3 and over.

Ministry of Science Live, Chelmsford Theatre, 6 April, 1pm and 5pm. The UK’s favourite science team is back in Chelmsford and more exciting than ever!

Riverside Ice Show, 8 – 12 April, various times. Step into a glittering world of magic for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Wickedly Magical Adventure on Ice! This family-friendly show is around 2 hours long and it gets chilly, so dress warmly.

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