- 31 May -30 June 2024
- Art
- Music
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Colchester Cultural Trail 2017
Essex Children's University launches a brand new programme for families and young people this Summer, bringing together exciting events and activities for families across mutiple venues in Colchester. Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Putrid Potion Workshop
Join Lorraine Gregory, author of Mold and the Poison Plot, for a creative writing workshop with a twist! Explore the inspirational world of potions and poisons in children’s literature before creating your very own revolting recipe. Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Super Stinky Pongorific Gameshow
Dive nose first into the world of smells with author of Mold and the Poison Plot, Lorraine Gregory. Discover more about this much overlooked sense with some entertaining and possibly very smelly games, facts and experiments! Read more
- Art
- Storytelling
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Are You Sitting Comfortably? Troll Swap Fun!
Join Leigh Hodgkinson for giant drawings and fun crafts, with some storytelling in between. Leigh writes and illustrates picture books for children and is art director and co-creator of a new animated show called "Olobob Top" for CBeebies. Read more
- Music
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Traditional Stories From Africa
Listen to traditional African Stories by Efua Sey Korbi through a magical journey of music and dance, stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. A fun and interactive storytelling session for all ages. Read more
- Art
- Young Essex
Sumi Ink Club: Peace Wall
Sumi Ink Club is non-hierarchical: all ages, all humans, and all styles. Everyone is invited to come along and create a community mural that will evolve and grow throughout the day on the theme of Peace, Place and Identity. Bring yourselves, bring your friends, bring your grandparents, come and draw with us. Read more
- CANCELLED
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair
For this year’s Essex Book Festival, Age UK Essex are putting on a series of Pop-Up Storytelling Armchairs for the young and old, which will appear at various venues across the county. A real treat for book lovers of all ages to share their passion for reading. Read more
- Storytelling
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Heroes and Villains
Come with an open mind and leave with a new character created from your own imagination. Using fun and innovative techniques, Syd Moore, Essex Book Festival Writer-in-Residence, will help you unleash your creativity to develop a fictional character, give them personality, unveil their greatest fear, heartfelt wishes and darkest secret. Read more
- CANCELLED
- POSTPONED
- Young Essex
Medieval Mayhem: Lorraine Gregory
*** POSTPONED UNTIL THE SUMMER *** Feeling brave? Then hold onto your courage and join author of Mold and the Poison Plot, Lorraine Gregory on a trip back to the Medieval Age to discover the truth about crime and punishment. Stand trial, endure torture and dish out some truly ghastly sentences. Fun, informative, interactive and only mildly dangerous Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Marconi Digital Storytelling at Sandford Mill
Experience Marconi digital storytelling using our vintage Marconi TV camera equipment green screen and ipads. Discover the Marconi story, write your own script and then film it using the museum collections, images and settings to bring it alive. Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
CSI: Essex
How have advances in science and technology changed the way we view crime scenes? Become Crime Scene Investigators: handle CSI equipment, take fingerprints, create photofits - when comparing the pre-digital with modern day methods, which one comes out on top? Read more
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair
For this year’s Essex Book Festival, Age UK Essex are putting on a series of Pop-Up Storytelling Armchairs for the young and old, which will appear at various venues across the county. A real treat for book lovers of all ages to share their passion for reading. Read more
- Music
- Young Essex
Ensonglopedia of Science
A song about science for every letter of the alphabet. Expect atoms, Big Bangs, cells, DNA... Expect the unexpected. And expect it to rhyme. John Hinton is the multi-award-winning writer/performer of musical comedies about Darwin, Einstein and Curie. Read more
- Young Essex
Young Essex at the Bunker
Come and savour a fabulous mix of drop-in events for families, including Haiku Poetry and Origami workshops led by CND’s Education Team; a Retro Games Room master-minded by Silver End Scouts, plus a host of other activities, film screenings and happenings. Read more
- Theatre
- Young Essex
The Wind in the Willows
Meet all your favourite characters including loyal Mole, faithful Ratty and wise old Badger as they do their best to keep the mischievous Mr Toad out of trouble. Will they be able to stop the Wicked Weasels from taking over Toad Hall? Read more
- Young Essex
It’s A Wrap: Festival Finale
Come and join in the fun at our It’s A Wrap! Festival Finale in Jaywick Martello Tower, one of county’s most intriguing and iconic heritage buildings on the Essex Coast, where there'll be activities and workshops for all ages. Read more
- Art
- Young Essex
Peace Bunting Print Workshop
Come along for a sun printing workshop on fabric, to make bunting with a message of peace using plant material, letters and acetates, with artist Angenita Hardy-Teekens. You’ll learn all about the cyanotype method, an early Victorian way of making shadows with objects using the suns UV light. Read more
- Art
- Young Essex
Sumi Ink Club
Everyone is invited to come along and create a community mural that will evole and grow throughout the afternoon on the theme of Pease, Place and Community. Bring yourselves, bring your friends, bring your grandparents – come and draw with us! Read more
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Our Natural World Storytelling hour
From Ants, Bees and Cranes to Whales, Yellow butterflies and Zebras, this storytelling hour involves not only listening to stories, but also making up stories about creatures great and small in our natural world. Led by award-winning shoildren’s author Wendy Constance. Read more
- Young Essex
Oh, The Places We’ll Go!
Join us for an afternoon of storytelling and family activities with a theme of journeys, adventures and places around the world, both real and imagined. Taking place at The Transition (near the station) and at Foyles (Bond Street) Read more
- For Writers
- Young Essex
Pop-Up Essex Writers House
For Essex Book Festival, Metal is once again transforming their base at Chalkwell Hall in Southend into a Pop Up Essex Writers House for the whole of March, hosting literary events and activities for all to enjoy. Read more
- Art
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Tides and Tales: Days Like These
Join us for a day of water and seaside themed family fun at Jaywick Martello Tower, when artists Close and Remote launch their new exhibition Days Like These: the world’s very first 360o Watercolour Virtual Reality Tour of Jaywick Sands. Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
SHIP AHOY! Nautical Flags and Knots
Join maritime author and illustrator Claudia Myatt and discover the fascinating world of nautical flags and knots. You'll be using the colourful nautical flag code to create a nameplate for your bedroom door. Suitable for ages 8+ Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
The BIG Write: Journeys
Love telling tales and making up stories? Ever written a poem, short story or a song? Using games and creative prompts, find exciting new ways to kick start your writing whether you are 8 or 80. Suitable for ages 4+ Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Tides and Tales
Come along for this creative writing workshop inspired by flotsam and jetsam with children’s author and artist Wendy Constance. As part of our nautical theme, Wendy will help you use your imaginations to unearth the secrets of the deep. Suitable for ages 7-11 year olds. Read more
- Fiction
- Young Essex
AL Kennedy
Join one of Britain's most gifted and celebrated award-winning writers, as A L Kennedy tells us the tale of The Little Snake, a magical and deeply moving fable about the journey we all take through life, about love and family, about war and resilience, about how we live in this world. Read more
- Music
- Poetry
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
All Aboard the Boat that Rocked
Calling all on board the LV18 in Harwich Quay for a pirate radio revival, nautical tales, and shanty songs on deck. Below deck, the intimate and magical Live Poetry Jukebox will be waiting for you. Suitable for all ages. Read more
- Young Essex
The Mothership Project Launch
The Festival is thrilled to be launching The Mothership Project at The Redoubt. A partnership project with UK/Chinese charity The Mother's Bridge of Love: Culture for Children, school children in Essex and China will be sending messages of friendship to each other via drawings, postcards and origami boats. Read more
- Theatre
- Young Essex
Malorie Blackman‘s Noughts and Crosses
Sephy and Callum are in love. It is forbidden: Sephy is a Cross and Callum is a Nought. Between Noughts and Crosses there are racial and social divides. This gripping Romeo and Juliet story is a captivating drama of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world. Recommended for 11+yrs. Read more
- Young Essex
Epping at the Movies
For Essex Book Festival, Epping at the Movies will screen three fantastic adaptations: BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee’s masterful retelling of Ron Stallworth’s memoir; Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, a sublime animation for young audiences adapted from Benjamin Renner’s comic books; and The Big Sleep, the ultimate Raymond Chandler. Community Cinema at its best! Read more
- Art
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Oh, The Places We’ll Go!
Come and explore the theme of journeys, adventures and places around the world and in our imaginations. Drop-in for our Pop Up Storytelling Armchair, hear traditional tales from Africa with Djembe drumming, try your hand at Chinese calligraphy, and wrap your tongue around different languages with bilingual storytelling. Suitable for ages 4+ Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Creative Crime Writing Workshop
Come along to create a baddy (or two), a detective and a simple crime plot with Rosie Sandler, co-author of the Agatha Oddly detective series. Work as a group, pooling ideas and having fun along the way. Suitable for ages 9-13. Read more
- Art
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Weaving with Words
Join local writer and artist Wendy Constance for a fun family drop-in session where you choose words which best describe Paycocke’s House and Garden. Compose a list, a sentence or poem - then write it on fabric which we will all weave together to create a banner to celebrate this special place. Suitable for ages 4+ Read more
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Rosie Sandler – Agatha Oddly
Agatha Oddly has been a detective for as long as she can remember – she’s just been waiting for her first big case. And nothing gets bigger than saving the City of London from strange goings-on. With a secret key that gives her access to a whole hidden side of London, Agatha is perfectly poised to solve any mystery. Read more
- Art
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Create a Secret Treasure Island
Join artists Lola Swain and Sally Chinea to make your very own handmade book, which, when unfolded, reveals a secret island with a treasure map. Within the pages create your own imaginary creatures that live on and around the island. Read more
- SOLD OUT!
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Printing and Illustration Workshop – Manifesto For Essex
Join resident artist Tom Armstrong and Lee Thomas for a children’s printing and illustration extravaganza as part of our Manifesto For Essex activities and hosted in partnership with Colchester’s Extinction Rebellion. Ages 11-16. Read more
- Young Essex
Tallulah Goes to the Festival
Join children’s author Rachel Jane for a Campervan storytime and craft session. Sing along with Tallulah the Campervan as she counts down the days to her first festival and get into the Festival spirit by decorating your very own festival headband! Read more
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair
Our Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair will be at Firstsite, Colchester on Saturday 14 March as part of our PLACE weekend. A super comfy treat for book lovers young and old to enjoy their favourite stories out loud. Read more
- Young Essex
Tackling Climate Change Makers Workshops
With the Manifesto For Essex now up and running, we urge everyone to come and make their Manifesto 'mark' at our special Tackling Climate Change Makers event at Firstsite. It's free, no booking required. Read more
- SOLD OUT!
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Printing and Illustration Workshop – Manifesto For Essex
Join resident artist Tom Armstrong and Lee Thomas for a children’s printing and illustration extravaganza as part of our Manifesto For Essex activities and hosted in partnership with Colchester’s Extinction Rebellion. Ages 5 and up. Read more
- Young Essex
The Timebubble Machine
Come along and have a go in the interactive Timebubble Machine and get closer to the past… our amazing past. Then use your time-travelling adventures to inspire you to build your own toys using Timebubble Toys sustainable wooden construction kits. Read more
- Essex Writers House
- In partnership
- Young Essex
Jacqson Diego – The Vampirates
Online Author event for 8 – 12 years and their families. We are so excited to be joined by author Justin Somper for his thoughts on this exhilarating series of books, beloved by everyone who has read them. First published in 2005, the Vampirates were instant international bestsellers, this white-knuckle series is ready for a new generation of young readers. Tickets: £10 including a signed copy of Vampirates: Demon of the Seas or £42 Ticket available to include all 6… Read more
- Festival Finale
- In person
- The Children's University
- Young Essex
Animalympics Workshop
The greatest sporting event of the century is happening at Cressing Temple Barns on 29 August. Join the Animalympics crew to get involved in creating sport/animal-inspired crafts with children’s author Josie Dom while listening to extracts of the story with badminton-playing peacocks, javelin-throwing octopus and hurdling gazelles amongst many others. Come dressed as your favourite animal to win a prize! Tickets : £4 per child Read more
- Discussion
- Festival Finale
- Fiction
- For Writers
- In Conversation
- In partnership
- In person
- Non-fiction
- Outside
- Storytelling
- The Children's University
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Essex Book Camp
Join in the fun at the Essex Book Camp With a huge range of events for all ages, from author events with the likes of Good Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary Jones through to our fabulous storytelling yurt; woodland crafts and meditation walks; drop-in family yoga sessions and more, Cressing Temple Barns is the place to be this August Bank Holiday Sunday. Free Drop-In Activities for all ages we just need one large image of Shane Ibbs telling stories for this… Read more
- Festival Finale
- In partnership
- The Children's University
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Scallywag Press : Workshops for younger readers
Scallywag Press : Author WorkshopsWe are teaming up with multi-award children’s publisher Scallywag Press for four fabulous hands on author and artist workshops for young children. Ages vary. Deborah will help little ones explore the food they eat every day to find out where it comes from and how it ends up on the table in her fun Follow My Food writing workshop. She’ll also read from her new book Milly Cow Gives Milk. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/152741866033 Age 4+ ( Adults Free) Children must be… Read more
- Festival Finale
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Shelter Building
Shelter building and Magical world in the secret woodland. Join the Essex Book festival adventurers as they create magical worlds and shelters throughout the day in the magic woodland. We will be doing workshops - book in for the first below or come and join us in the secret woodland for more magical adventures. 1.15 - 2.15pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shelter-building-with-explorer-and-adventurer-belinda-kirk-tickets-163606546585 Read more
- Festival Finale
- In person
- Podcast Workshop
- The Children's University
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Make your own Podcast Workshop
CCR FM presenter Michelle Durant will be sharing insights into developing your own podcast for broadcast. Take part in an interview with a special guest. Contribute to Essex Book Festival and Chelmsford Community Radio’s special Eco-Cast Project to be launched in September at British Science Festival in Chelmsford. Read more
- A Criminally Good Day
- Crime Fiction
- For Writers
- FREE
- In partnership
- Outside
- Storytelling
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Criminally Good Day
Crime-writer event, writing workshops, children's workshops, free drop-in activities, story-telling, acorn-planting and so much more... Read more
- FREE
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Heroes and Villains – Children’s Writing Workshop
How do you create a hero who keeps readers on the edge of their seat and a villain everyone will love to hate? Find out in middle grade author Emily Kenny’s jam-packed workshop! Read more
- FREE
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Campaigning for Girls’ Rights!
Take part in an empowering workshop with author and girls’ rights activist Sufiya Ahmed and learn how to make change using the democratic process, using the story of British Indian suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh as inspiration. Read more
- CANCELLED
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Cancelled – The Honeybee Treasure Hunt – Children’s Workshop
This event has been cancelled - sorry for any inconvenience caused. Delight in this fun interactive session for children to learn more about honeybees and even design your own bug hotel. Read more
- Discussion
- FREE
- Manifesto For Essex
- Online
- Young Essex
Hear My Voice – Manifesto For Essex Youth Summit Zoom Brainstorm
Are you passionate about culture and the environment? Get involved in our 2nd Manifesto for Essex Youth Summit (14-25 yr olds) as part of EASUSTAIN Read more
- Discussion
- FREE
- In partnership
- In person
- Manifesto For Essex
- Networking
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Hear My Voice – Manifesto For Essex: Climate Emergency Youth Summit
Are you 14-25 years old, living and/or studying in Essex, passionate about the environment and culture? Come along to our Hear My Voice - Youth Climate Summit at Firstsite, Colchester, part of EA Sustain Festival Read more
- FREE
- In partnership
- Young Essex
St Peter-on-the-Wall: Landscape and Heritage on the Essex Coast
A weekend of events to celebrate the launch of St Peter-on-the-Wall: Landscape and Heritage on the Essex Coast edited by Johanna Dale, kindly hosted by the Othona Community at Bradwell on Sea. Read more
- FREE
- Young Essex
Family Fun Day – Harlow
Join us for a day of FREE family-friendly activities at Harlow Library including special children's workshops, Baby & Toddler Rhymetime, Family Storytime, Arts & Crafts activities and a special performance by Livewire Theatre Group. Read more
- CANCELLED
- FREE
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Cancelled: Fun Stories From Far Away – Workshop for ages 4+
Have fun with Essex-based teacher and writer, Sade Fadipe, as she shares her book A Fun ABC. Told in claps, familiar rhymes and rhythms and with art & craft activities too, this is bound to be fun! Read more
- Nature Writing
- FREE
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Writing for Nature – Workshop for ages 7+
Come along for a creative writing session with a wildlife twist! Together we'll create a story highlighting a creature or creepy crawly of their choice and go on an adventure to help nature through the written word. Read more
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Fun Stories From Far Away – Workshop for ages 4+
Have fun with Essex-based teacher and writer, Sade Fadipe, as she shares her book A Fun ABC. Told in claps, familiar rhymes and rhythms and with art & craft activities too, this is bound to be fun! Read more
- FREE
- Midsummer Madness
- Performance
- SOLD OUT!
- Young Essex
SOLD OUT – The Puddle at the End of the World
Ensonglopedia’s brand new musical comedy. Weird weather! Extraordinary extinctions! Freaky flooding! Water we going to do?! Join Jamie and her Nanna on an exhilarating adventure to rebuild their lives and stop climate change. Read more
- Midsummer Madness
- Workshop
- Young Essex
The Importance of Oceans – workshop for ages 5-9
Deep down in the ocean blue, there are many surprises waiting for you! Solve some Riddles from the Sea and discover some strange facts about the wonderful creatures in our oceans. Read more
- Midsummer Madness
- Performance
- Poetry
- Young Essex
When Creature Met Creature
Legendary author and performance poet John Agard who will delight us with a selection of readings including his 2022 children’s book When Creature Met Creature. Sure to be warm, witty, generous, and flamboyant, it is not to be missed! Read more
- FREE
- Online
- Partner Event
- Young Essex
Children & Authors’ Literary Fanfare Event
Once again, CALFE Children & Authors' Literary Fanfare 2023 will be presenting: Readings, Storytelling, Poetry, Music and Creatively engaging activities, from children's Authors of culturally diverse heritage, and from countries across the globe! Read more
- FREE
- In partnership
- Workshop
- Young Essex
National Saturday Club – Writing & Talking
Our new Writing and Talking National Saturday Club which will be taking place every Saturday 10am-1pm from March to July. Open to all 13-16 year olds living in and around the Chelmsford area who are passionate about writing and talking. Explore zine-making, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, blogging, spoken word poetry, podcasting and more. Read more