NOTE: WE WILL TRY AND UPDATE THIS LIST WITH CANCELLATIONS DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OUTBREAK – BUT PLEASE CHECK WITH THE FESTIVAL ORGANISERS AND VENUES BEFORE TRAVELLING IN CASE ANY INFORMATION HAS CHANGED.
We listed dates for 108 Essex Festivals (see below) before the pandemic started – 5 took place live before the COVID-19 restrictions came in, sadly so far 102 have had to be cancelled until next year (but 14 providing us with online Festivals this year) and 1 live Drive-In event Socially Distanced.
More Information on www.facebook.com/essexfestivals
Any organisers who would like to add or update their events please email us at office@eafn.co.uk
EAFN Member’s entries on the Calendar and Directory are enhanced and publicised on EAFN and Gigs Out pages – to join the EAFN please go to our Membership page.
Here are the confirmed dates for Essex this year:
| 2020 DATES | FESTIVAL | VENUE |
| 10-19 Jan 2020 | Horror on Sea Film Festival | Park Inn Palace Hotel, Southend |
| 29 Jan–1 Feb 2020 | Colchester Winter Beer Festival (CAMRA) | Colchester Arts Centre |
| 19-22 Feb 2020 | Chelmsford Winter Beer & Cider Festival
|
King Edward VI Grammar School,Chelmsford |
| 26 Feb-1 Mar 2020 | Southend Roots Weekender | Park Inn, Southend |
| CANCELLED FROM 17 Mar onwards (was 28 Feb-31 Mar 2020) | Essex Book Festival | Various location across Essex |
| CANCELLED (was 8 Mar 2020) | Holi Festival of Colours | Chelmsford Hindu Society Temple |
| 14 Mar 2020 | Essex Vegan Spring Festival | Charter Hall, Colchester |
| CANCELLED (was 26-30 Mar 2020) | The Old Leigh Real Ale, Craft Beer and Cider Festival | The Peterboat, Leigh on Sea |
| CANCELLED (was 28-29 Mar 2020) | Essex Spring Food Home & Craft Fair | Cressing Temple Barns |
| CANCELLED (was 4-5 Apr 2020) | Cressing Chocolate Festival | Cressing Temple Barns |
| POSTPONED (was 10-13 Apr 2020) | Mersey Island Brewery Easter Beer Festival | Mersea Island Brewery, East Mersea |
| CANCELLED (was 12 Apr 2020) | Proper Fest | Clacton On Sea |
| CANCELLED (was 13 Apr 2020) | Southend Shakedown Resurrection
|
Southend |
| CANCELLED (Was 15-18 Apr 2020) | Maldon and Dengle Beer and Cider Festival | Plume Academy |
| CANCELLED (Was 18 Apr 2020) | International Living History Festival | Cressing Temple Barns |
| CANCELLED (was 24-26 Apr 2020) | Bum in the Mud Rally
|
Essex Outdoors – Mersea, Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea |
| CANCELLED (was 1-3 May 2020) | Cosmic Puffin Festival | Mersea Youth Camp |
| 2-3 May 2020 | Leigh Folk Festival Presents: Front Room Festival | Online
In your Front Room! |
| CANCELLED (was 2-3 May 2020 | Colchester Town & Country Fair | Castle Lower Park |
| CANCELLED (was 3 May 2020) | Maldon Mud Race | Maldon |
| CANCELLED (was 3 May 2020) | Blues at the Barns | Creeksea Place Farm |
| CANCELLED (was 7-10 May 2020) | South Benfleet Spring Real Ale & Cider Festival | South Benfleet Social Club |
| CANCELLED (was 8 May 2020) | Ongar Town Festival | Chipping Ongar |
| POSTPONED (was 8-9 May 2020) | All About Dogs Show (Essex) | Brentwood Centre |
| CANCELLED (was 8-10 May 2020) | The Weald Park Country Show and The Weald Festival of Dogs | Weald Country Park, Brentwood |
| POSTPONED until 2021 (was 15-17 May 2020) | The National Flower Show | Hylands House, Chelmsford |
| POSTPONED (was 16 May 2020) | Chelmsford Prosecco Festival & Gin | Chelmsford City Racecourse |
| 16 May 2020) | Essex Blues and Rock Festival AT HOME | Online
Back live at Barleylands, Billericay in 2021 |
| CANCELLED (was 22-25 May 2020) | Greystock Festival | Colchester Castle Park |
| POSTPONED until 13 Mar 2021 (was 23 May 2020) | Colchester Sausage and Cider Festival | Charter Hall, Colchester |
| CANCELLED (was 23-24 May 2020) | Mersea Island Food, Drink & Leisure Festival | Essex Outdoors Mersea, Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea CO5 8SX |
| CANCELLED (was 6 Jun 2020) | Braintree Carnival | Braintree |
| 6-7 Jun 2020 | Life Arts Mind, Body and Spirit Festival Chelmsford | Online Chelmsford Racecourse Event postponed until 2021 |
| 13 Jun 2020 | Colchester Pride Online | Online
Back in Colchester 2021 |
| 13 Jun 2020 | Online Colchester Young Children’s Festival
(Silver Jubilee!) |
Online
(Back live in Castle Park, Colchester 2021) |
| POSTPONED (13 Jun-5 Jul 2020) | Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival | Chelmsford |
| CANCELLED (was 19 Jun-12 Jul 2020) | Thaxted Festival | Thaxted Parish Church |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Clockstock Online Charity Event | Online.
Clockstock Dance Festival (2nd Year) at Chelmsford City Racecourse cancelled. |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Essex Digital Pride | Online
Event at Central Park, Chelmsford cancelled. |
| RESCHEDULED for 2021 (was 20-21 Jun 2020) | Father’s Day Motorfest | Kings Farm, Chelmsford |
| CANCELLED (was 25-28 Jun 2020) | Leigh Folk Festival (29th Year – Largest Free UK Folk Fest) – See 2-3 May Front Room Festival | Leigh On Sea |
| 25 Jun-5 Jul 2020 | Digital Harwich Festival of the Arts | Online
Live Events cancelled |
| CANCELLED (was 27 Jun 2020) | Heditude | Hedinghams United FC ground, Lawn Meadow |
| POSTPONED (was 28 Jun 2020) | Helen Rollason Vintage Fair | Cressing Temple Barns |
| CANCELLED (was 30 Jun-3 Jul 2020) | 3foot People Festival – See the 3foot Pre-schooler Stage at the Good Play Guide’s Play at Home Fest – Sat 23 & Sun 24 May! | Hylands Park, Chelmsford |
| 3 Jul 2020 | 80s Lockdown Festival (Lets Rock Essex) | Online
Live in Essex again in 2021! |
| CANCELLED (was 4 Jul 2020) | Chelmsford Fake Festival | Central Park, Chelmsford |
| CANCELLED (was 4 Jul 2020) | Wethersfield Music Festival (7th Year) | Wethersfield Playing Frelds |
| RESCHEDULED to 2021 (5 Jul 2020) | 60s In the Sun Festival | Garon Park, Southend |
| CANCELLED (was 7-11 Jul 2020) | Chelmsford Summer Beer and Ale Festival | Admiral’s Park |
| 10-11 Jul 2020 | Dixiefields Streamed | Online
Back live in Chelmsford 2021 |
| POSTPONED (was 10-18 Jul 2020) | Saffron Walden Carnival | Saffron Walden |
| CANCELLED (was 11 Jul 2020) | Kelvedon Music Festival | Kelvedon Recreation Ground |
| CANCELLED (was 11 Jul 2020) | Witham Carnival (91st) | Witham |
| CANCELLED (was 11 Jul 2020) | Canvey Island Carnival
(10th Year Anniversary) |
Canvey Island |
| CANCELLED (was 11 Jul 2020) | The Tendring Hundred Show | Lawford House Park |
| CANCELLED (was 11-12 Jul 2020) | Summer Essex Festival of Food and Drink | Cressing Temple Barns |
| 11-18 Jul 2020 | Online Southend on Sea Pride | Online
Back in Southend 2021 |
| CANCELLED (was 17-18 Jul 2020) | Eight Ash Green Music Festival | Fordham Heath Football Field |
| 18 Jul 2020 | New World Virtual (Dance Music) Festival (FSTVL) | Online
Chelmsford event cancelled until 2021 |
| CANCELLED (was 18 Jul 2020) | Thorrington Festival | Red Lion, Thorrington |
| CANCELLED (was 18 Jul 2020) | Writtle Village Country Fair | Writtle Village Green |
| CANCELLED (was 19 Jul 2020) | Raver Tots Outdoor Festival | Garon Park, Southend-on-Sea |
| CANCELLED (was 24-26 Jul 2020) | The Great Outdoors Festival | Marks Hall Gardens & Arboretum |
| CANCELLED (was 25 Jul 2020) | Basildon and Pitsea Carnival | Basildon and Pitsea |
| CANCELLED (was 25-27 Jun & 2-3 Jul 2020 | Leigh-on-Sea Competitive Festival of Music & Drama
|
Highlands Methodist and Leigh Road Baptist Churches
|
| CANCELLED (was 25 Jul 2020) | Eco Festival | Lower Castle Park, Colchester |
| CANCELLED (was 26 Jul 2020) | Tagfest (The ACE Group Free Fully Inclusive Music Festival) | Intu, Lakeside, Grays |
| 31 Jul-1 Aug 2020 | The Gin & Rum Festival – Chelmsford | Chelmsford Cathedral |
| CANCELLED (was 31 Jul-2 Aug 2020) | Brightlingsea Free Music Festival | Hurst Green, Brightlingsea |
| CANCELLED (was 1 Aug 2020) | Maldon Carnival | Maldon |
| POSTPONED until 2021 (was 1 Aug 2020) | The Nearly Festival (Colchester) | Colchester Castle Park |
| POSTPONED until 2021 (was 8 Aug 2020) | Harwich Maritime Festival | Harwich |
| CANCELLED (was 8-9 Aug 2020) | Essex Seafood Festival | Orsett Showground, Grays |
| CANCELLED (was 9 Aug 2020) | Animal Aid (8th) | Herongate Cricket Green, Brentwood |
| CANCELLED (was 14-16 Aug 2020) | Smoke and Fire Festival | Lower Castle Park, Colchester |
| CANCELLED (was 14-16 Aug 2020 – now 13-15 Aug 2021) | Hideaway Festival | Chelmsford |
| CANCELLED until 2021 (was 27-28 Aug 2020) | Clacton Air Show | Clacton |
| CANCELLED (was 29-30 Aug 2020) | Brightlingsea Food & Drink Festival | Promenade Way, Brightlingsea |
| POSTPONED Until 2021 (was 29-31 Aug 2020) | Essex Sausage & Cider Music Festival | Barleylands Farm, Billericay |
| CANCELLED (was 30 Aug 2020) | SWFest | South Woodham Ferrers |
| 30 Aug 2020 | South East Dance Festival | Garon Park , Southend |
| CANCELLED until 2021 (was 5 Sep 2020) | Let’s Rock Essex | King’s Farm, Chelmsford |
| CANCELLED (was 5 Sep 2020) | The Orsett Show (114th!) | Orsett Showground, Grays |
| CANCELLED (was 5-6 Sep 2020 & 6-7 Jun 2020) | Colchester Medieval and Oyster Fayre | Lower Castle Park, Colchester |
| CANCELLED (was 8-12 Sep 2020) | Chappel Summer Beer Festival | East Anglian Railway Museum |
| CANCELLED (was 11 Sep 2020) | Essex Swing Festival | Southend on Sea |
| CANCELLED (was 12 Sep 2020) | Defected London FSTVL | Dagenham Central Park |
| CANCELLED (was 12 Sep 2020) | Street Eats ‘n’ Beats | Kings Head Meadows, Chelmsford |
| POSTPONED (was 12-13 Sep 2020 | All About Dogs Show | Hylands Park, Chelmsford |
| CANCELLED (was 13 Sep 2020) | The Maldon Oyster and Seafood Festival | Maldon Promenade Park |
| CANCELLED (was 18 Sep-18 Oct 2020) | Estuary Festival | Southend on Sea |
| CANCELLED (was 19 Sep 2020) | Great Dunmow Carnival | Great Dunmow Recreation Ground |
| CANCELLED (was 19 Sep 2020) | Basildon Street Science Festival | Basildon |
| CANCELLED (was 19 Sep 2020) | Maldon Regatta | Maldon |
| POSTPONED until 2021 (was 26 Sep 2020) | Sunbourne Festival x Moondance Festival | Hainault Forest Country Park, Romford
|
| CANCELLED ( was 26-27 Sep 2020 and 27-28 Jun 2020) | Colchester Food and Drink Festival | Lower Castle Park, Colchester |
| CANCELLED (was 26-27 Sep 2020) | The Autumn Weald Country Park Show | Weald Country Park, Brentwood |
| POSTPONED (was 26-27 Sep 2020) | Essex Autumn Food Home & Craft Fair | Cressing Temple Barns |
| DEFERRED until 2021 (was 8-11 Oct 2020) | Harwich International Shanty Festival | Harwich |
| CANCELLED (was 10-17 Oct 2020) | Southend Jazz Festival | Southend |
| CANCELLED until 2021 (was 19-20 Sep 2020 at Hylands Park, Chelmsford) | The National Country Show | New Venue TBC |
| 23-25 Oct 2020 | Frinton Festival (3 Socially Distanced Concerts) | Frinton Tennis Club’s Ballroom |
| 24-25 Oct 2020 | Life Arts Mind, Body, Spirit & Wellbeing Festival Colchester | Online |
| 28 Oct – 1 Nov 2020 | Essex DocFest | Online |
| 3-4 Nov 2020 | Motorshow Events Drive In Fireworks Spectacular (Sold Out!) | Kings Farm, Chelmsford |
| POSTPONED until 2021 ( was 7-8 Nov 2020) | Essex Christmas Gift Fayre | Cressing Temple Barn |
| CANCELLED (was 14-15 Nov 2020) | East Anglian Winter Fair | Chelmsford City Racecourse |
| CANCELLED until Spring 2021 (was 27-28 Nov 2020) | Harwich Illuminate Festival | The Quay, Harwich |
WE TRY TO MAKE THE INFORMATION WE PUBLISH AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE BUT ADVISE CHECKING WITH FESTIVAL ORGANISERS AND VENUES BEFORE TRAVELLING
IN CASE ANY INFORMATION HAS CHANGED.