- 31 May -30 June 2024
- 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
- Discussion
- FREE
- In partnership
Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
Welcome to The Human Library. Just like in a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can borrow a book from a range of titles. The difference is that books are PEOPLE, and reading is a CONVERSATION. 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
- FREE
Colchester WriteNight
Colchester WriteNight invite you to a celebration of the anthology, Open Book, they produced together during lockdown. It was published by Patrician Press and supported by Colchester Borough Council Cultural and Creative Events Fund. Read more
- FREE
- In partnership
- Networking
- Stand Up for Diversity
- Theatre
Stand Up For Diversity at the Mercury
For our tenth Stand Up For Diversity, we are teaming up with the Mercury Theatre, to bring people together and celebrate diversity in theatre and the performing arts. 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
- Stand Up for Diversity
Hear Me Roar!
You are invited to an evening of short performances, readings and shout-outs to mark International Women’s Day 2023. To collectively and creatively celebrate our achievements as women, shine a light on issues affecting us today, and together drive gender parity and positive change. Read more
- FREE
- Manifesto For Essex
- Podcast Workshop
- POSTPONED
- Workshop
Make Your Own Eco-Podcast Workshop – Postponed
Join Chelmsford Community Radio broadcaster Michelle Durant on board LV18 to help make our Eco-Podcasts. Learn how to how to research and write content, undertake interviews and join them all together to make a big impact. For ages 12-25. **Postponed** Read more
- FREE
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
- SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT – Britain’s Living Seas
Marine biologist Hannah Rudd presents an alternative and sustainable future for the management of our seas. Discover the incredible diversity of life within our oceans and learn how we can all play a role in protecting and conserving it. Read more
- FREE
- In partnership
- Online
Hope This Helps
Not everyone can be everything all the time, but the little things each of us can do to make the world slightly better can amount to something incredible. Join TikTok "Voice of Change", Benjy Kusi for this online event and an evening of positivity. 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
- Radical Pilgrimage
- FREE
- Manifesto For Essex
- Workshop
Myself, Others & The Land – Workshop for ages 15-22
In this one day workshop we will be looking at how we can weave old and new ways of gathering to create our own spontaneous community. Creating our own Rites of Passage that connect us to the land, each other and ourselves. 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
- FREE
- Online
The Girl with the Louding Voice – Online event
New York Times bestselling author, Abi Daré, joins us for this very special online event in partnership with Appetite Book Club. Daré’s exuberant, moving debut revolves around Adunni; a Nigerian girl regarded as property at the age of fourteen, yet determined to find her ‘louding voice’ and live a life that she controls. Read more
- For Writers
- FREE
- Partner Event
- SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT!! Writing Landscapes Workshop
Authors Samuel Fisher and Justin Hopper are hosting a writing workshop at Wivenhoe Library where participants will be invited to think of the places they cherish and find ways to translate those landscapes into words. Read more
- FREE
- Manifesto For Essex
- Podcast Workshop
Eco-Podcast Workshop
Join Chelmsford Community Radio broadcaster Michelle Durant to develop the 2023 Essex Book Festival Eco-Casts. Looking at the 70th Anniversary of the East Coast Floods and reflecting on the climate crisis we are in now you’ll learn how to research and write content, undertake interviews and join them all together to make a big impact. For ages 11+ 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
- Restless Brilliance
- Exhibition
- FREE
- Partner Event
Restless Brilliance: The Story of J.A. Baker and The Peregrine
The exhibition explores J.A. Baker’s life, his love of nature and writing, through the archive of his work held by the Albert Sloman Library, University of Essex. It is the first time that this archive has been on public display. Read more
- LAUNCH EVENT
- Guided Walk
- FREE
Radical Essex Procession
Essex Book Festival is teaming up with internationally acclaimed arts organisation, Kinetika, for its Radical Procession from St Leonard-at-the-Hythe Church, a key player in the Siege of Colchester (1648), to University of Essex, famed for its foundational radical innovation in the 1960s. Read more
- LAUNCH EVENT
- FREE
- Workshop
- Young Essex
This Land: The Launch Pad Workshops
Learn how to make traditional ink out of ink gall gathered from 25 destinations across Essex. Explore the art of calligraphy. Try your hand at a range of traditional printing and basic book-making techniques. Read more
- LAUNCH EVENT
- For Writers
- FREE
- SOLD OUT!
- Workshop
Beach of Dreams 25 Launch and Creative Writing Workshop
Come along and meet the Kinetika team, our flag-makers/bearers, and find out how you and/or an organisation you belong to, can get involved in the epic new nationwide Beach of Dreams 25 project. Then, take part in a special Beach of Dreams creative writing workshop led by Dr James Canton, and the Wild Writing team based in the Centre for Creative Writing at the University of Essex. Read more
- FREE
- Performance
- Poetry
How We Live In Essex: Live Poetry Performance
Lelia Ferro's poetry performed by professional actors at the atmospheric Martello Tower. Witness the poetry coming to life in a unique collaboration between Lelia Ferro, theatre director Sofia Bagge and fantastic actors. Read more
- For Writers
- FREE
- Workshop
Writing Buddy Meet Up
Whether you're a published author, or a budding writer looking to kickstart your new hobby, come and join international bestselling author Lizzie Chantree & award-winning author Chris Penhall for a morning of writing in this FREE writing buddy session at Fête Grays Yard, Chelmsford! Read more
- Guided Walk
- FREE
- Partner Event
A Peasant’s Pilgrimage
This six-mile walk, organised in partnership with Kinetika’s T100 Festival, commemorates the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt’s links to Fobbing, as Thurrock’s walking, talking and making festival T100 Goes Wild for 2024. Read more
- FREE
- Performance
- Poetry
How We Live In Essex: Poetry Performance Workshop
Learn to lift the words off the page and sharpen your performance techniques in this fun and friendly workshop, hosted by theatre director Sofia Bagge and a professional actor. Why not bring along a poem of your own to the workshop and perform it shortly after at the spoken word evening! Read more
- Discussion
- Essex Writers House
- FREE
Blood and Belonging Panel Discussion
Three different writers from a variety of Romany Traveller backgrounds come together for a reading and event chaired by Louise Doughty. Join us for discussion and celebration of what we have in common. Read more
- FREE
- Partner Event
- Performance
- Poetry
How We Live In Essex: Live Poetry Performance
Lelia Ferro's poetry performed by professional actors at the atmospheric Martello Tower. Witness the poetry coming to life in a unique collaboration between Lelia Ferro, theatre director Sofia Bagge and fantastic actors. Read more
- Open Mic
- FREE
- Partner Event
- Performance
- Poetry
How We Live In Essex: Exhibition Finale – Spoken Word Evening
Come and celebrate an evening of spoken word at the Jaywick Martello Tower by reading a poem of your own, or simply enjoying an evening of poetry . No need to book, just turn up and give your name! Read more
- Restless Brilliance
- Guided Walk
- FREE
- In My Steps - Radical Walks in Essex
- Partner Event
- SOLD OUT!
A Walk in J.A. Baker Country – Sold Out
Join us for a walk through ‘Baker Country’ visiting sites listed in J.A. Baker’s diaries and identified in his seminal work The Peregrine (1967). Read more
- FREE
- Midsummer Madness
- Young Essex
Midsummer Madness Family Fun Day
Part of our Midsummer Madness Family Fun Day. Pack your picnic and make a beeline for what promises to be a magical day at Cressing Temple Barns. Free parking, free entry and lots of free activities. All welcome. Read more
- FREE
- Midsummer Madness
- Performance
- SOLD OUT!
- Young Essex
Fully Booked – Asha + The Troll
Asha + The Troll is a theatre performance for 5-8 year olds in which storytellers unfold a world of forests, friendship, puppetry, percussion, and… trolls! Follow Asha as she meets an unlikely friend and learns to love their differences. Read more
- FREE
- Midsummer Madness
- Young Essex
Much Ado About Numbers
What's the connection between Shakespeare and Numbers? A lot, as it turns out! In this fun, interactive talk Rob Eastaway explores the surprising and entertaining ways that maths and numbers crop up in Shakespeare's plays. Read more
- Sci-Fi
- Thriller
- FREE
Livestream: Prophet
Watch online for free. In collaboration with Appetite Book Club and Red Lion Books. Award-winning poet and naturalist, Helen Macdonald (H is for Hawk) has collaborated with musician and writer Sin Blaché to write this dazzling, breath-taking and genre-blending science fiction thriller, Prophet. Read more
- FREE
Thurrock Local Authors Fair
Discover the rich wealth of local authors in Thurrock at this new annual opportunity to chat and talk to local writers. Discuss writing, enjoy the mini writers slam as you hear short extracts and browse their books to buy and take home. Read more
- FREE
- Online
- Partner Event
- Young Essex
The Children & Authors’ Literary Fanfare – BHM 2024
Get ready for a virtual celebration of all things books and storytelling, featuring an array of engaging activities led by CALFE authors, publishers, and creatives of culturally diverse books. For 4-11 year olds, don't miss out on this exciting opportunity for children to connect with fellow book lovers, and discover new stories. Read more
- FREE
- Manifesto For Essex
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Eco-printing and Ink-making workshops – Chelmsford Science Festival
We are delighted to be taking part in Chelmsford Science Festival again this year. We will be at the Family Science Days at ARU Chelmsford. On Saturday 26th October Zoe will be running an eco-printing workshop and on Sunday 27th October Selena will be running an ink-making workshop. Read more
- FREE
- Partner Event
- Young Essex
CALFE 2024: A Galaxy of Culture and Curious Adventures
The Children & Authors’ Literary Fanfare Events (CALFE) Festival is back with an exciting line-up of multicultural, literary-inspired activities celebrating Black History Month 2024. This free, family-friendly event is designed to inspire creativity and cultural curiosity in children aged 4-11. Read more