What's on in Essex for free?
79 upcoming events
We've rounded up 79 upcoming events in Essex for free — concerts, parties, theatre, exhibitions, family outings — updated every day. Pick a theme or just scroll.
Events in Essex for free
Sun25
Tomorrow
Tomorrow · 5:30 AMFree
Flea marketOutdoors
Dunton Carboot Sale
Dunton Car Boot Sale
Tomorrow · 9:30 AM£0
ScienceKids' show0–15 yrs
Family Science Day: SEN hour booking
Anglia Ruskin University
Tomorrow · 9:45 AMFree
Escape gameScience
A monstrous discovery II
ARU Chelmsford
Tomorrow · 10 AMFree
Outdoors
BMW - Beyond the Drive Meet Up
Group 1 Chelmsford BMW
Tomorrow · 10:30 AM£0
ScienceCreative workshop0–15 yrs
Family Science Day
Anglia Ruskin University
Tomorrow · 11 AMFree
Street party
Autumn Family FUNDAY Fayre
Great Bromley Village Hall
Tomorrow · 2 PMFree
LiteratureHuman rights
Act of Memory - Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Colchester Arts Centre
Tomorrow · 3 PMFree
TalkWellness
Monthly Seminar — Goodbye to Anger, Frustration and Irritation
Peartree Business Centre
Tomorrow · 4:30 PMFree
Street partySouth Asia
CHELMSFORD DIWALI FAIR 2026 - A GRAND CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS!
Beaulieu Community Centre, Chelmsford, CM1 6AU
Mon26
Monday 26 October
Mon 26 · 9:30 AMFree
Kids0–15 yrs
The Witches of Chelmsford: Stop Motion Workshop
Patch Chelmsford
Mon 26 · 10 AMFree
Video gamesChess
Gaming Taster Day / Retro Gaming, Dominoes, Chess
Hot Box
Mon 26 · 11 AMFree
Kids' showMusic for toddlers3–7 yrs
Groove on the Moon
ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY Bishop Hall Lane
Mon 26 · 12 PMFree
TalkHuman rights
Restorative Justice and Human Rights in Action
University of Essex
Mon 26 · 2 PMFree
TalkScience
Alien Oceans: The Search for Life Beyond Earth
ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY Bishop Hall Lane
Mon 26 · 5:30 PMFree
TalkScience
Ice Age Essex
ARU Chelmsford
Mon 26 · 6 PMFree
Chess
Chelmsford Chess Club
Hot Box
Mon 26 · 6:30 PM£10
TalkScience
The Science of Harry Potter
Anglia Ruskin University
Mon 26 · 7 PMFree
TalkScience
Listening to the Universe: From Chelmsford to Cosmology
ARU Chelmsford
Mon 26 · 7 PMFree
ScienceTalk
Astrobiology: The possible chemistry of extra terrestrial life
ARU Chelmsford
Tue27
Tuesday 27 October
Tue 27 · 11 AM£5
Heritage0–15 yrs
October 2026 Half-Term Fun - FREE Kids' Archaeology Investigation Session
Roman Circus Visitor Centre
Tue 27 · 1 PMFree
Volunteering
Pachamama Period Pads Sewing
17-21 Broomfield Rd
Tue 27 · 6:30 PMFree
Career
Creative Colchester October Social
Dice & a Slice
Tue 27 · 7 PM£0
PoetryPoetry slam
Waxes Lyrical - Poetry & Spoken Word
Hot Box
Tue 27 · 7 PMFree
Other
Chelmsford Creative Collective monthly meet up
Hot Box
Tue 27 · 7 PMFree
Other
Sacred Bonds - Brentwood
56 Robin Hood Rd
Tue 27 · 7:30 PM£0
Wellness
OM CHANTING – COLCHESTER
11 Manor Rd
Tue 27 · 7:30 PMFree
ScienceConcert
Future Beats: DJing, Music Tech and AI
Anglia Ruskin University
Wed28
Wednesday 28 October
Thu29
Thursday 29 October
Fri30
Friday 30 October
Fri 30 · 9 AMFree
Other
Open Morning
Shenfield High School
Fri 30 · 10 AM£0–13.70
Creative workshopAnimals0–15 yrs
Stow Maries: Autumn Family Nature Day
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome
Fri 30 · 10 AMFree
Talk
Storyteller Morning
The County Hotel
Fri 30 · 12 PMFree
TalkArchitecture
CCA: Award Winning Fionas Studio - In conversation with Edward McCann
First Floor Studio L4 Room 118 Marconi Building ARU Chelmsford School of Architecture
Fri 30 · 12:15 PMFree
Talk
Death Café
17-21 Broomfield Rd
Fri 30 · 5:30 PMFree
Creative workshopBoard games0–15 yrs
Light Party
Plume Avenue Church
Later
Sat 31Free
Other
ILLUMINATE celebrating The Light!
Chelmsford Community Church
Sat 31 · 12:30 PMFree
Science
Fingringhoe - Guide in a hide
Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve
Sat 31 · 4 PMFree
Singer-songwriterConcert
Kingdom Praise Experience
1 Russell Way
Sat 31 · 6 PMFree
Board games
Roots Chelmsford Dominoes Jamaican Style
Hot Box
Sat 31 · 6:30 PMFree
Singer-songwriterConcert
At His Feet Worship
Top Floor of Cables house, Life Church Chelmsford.
Sat 31 · 8 PM£0
Club
Halloween Upstairs at The Courtyard
The Courtyard Chelmsford
Sun 1 · 2 PM£0
WorkshopWellness
Community Workshop
Beaulieu Community Centre, Centenary Way, Beaulieu Square, Chelmsford, UK
Mon 2 · 6 PMFree
Chess
Chelmsford Chess Club
Hot Box
Tue 3 · 9:45 AM£0
Talk
OSCE Development Day
Lord Ashcroft Building
Tue 3 · 5:30 PMFree
Workshop
Chelmsford Craft Club
Patch
Tue 3 · 6 PM£0
Jam / Open mic
Open Mic Night
Hot Box
Tue 3 · 6 PM£0
Jam / Open mic
Open Mic Night
Hot Box
Tue 3 · 7:30 PMFree
QuizBingo
Quiz Night & Bingo
O'Connors
Wed 4 · 9:30 AM£0–136.14
Talk
Complaints Management and the Christian Vision
Diocese of Chelmsford
Wed 4 · 10 AMFree
Other
Exploring Negative Spaces
Community360
Wed 4 · 10 AMFree
HeritageScience
Wild About Essex: Hands on with Birds
Natural History Museum
Wed 4 · 2 PMFree
HeritageScience
Wild About Essex: Hands on with Birds
Natural History Museum
Thu 5 · 9:30 AMFree
Career
Win More Public Sector Contracts: Essex SME Procurement Training
Holiday Inn Brentwood M25, JCT.28 by IHG
Thu 5 · 5 PMFree
FitnessSports & fitness
Stride in Motion - Group A
Greenstead Community Centre
Thu 5 · 6:30 PM£0–5
Crafts
Colchester Makerspace Tour
Colchester Makerspace
Thu 5 · 7 PMFree
ClassicalConcert
Chamber Concert
Memorial Hall
Fri 6 · 10 AMFree
Other
Let's Talk About Self Harm Training Workshop
Chapter House
Fri 6 · 10 AMFree
Heritage
Wild About Essex: Hands on with Birds
Natural History Museum
Fri 6 · 2 PMFree
WorkshopScience
Wild About Essex: Hands on with Birds
Natural History Museum
Fri 6 · 7 PM£0
MetalConcert
Olympus: L'Appel Du Vide (EP Release Show) w/ Regicide + Chestburster
Radio City Social
Fri 6 · 7:45 PMFree
ContemporaryShows
HEART: a fusion dance show
Headgate Theatre
Sat 7 · 9 AMFree
Drop-in services
Fertility Treatment Options: Colchester Open Day
London Women's Clinic - Colchester
Sat 7 · 10 AMFree
CraftsCar boot sale
Christmas Craft Market & Table Top Sale
Chelmsford Community Church
Sat 7 · 10 AMFree
Other
WealthLab
Hythe Community Centre Association
Sat 7 · 11 AMFree
MarketFood
Bowl Bites Street Food Market
Mettle Works
Sat 7 · 11 AM£0–54.88
MarketTrading cards
Colchester Pokemon Market
No Name Bar & Games
Sat 7 · 1 PMFree
WorkshopFood
Baking with Heritage Grains
Myland Parish Church
Sat 7 · 6 PMFree
Board games
Roots Chelmsford Dominoes Jamaican Style
Hot Box
Sun 8 · 6 AMFree
MarketCrafts
Christmas Market - Family Funday
Great Bromley Village Hall
Sun 8 · 10 AMFree
WellnessOutdoors
Breathe & Journal
Hatfield Forest
Sun 8 · 11 AMFree
Other
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Remembrance Parade 2026
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome
Sun 8 · 11 AMFree
Market
Christmas Market / Family Fun Day
Great Bromley Village Hall
Sun 8 · 11 AMFree
Heritage
Remembrance Parade at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome
Tue 10 · 10 AMFree
Other
Back up your funding bid (using demographical data)
Greenstead Community Centre
Tue 10 · 1 PMFree
ClassicalConcert
Organ Concert
Colchester Town Hall
Your passions nearby
Tap what you're into — we'll find the outings around you.
Venues in Essex for free
Colchester Castle
406 events
Hot Box
246 events
Colchester Arts Centre
146 events
Chelmsford Theatre
105 events
Mercury Theatre, UK
91 events
Hylands
56 events
Charter Hall
52 events
Natural History Museum
34 events
Colchester Makerspace
24 events
Headgate Theatre
23 events
Colchester Town Hall - Moot Hall
17 events
Black Frog Presents @ Chelmsford Social Club
13 events