Come and discover Brave New Worlds as we journey around our festival hubs. Whether it’s honing your detective skills with dragons or discovering our wonderful past using the Timebubble Machine at our PLACE weekend in Colchester or decorating Harlow Playhouse with your Where I Like to Be bunting, there is fun for all the family across the county this March.
Take a look at our Events Diary for full details of all events including booking information
Events for Children and Families
Sunday 08 March, 11.00am-4.00pm, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford
Tree-Mend-Us Day
Join us for a day of family-friendly events celebrating the magnificence and significance of trees as part of our Manifesto For Essex. There will be craft workshops, storytelling, talks, guided walks, science experiments, film, art and poetry, all with a focus on Climate Change.
Read more about Tree-Mend-Us Day
Saturday 14 March, Firstsite, Colchester
Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair
A super comfy treat for book lovers young and old to enjoy their favourite stories out loud.
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Rachel Jane: Tallulah Goes to the Festival
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! For 5-9 year olds.
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Gareth P Jones: Dragon Detective
In this interactive event, you the audience become the authors, producers and stars of a brand-new Whodunit. Unpredictable, musical and hilarious, Gareth’s performances are totally unique and not to be missed. For 7-11 year olds.
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Josie Dom: Imagination and Creation Workshop
A lively workshop where you’ll create your story character using craft materials, talk about story ideas and then use items from nature to create a story setting. Suitable for children aged 4-11.
Read more about Imagination and Creation Workshop
Other free drop-in Young Essex Activities taking place at Firstsite, Colchester on Saturday 14th March include:
Table-top Jungle Mural with Jelly Green
Planting a Story Workshop with Glenys Newton
Zine Workshop and display with Lu Williams
Sunday 15 March, Firstsite, Colchester
The Timebubble Machine: Paul Gionis
Come along and have a go in the interactive Timebubble Machine and get closer to our amazing past. Then use your time-travelling adventures to inspire you to build your own toys using Timebubble Toys sustainable wooden construction kits. Aimed at all ages.
Read more about The Timebubble Machine
Other free drop-in Young Essex Activities taking place at Firstsite, Colchester on Sunday 15th March include:
Table-top Jungle Mural with Jelly Green
Planting a Story Workshop with Glenys Newton
Climate Change Pledge bunting with Wendy Constance
Chinese Calligraphy bunting with Simone Xue
Saturday 14 March, 10.00am-2.00pm, Ages 11-16, Colchester Makerspace
Sunday 15 March, 10.00am-2.00pm, Ages 5 and up, Colchester Makerspace
Printing and Illustration Workshop: Tom Armstrong and Lee Thomas
A children’s printing and illustration extravaganza as part of our Manifesto For Essex activities and hosted in partnership with Colchester’s Extinction Rebellion. Join resident artist Tom Armstrong and Lee Thomas to screen print your own climate change protest placard and illustrate a large format poster for you to take-away for your school, club or home.
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Saturday 21 March, 1.00-4.00pm, Harlow Playhouse
Oh, the Places We’ll Go! Storytelling from around the world
Get comfy in our pop-up storytelling armchair and listen to alphabetical adventures with children’s author Sade Fadipe. Try your hand at Chinese calligraphy with the Colchester Chinese Culture Society and make some noise with Efua Sey’s African storytelling with drums. Have a go at Bollywood dancing, and tell us about your favourite place on our Where I Like to Be Bunting!
Read more about Oh, the Places We’ll Go
Saturday 21 March, 10.00am-12.00pm & 2.00-4.00pm, Harlow Central Library
Invasion! Illustration and Sound Art Workshops
Join illustrator, Tom Armstrong and sound artist, Chris Adam for a number of workshops based on HG Wells’ The War of the Worlds. This iconic work of science fiction details a catastrophic conflict between humans and extra-terrestrial ‘Martians’ so these workshops are sure to be out of this world. For 14+ years.
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Saturday 28 March, Twenty One, Southend-on-Sea
Fashion/Remade
Southend will celebrate all things recycled fashion as part of our Manifesto For Essex where young people can discover how cast-away clothing can be turned into fabulous fashion items.
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Saturday 28 March, 11.00am-3.00pm, Basildon Library
Oh, the Places We’ll Go
Get comfy in our pop-up storytelling armchair and listen to alphabetical adventures and bilingual storytelling. Try your hand at Chinese calligraphy and let your imagination loose in the library’s sensory area. Help us decorate the library with Where I Like to Be Bunting, telling us about your favourite place, either real or imagined! For all ages.
Free, drop-in activity
Read more about Oh, the Places We’ll Go
Take a look at our Events Diary for full details of all events including booking information