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The Chelmsford Times

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What's On

What's On in Chelmsford

Things to do in and around Chelmsford: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.

Top story Chelmsford Ice Rink: Riverside Skating Prices and Christmas Dates Riverside's ice rink is open all year: public skating from £8.80 with skate hire, Halloween ice disco 30 and 31 October, Christmas sessions not yet dated. · 5 min read

Dates for the diary

  1. On now to 1 Nov Pumpkin Village Pumpkin Village, beside Marsh Farm · From £4.95
  2. On now to 1 Nov Halloween Festival at Marsh Farm Marsh Farm · From £13.50
  3. On now to 31 Oct Hurley's Pumpkin Forest Hurley's Farm
  4. On now to 31 Oct The Haunting at 56 The Haunting at 56 · Free
  5. On now to 31 Oct Hylands Fear Fest Hylands Estate
  6. On now to 31 Oct Hylands Fear Fest Spooky Trail Hylands Estate · From £12.50
  7. On now to 31 Oct Hylands Fear Fest Extreme Hylands Estate · From £19.50
  8. Tue 20 Oct Chelmsford High Street Market Chelmsford High Street
  9. Tue 20 Oct Space Journal, with Dallas Campbell 6.30pm · Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford campus · From £10
  10. 20 to 24 Oct By Royal Appointment Chelmsford Theatre · From £28
  11. Wed 21 Oct The Selfish Giant 6.30pm · Chelmsford Cathedral · From £12
  12. Wed 21 Oct Simon Yates: My Mountain Life 7.30pm · Chelmsford Theatre Studio · From £23

More stories

Heritage Essex Witch Museum Pop-Up: Free at Shire Hall From 26 Oct The Essex Witch Museum's free pop-up opens in Shire Hall on Monday 26 October, 10am to 4pm daily to 1 November, telling the stories behind Essex's witch trials. · 5 min read Chelmsford Haunting at 56: Free Chelmsford Halloween House to 31 Oct A free Halloween display at 56 Mendip Road, CM1 2HP, is open until 31 October, raising money for Alzheimer's Society. Here is what to see and how to give. · 5 min read Music Madness Priory Park Tickets: On Sale Now, VIP Sold Out Madness play Southend's Priory Park on 22 July 2027. General sale is open; pre-sale, VIP and loyalty tickets have sold out. Prices, gates and the curfew. · 11 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Christmas Concerts 2026: Jethro Tull to Messiah Jethro Tull plays Chelmsford Cathedral on 3 December, from £35; Messiah is 15 December. Every Christmas concert, with prices; carol service dates still to come. · 6 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Baby Loss Service Held 13 Oct; Ely Next, 15 Oct Saying Goodbye's Chelmsford Cathedral service was on 13 October. The nearest still to come: Ely Cathedral, Thursday 15 October 7.30pm, and Westminster 29 Nov. · 5 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Halloween 2026: Spooky Trail Sold Out 28 Oct Hylands Fear Fest's Spooky Trail is sold out on 28 October, one slot is left on the 29th and two on Halloween night. Plus pumpkin picking and free witch events. · 10 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Pantomime 2026: Cinderella Dates and Prices Cinderella runs at Chelmsford Theatre 27 November to 3 January, 65 shows from £19.50. Sophia Duncan is Cinderella; full cast, every show time and access dates. · 6 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Remembrance Sunday 2026: Parade and Service Remembrance Sunday is 8 November 2026. Chelmsford's service is held at the Duke Street War Memorial, from 10.55am last year, with Duke Street closed from 10am. · 3 min read RHS Hyde Hall RHS Hyde Hall in Winter: Glow 2026 Dates and Prices Glow at RHS Hyde Hall runs on selected dates from 26 November to 30 December 2026, 4.30pm to 9pm, from £12 an adult. Winter garden hours and prices too. · 4 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Santa's Grotto 2026: Where to See Santa Marsh Farm's Father Christmas Experience returns on 21 November 2026, the only grotto announced so far. Last year's Beaulieu and Danbury grotto dates listed. · 5 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Christmas Markets 2026: Two Dates Confirmed Chelmsford Cathedral's Christmas market is Saturday 5 December, 10am to 3pm, and Hylands' Stables market is 19 November. City centre cabins: no dates yet. · 5 min read Events What's On in Chelmsford: Racing Returns, Then Fireworks Racing returns to Great Leighs on 2 November, three fireworks displays share 7 November and Fear Fest's family trail is sold out on 28 October. 57 listings. · 13 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Science Festival 2026: 29 of 38 Events Are Free Chelmsford Science Festival runs 20 to 28 October: 29 of its 38 events are free. Big Manny and Dallas Campbell can now be watched online too, £10 each. · 8 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Fireworks 2026: Admirals Park Is Sat 7 November Round Table's Admirals Park display is Saturday 7 November: gates 5pm, fireworks 7.30pm, £12 early bird. Marsh Farm and Battlesbridge are the same night. · 7 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Christmas Lights Switch-On: No 2026 Date Yet The 2026 date has not been announced. The last three switch-ons were all Sundays in November, 2024 was cancelled by Storm Bert, and 12,000 people came in 2025. · 6 min read Chelmsford Enlightened Hylands 2026: 27 Nov to 2 Jan, From £12 Dates and prices are confirmed and tickets are on sale. Entry is the Writtle gate off Greenbury Way, not Hylands House, and the last slot is 8pm. · 5 min read Chelmsford Chelmsford Marathon 2026: Ran Sunday 11 October, 9am Start The 2026 Chelmsford Marathon and Half ran on Sunday 11 October from Central Park. How entry stood: the half sold out, about 133 marathon places left on 7 Oct. · 6 min read