What’s on this summer – Fun events and festivals across Essex
Looking for the best summer events in Essex in 2026? Whether you’re searching for free family days out, exciting festivals, live entertainment, outdoor adventures or unique experiences for the school holidays, Essex has plenty to offer this summer.
From medieval jousting tournaments and children’s festivals to food festivals, music events and spectacular air displays, there are fantastic events taking place right across the county. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest and best family-friendly summer events in Essex for 2026, helping you plan memorable days out without spending hours searching. So grab your diary, start planning those summer adventures, and make the most of everything Essex has to offer this season.
1. Essex Summer Fest 2026
Venue: Harrow Lodge Park
Town: Hornchurch
Date: 11th July – 12th July 2026
Time: Varies by day
Price: From £7
Description: Essex Summer Fest returns for a full weekend of live music, family entertainment, food, fairground fun and festival vibes. With two completely different events across the weekend, visitors can choose between an adults-focused throwback music festival on Saturday and a family festival packed with entertainment on Sunday.
Saturday 11th July 2026 – Essex Summer Fest 80s & Soul Festival
12:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Travel back to the 70s and 80s with headline performances from Odyssey and Heatwave, alongside tribute acts celebrating Blondie, Madness, Elton John, Boy George, Whitney Houston, The Blues Brothers and Fleetwood Mac. A second Soul Stage hosted by Solar Radio features live acts and DJs, while festival-goers can also enjoy bars, food vendors, a funfair, foam party, silent disco and chill-out areas.
Sunday 12th July 2026 – Essex Family Fest
11:00 am – 7:00 pm
A family-friendly festival featuring tribute acts to Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan and more. Included in your ticket are live wrestling, a petting zoo, birds of prey, dinosaurs, Punch & Judy shows, Indian drumming, a kids’ entertainment tent and live performances across two stages. Additional attractions include fairground rides, inflatables, market stalls and food vendors.
Website: Essex Summer Fest 2026
2. Knights of Albion Joust
Venue: Hedingham Castle
Town: Halstead
Date: 30th August – 31st August 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Price: From £47 (Family Ticket)
Description: Experience an action-packed medieval day out as the Knights of Albion return to Hedingham Castle for the final joust of the season. Cheer on your favourite knight in two thrilling jousting tournaments, then enjoy archery, axe throwing, birds of prey displays, knight school, medieval games, music and dancing. Your ticket also includes entry to the 900-year-old castle and gardens, with artisan stalls and food vendors on site throughout the day.
Website: Knights of Albion Joust
3. Bubble ‘n Bop Children’s Festival
Venue: Marsh Farm
Town: South Woodham Ferrers
Date: 23rd July – 1st August 2026
Time: Varies by day
Price: From £9.00
Description: Bubble ‘n Bop returns to Marsh Farm for a summer festival packed with family fun. Children can enjoy foam parties, magic shows, dinosaur adventures, surprise character appearances, soft play and adventure playgrounds, alongside all of Marsh Farm’s much-loved animal attractions. With giant inflatable obstacle courses, silent discos, mini golf, jewel hunting, beach play, glitter face art and family rides available too, there’s enough entertainment to keep little ones busy all day long.
Website: Bubble ‘n Bop Children’s Festival
4. Kids Fest
Venue: Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park
Town: Waltham Abbey
Date: Summer Holidays 2026
Time: Varies by day
Price: From £TBC – see website
Description: Kids Fest returns to Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park for a summer packed with festival fun, family entertainment and animal encounters. Little ones can enjoy foam parties, princess and superhero meet-and-greets, discos, game shows, arts and crafts, bouncy castles and fairground rides, all included in admission. Alongside the festival atmosphere, families can also meet farmyard and exotic animals, explore the adventure playground, try crazy golf, hunt for fossils and enjoy plenty of hands-on activities throughout the day.
Website: Kids Fest
5. End of Summer Carnival
Venue: Hopefield Animal Sanctuary & Visitor Centre
Town: Brentwood
Date: 29th August – 31st August 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Price: From £14.15
Description: Celebrate the end of the summer holidays with three days of carnival fun at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary. Your ticket includes unlimited access to a fantastic range of family attractions, including fairground rides, bumper cars, bungee trampolines, bouncy castles, a giant inflatable slide and live children’s entertainment. Alongside all the carnival excitement, families can spend time meeting Hopefield’s rescued animals, making this a fun-filled day out that also helps support the sanctuary’s important work.
Website: End of Summer Carnival
6. St Osyth Summer Sounds
Venue: St Osyth Priory
Town: St Osyth
Date: 18th July 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Price: From FREE
Description: St Osyth Summer Sounds is a family-friendly music and food festival celebrating creativity, community and culture in the stunning grounds of St Osyth Priory. Visitors can enjoy live music, dance performances, local food vendors and a variety of interactive arts experiences throughout the day. Family highlights include giant puppets, outdoor theatre, walkabout performances and the spectacular Arborialis luminarium installation, with some activities available at an additional cost.
Website: St Osyth Summer Sounds
7. Smoke and Fire Festival Maldon 2026
Venue: Promenade Park
Town: Maldon
Date: 15th August – 16th August 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 6:30 pm
Price: From £31.42 (Adult) / From £48.95 (Family)
Description: Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Smoke and Fire Festival returns to Maldon for a weekend packed with incredible food, live entertainment and family fun. Watch top pitmasters compete in the British Open Freestyle BBQ Championships, sample flavours from around the world and enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations and street food throughout the festival. Food-loving families can also experience everything from hot dog eating contests and fire cooking showcases to artisan traders, festival bars and interactive attractions, making it one of Essex’s most unique summer events.
Website: Smoke and Fire Festival Maldon
8. Clacton Airshow 2026
Venue: Clacton Seafront
Town: Clacton-on-Sea
Date: 27th August – 28th August 2026
Time:
Price: FREE
Description: One of Essex’s biggest and most spectacular annual events, Clacton Airshow returns to the Essex Sunshine Coast for two days of breathtaking aviation displays. Watch modern jets, historic aircraft and precision aerobatic teams perform over the seafront, while enjoying family-friendly attractions on the ground including exhibitions, food and drink stalls, fairground rides and trade stands. The much-loved Twilight Display is also expected to return, featuring illuminated aircraft, lasers and pyrotechnics as the sun sets over the coast.
Website: Clacton Airshow 2026
With so many fantastic summer events happening across Essex, there are plenty of opportunities to get out, explore and make lasting family memories. Whether you’re watching knights battle at a medieval joust, dancing at a music festival, meeting animals, enjoying live entertainment or marvelling at the Clacton Airshow, there’s something here for all ages and interests.
Many of these events are popular and some offer early booking discounts, so it’s worth planning ahead where you can. Before travelling, remember to check the event website for the latest ticket prices, timings and visitor information. If you visit any of these events, we’d love to hear about it. Come and share your favourites with us on Facebook or Instagram using the social links at the bottom of the page.
