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Christmas Events in Essex

Christmas Events & Activities in Essex

It's the most wonderful time of the year - Christmas in Essex is packed full of festive fun and things to do for the whole family. Discover some excellent Christmas events and activities near you in Essex such as the Marsh Farm Magical Christmas Experience, ice skating at Lakeside in Thurrock, and so much more. Attend Christmas fairs and markets, visit Santa in his grotto, and laugh till your stomach hurts at a pantomime show taking place at your local theatre!

Christmas Activities

Whether you’re looking for the perfect children’s Christmas day out near you or Christmas activities to do with friends, you won’t be short of things to do in Essex this festive season. Enjoy a wonderful Christmas Fair and visit with Santa at the Museum of Power in Maldon, or create memories that will last a lifetime with Christmas at Ho Ho Hopefield! If you enjoy traditional Christmas activities, spend a lunchtime or evening at Layer Marney Tower and step into the tale of A Christmas Carol. For an outdoor Christmas activity, you won’t want to miss the stunning Enlightened in Colchester Castle Park – walk through a wonderland of amazing lights and colour!

Visit Santa

Are you ready to visit Santa in Essex this Christmas? Meet Father Christmas at his grotto where he'll be waiting with a gift for those on the nice list at one of the various Santa experiences across Essex. Hop on the train to see him at Audley End Miniature Railway or head to Colchester Zoo for holiday fun and animal encounters! Enjoy soft play and visit Santa at Little Monster’s House of Fun or enjoy the Father Christmas experience at Chelmsford Museum. There are many places to visit Santa in Essex this Christmas – the only question is, will you be on the naughty or nice list?

Christmas Meals Out

Enjoy delicious food and drink from three-course Christmas dinners to festive afternoon teas and more in Essex this winter. Step into a winter wonderland at Talliston House & Gardens and enjoy their fantastic Faerie Tale Christmas complete with a festive afternoon tea. Feast upon a delicious Christmas Day or Boxing Day lunch at the 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar in Southend-on-Sea. Stoke-by-Nayland Resort will be serving up a delectable Boxing Day Carvery Lunch. Which Christmas meal out will you choose?

Pantomime Shows

Of course, we can't forget the classic family day out to the theatre for the traditional Christmas pantomime shows in Essex! Choose from one or more of Essex's top theatres including Cliffs Pavilion, Princes Theatre, Mercury Theatre, and Harlow Playhouse for your festive production. If you’re looking for a pantomime in Colchester, we hear that Elf: The Musical taking place at Charter Hall staring Jake Quickenden is set to be quite the performance. Learn more about pantomimes in Essex here.

Christmas Markets in Essex

What better place to do a spot of Christmas shopping than a Christmas fair or market? Peruse a variety of stalls selling crafts, food and drink, and other fantastic presents for your loved ones at an array of events taking place across the county. Christmas at Markshall is set to be an enchanting Christmas market that you won’t want to miss, offering an array of gifts and seasonal treats. If you love a street market, attend the Braintree Christmas Street Market or Maldon High Street market! We highly recommend the Chelmsford Cathedral Christmas Market too. Discover more Christmas fairs and markets in Essex here.

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The Great Christmas Sleigh Ride 2024

Address

Harlow Playhouse, The High, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1LS

Telephone
01279 431945

playhouse.boxoffice@harlow.gov.uk

Price
Price £9.50 to £12.50 Per Ticket

Harlow

A fun-filled, sing-along, interactive festive show

Dates

From:

7 Dec 2024to24 Dec 2024
Christmas Fair In The Tiptree Marquee

Address

The Tiptree Tea Room, Factory Hill, Tiptree, Tiptree, Essex, CO5 0RF

tiptree@trooms.com

Tiptree

Tiptree Tea Room Christmas Fair Returns for 2024!
Following the success of last year's event, we are thrilled to announce the return of the Tiptree Tea Room Christmas Fair! This festive celebration will once again be held at the Tiptree Marquee,…

Dates

From:
7 Dec 2024Open 10:00 - 15:00
From:
8 Dec 2024Open 10:00 - 15:00
The Enchanted Midwynter Festival & Secret Fairy Grotto

Address

Wyvernwood, St. Osyth Road, Alresford, Colchester, Essex, CO7 8AP

Telephone
01206 700675

captain@wyvernwood.co.uk

Price
Price £16.49 to £60.00 Per Ticket

Alresford, Colchester

The Enchanted Midwynter Festival returns to Wyvernwood with the addition of a Secret Fairy Grotto!

Dates

From:

7 Dec 2024to24 Dec 2024Open 10:30 - 15:30
Afternoon Tea with Father Christmas

Address

St Osyth Priory, West Field Lane, St Osyth, Essex, CO16 8GW

Telephone
01206 430160

info@stosythpriory.co.uk

Price
Price £45.00 Per Ticket

St Osyth

Afternoon Tea with Father Christmas is a wonderful occasion to bring family and friends together in our magnificent setting!

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024Open 16:00 - 18:00
From:
8 Dec 2024Open 16:00 - 18:00
Home Alone

Address

Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Southend, Essex, SS0 9LA

Telephone
0343 310 0030

Southend

When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O'Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he…

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024
Ingatestone Christmas Market with Brentwood Connected

Address

4 High Street, Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 9ED

Telephone
01277 312801

brentwoodconnected@brentwood.gov.uk

Ingatestone

Annual Christmas event in Ingatestone from BRENTWOOD CONNECTED Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Brentwood Borough Council.

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024Open 12:00 - 18:00
The Muppets Christmas Carol

Address

Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Southend, Essex, SS0 9LA

Telephone
0343 310 0030

Southend

The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Other Muppets -- Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Sam the Eagle.

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024
Carols at Audley End

Address

Audley End House and Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JF

Telephone
0370 333 1181

customers@english-heritage.org.uk

Saffron Walden

Join in the Christmas celebrations with traditional carols by Christ's College Cambridge Choir in the stunning surroundings of Audley End

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024Open 18:30 - 20:30
From:
9 Dec 2024Open 14:00 - 16:00
Santa Fun Run 2024

Address

Colchester Castle Park, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UG

Telephone
0300 770 1369

charity@esneft.nhs.uk

Colchester

Join the jolliest run of the year as Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity's Santa Fun Run returns to Colchester Castle Park this December.

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024Open 10:00 - 10:00
A Christmas Wish

Address

Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JG

Telephone
01245 606505

boxoffice@chelmsford.gov.uk

Fairfield Road, Chelmsford

A Christmas show that's perfect for very young audiences. Celebrate the joy of the season with Fern the Christmas Fairy and Eggnog the Elf as this tale of love and friendship is told through song and dance.

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024
White Christmas

Address

Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Southend, Essex, SS0 9LA

Telephone
0343 310 0030

Southend

Singers Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) join sister act Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont.

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2024
Santa at The Thatched Cottage Grotto

Address

1-3 Mill Road, Burnham on Crouch, Essex, CM0 8PZ

fiona.clegg1@gmail.com

Burnham on Crouch

Sunday 10 December/Saturday 16 December. Come and visit Santa in the beautiful historic atmosphere of the Thatched Cottage with its lovely grotto.

Dates

From:
10 Dec 2024
Colchester Castle Open Evening

Address

Colchester Castle, Castle Park, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1TJ

Telephone
01206 282939

museums@colchester.gov.uk

Price
Free

Colchester

FREE entry to the Castle, £6 to meet Father Christmas & receive a small gift
Booking not required, simply drop in. Please note queuing may be in operation for Father Christmas.

Dates

From:
11 Dec 2024Open 15:00 - 20:30
A Christmas Carol

Address

Hedingham Castle, Castle Hedingham, HALSTEAD, Essex, CO9 3DJ

Telephone
01787 460261

mail@hedinghamcastle.co.uk

Price
Price £13.00 to £17.50 Per Ticket

Castle Hedingham, HALSTEAD

The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company presents a brand-new adaptation of Charles Dickens' fantastical festive fable

Dates

From:
11 Dec 2024Open 19:30 - 22:00
Wreath Making Workshop

Address

Green Island Gardens, Park Road, Ardleigh, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7SP

Telephone
01206230455

office.greenislandgardens@gmail.com

Price
Price £50.00 Per Ticket

Ardleigh, Colchester

Channel your creativity and festive flair at our fun wreath making workshops!

Dates

From:

11 Dec 2024to12 Dec 2024Various Opening Times
Midday Carols at Chelmsford Cathedral

Address

Chelmsford Cathedral, New Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1TY

Telephone
01245 294492

hello@chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk

Price
Free

Chelmsford

Sing your favourite carols on your lunch break, or pop in while you're Christmas shopping, and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies!

Dates

From:
13 Dec 2024Open 12:00 - 12:45
Dear Santa

Address

Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JG

Telephone
01245 606505

boxoffice@chelmsford.gov.uk

Fairfield Road, Chelmsford

From the author of children's classic, Dear Zoo. Santa is determined to deliver the perfect Christmas present to Sarah and with the help his cheeky elf, he decides on something just in time. Perfect for our littlest audience members, two and above.

Dates

From:

13 Dec 2024to24 Dec 2024
Meet Santa

Address

Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PT

Price
Price £8.00 Per Ticket

Colchester

This Christmas, we're bringing the holiday magic to life with a special opportunity to meet Santa!

Dates

From:

14 Dec 2024to22 Dec 2024
Stocking Filler Market

Address

Braintree Town Hall, Fairfield Road, BRAINTREE, Essex, CM7 3YG

Telephone
01376 557776

venues@braintree.gov.uk

Price
Free

BRAINTREE

Come in the warmth and browse all things Stocking Fillers at this years Christmas Market!

Dates

From:
14 Dec 2024Open 11:00 - 16:00
Elf - The Musical

Address

High Street, Leisure World, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO11PJ

Telephone
01206 636849

info@colchester-events.co.uk

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

Cowdray Avenue, Colchester

ELF-THE MUSICAL tells the hilarious tale of Buddy, who, as a baby, mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and grows up in the North Pole.

Dates

From:

14 Dec 2024to5 Jan 2025