Fun festival days for Essex

Wherever you live in Essex, you can enjoy food, music, dance, circus skills and much more with a range of festivals taking place throughout the county. There’s something to suit everyone this summer.

Fresh Air Festival

In partnership with Brightlingsea Town Council, Brightlingsea Sailing Club and more, Essex residents can enjoy five weekends of festival fun this summer. Visitors can experience the Brightlingsea Regatta on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July, the Brightlingsea Free Music Festival on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August, the Brightlingsea Food and Drink Festival on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August, along with the Brightlingsea Classic Car Show, Back to School Fun Day and Brightlingsea Carnival.

The activities then culminate in the free Fresh Air Festival - a celebratory outdoor arts festival on Brightlingsea Promenade Green - where people can see nationally acclaimed street theatre artists consisting of stilt walkers, hula hoopers, jugglers and circus and acrobatic performers on Sunday 10 September from 11.00am to 5.00pm.

www.freshairfestival.co.uk

Maldon Festival

Running from Friday 23 June to Sunday 9 July the Maldon Festival offers a fortnight of art and music that will delight audiences. This year’s festivalwhich has a Coronation theme - showcases a rich mix of concerts and events from award-winning performers, music-makers and talented artists, based both locally and internationally. This year’s festival will feature art inspired by this year’s theme and music that has been used to celebrate past coronations.

www.maldonfestival.co.uk

Rice and Spice Festival

A fantastic experience for food lovers and those who like it hot and spicy. Organised by the Colchester Festival of Rice and Spice group - with support from the East Anglian Indian Association - the festival is a free one-day event which brings Colchester’s diverse communities together.

Held at Firstsite, Colchester, on Saturday 24 June from 12.00pm to 5.00pm, the festival will see local communities share with visitors their heritage –through food, dance, music, performances, the visual arts and much more.

www.firstsite.uk/event/rice-and-spice-festival

Chelmsford Festival

Thirty days of festival fun can be had in Chelmsford this year from Saturday 10 June to Sunday 9 July. This year’s festival aims to bring communities together with activities including the Chelmsford Carnival, street theatre, community picnics, dance, science events, workshops, comedy and book talks along with much more.

www.chelmsfordfestival.co.uk