Looking for things to do in Essex in September 2026? From exhibitions and food markets to wellness days, festivals, creative workshops and unusual experiences, here’s my curated edit of what’s on across Essex this month.
September is here, and while summer miiiight be slowly winding down, there is still plenty happening across Essex. From art festivals and vineyard afternoons to heritage weekends, wellness retreats, classic cars, creative workshops and even a particularly exciting drive-in cinema screening, I’ve rounded up the things to do that are actually worth knowing about this month!
Think of this as your slightly more curated take on what’s on in Essex – let’s just say I’ve done ALL the scrolling so you don’t have to.
Here are 20 things I’d have on my September calendar…
The Gracefulblog Pick of September Days Out in Essex
Grab your diary and pencil these in…
Art, Culture & Creativity
01. Explore Essex for free during Heritage Open Days
11–20 September | Various locations | FREE
The Heritage Open Days are back from 11–20 September, giving you the chance to explore historic buildings, hidden spaces and local stories across England – all completely free!
Essex has plenty of days out to get involved with. Colchester alone has a packed programme of behind-the-scenes tours & open days, including Colchester Town Hall, the Old Library and the Town Hall Law Courts. You can also head to Maldon, Harwich, Harlow and beyond, joining guided walks around the county.
Why I’d go: Forget the usual tourist checklist! This is a brilliant excuse to discover the places and stories sitting right under our noses.
You can find out more about the Heritage Open Days events in Essex here:
Heritage Open Days
02. BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair
11–13 September | Audley End House & Gardens
This event is going to be breathtakingly beautiful. You can expect ~31 floral exhibitors, specialist nurseries, food & tasting experience, alongside top BBC Gardeners’ World presenters. There’s even set to be a flower-crown-making workshop, which makes me smile imagining everyone wandering around Audley End looking like a slightly more glamorous version of Frida Kahlo.
Why I’d go: I’ve sketched the gardens of Audley End so I can absolutely vouch for how beautiful it all is, and a fantastic setting for this BBC event.
You can book your BBC Gardeners’ World tickets here:
BBC Gardeners’ World – Audley End
03. CHECK OUT the Maldon Festival
11–26 September | Maldon
The Maldon Festival returns this September with a programme spanning music, arts & culture across all the events taking place around the town. This year’s festival also coincides with Heritage Open Days and the Maldon Art Trail, making it an especially good excuse for a wander over the weekend around Maldon.
Why I’d go: Maldon is one of those little Essex towns that rewards a little wandering… Add art, music and a good lunch into the mix and you’ve got a weekend well spent.
You can find out more about the Maldon Festival here:
Maldon Festival
04. ART EXHIBITION: Simon Carter’s From the Landscape
From 19 September 2026 | Firstsite, Colchester | FREE
Firstsite is opening Simon Carter: From the Landscape on 19 September, bringing more than 30 paintings & drawings inspired by the Essex coast into the brilliant Essex gallery. The exhibition is designed to feel immersive, with paintings spilling onto the walls and a soundscape (RIGHT up my street) bringing the outdoors in. I believe it’s scheduled to run until 17 January 2027 (so no limiting this one to September visits only!).
Why I’d go: Anything that manages to make an art gallery feel like you’ve stepped inside an Essex landscape gets my attention… And this sounds particularly beautiful.
You can find out more about this exhibition at FirstSite:
FirstSite
05. Get creative at a LINO-printing workshop
26 September 10am-12pm – The Wonky Wheel, Castle Hedingham
Fancy trying something a little more creative than another Saturday spent scrolling? The incredibly-talented (and LOVELY) Essex artist, Rebecca Reilly, is holding one of her lino-printing workshops – flowers! You’ll transfer, carve & ink your design before printing them as standalone artworks or greetings cards to take home!
Why I’d go: I’m always a fan of an experience where you actually make something rather than simply buy it – and any workshop with Rebecca is a ‘yes’ from me.
You can book a slot on this & other workshops with Rebecca here:
Rebecca Reilly Art
Food, Drink & The Good Life
06. Spend an afternoon at New Hall Wine Estate
12 & 19 September | Purleigh
September feels like a really pretty time to visit a local vineyard, and New Hall Wine Estate is hosting its Cellar Door Social Saturdays throughout the month. Expect wine by the glass, picnics & local food pop-ups in the vineyard – beautiful spot for a date!
Why I’d go: Good wine, countryside and nowhere particularlyyy urgent to be = a very fine, slow Saturday spent in Essex.
You can plan your visit to New Hall Wine Estate here:
New Hall Wines
07. Essex Foodies Market at Hylands Estate
13 September | Hylands Estate, Chelmsford | 10am–3pm
Pair your visit to Hylands Open Estate Day with the Essex Foodies Market – ICYMI, that’s when local food, drink and craft traders set up outside Hylands House! Hylands describes the market as a monthly showcase of local flavours and artisan creations.
Why I’d go: Historic house, beautiful grounds and a market full of local food and independent makers makes for a very easy Sunday plan.
You can check this one out here:
Essex Foodies Market
08. The Wild Table at Tey Brook Orchard
17–20 September | Great Tey, near Colchester
The Wild Table transforms Tey Brook Orchard into a super intimate, woodland restaurant for one final September weekend! This is THE spot for fire-cooked food, candlelit tables (communal, FYI), seasonal produce and the option to stay overnight in glamping accommodation, too! The experience is created by The Laundry and Browning Bros, with the farm’s own produce featuring heavily.
Why I’d go: You might remember I LOVE quirky dining setups, so a candlelit woodland restaurant in an Essex orchard, with food cooked over an open fire? This feels less like dinner and more like an entire experience.
You can plan your visit & nab any remaining tickets here:
The Wild Table Event
09. Book a day of wellness at Greenwoods
20 September | Greenwoods Hotel & Spa, Stock
If September sees you craving a reset, Greenwoods is hosting their first ever full-day wellness retreat on 20th September. This blissful day includes yoga, guided meditation, a sound bath, lunch, a nature walk, a crystal workshop and time to use the spa and gym facilities. My oh my, what a wonderful day that’ll be!
Why I’d go: I’m not sure there’s a more convincing argument for embracing the end of summer than spending an entire Sunday doing very little other than looking after number 1.
You can check out the dreamy wellness day here:
Greenwoods Hotel & Spa
Around The Coast
10. Old Leigh Regatta
12–13 September | Old Leigh | FREE
The Old Leigh Regatta returns for a full weekend of live music, events on the water and plenty of opportunities to explore the businesses around Old Leigh. It’s a free community event with a strong focus on supporting local businesses.
Why I’d go: This is such a great opportunity to enjoy a proper old-school Essex seaside town – boats on the water, live music and a wander around Old Leigh!
You can check out what’s on here:
Visit Southend – Old Leigh Regatta
11. The Basin Waterside Market
13 September | The Jolly Sailor, Heybridge Basin | 10.30am–3pm | FREE
Head to Heybridge Basin for this monthly handmade market, bringing together more than 20 local stallholders selling everything from handmade food and flowers to gifts, artwork and crafts. And for you early birds, I’m told there’s an incentive to arrive early: the first 50 visitors receive a free goody bag with a surprise voucher in one of those bags.
Why I’d go: Even without the freebies (who doesn’t love swag?!), the waterside setting, local makers & independent businesses make this such a lovely Sunday morning wander.
You can check out the market here:
Essex Makers Market
12. Between The Tides: Walton Arts Festival
17–20 September | Walton-on-the-Naze
Between The Tides returns to Walton-on-the-Naze this September for a weekend celebrating art, music & storytelling across coastal culture.
The festival will take over spaces around the town, including the beach, promenade and Naze Tower. If you fancy it, there’s even an early-morning sunrise swim on 19th September, followed by hot drinks & pancakes at the Red Beach Hut.
Why I’d go: Art, on the coast, with a sunrise swim and the potential for pancakes… This one feels almost suspiciously Grace-coded.
You can check out what’s on here:
Walton Arts Festival
Something A Little Different
13. Meadow Croft’s German Market & Christmas Fair
From 10 September | Meadow Croft Garden Centre, Battlesbridge
Ho ho holy moly, Christmas chat already?! Meadow Croft’s German Market & Christmas Fair is BACK and opens from 10th September (through to 23rd December). Tis place is jam-packed with German-inspired seasonal food, gifts and decorations.
Why I’d go: I went last year and can confirm this one is worth knowing about…
You can check out the Meadow Croft German Christmas Market event here:
Meadow Croft German Market
14. See Porsche CLASSICS at a castle
13 September | Hedingham Castle
This might be one of the most unexpectedly glamorous things happening in Essex this month.
Porsche Classics at the Castle brings a collection of historic & modern Porsches to the breathtaking Hedingham Castle, with this year’s event celebrating 70 years since Porsche’s first major Targa Florio victory. My advice would be to make plenty of room on your phone/camera for ALL the photos, and be sure to explore the castle too!
Why I’d go: Classic cars against a 900-year-old castle AND beautiful autumn light? Just imagine how beautiful those photos will be.
You can find out more here:
Hedingham Castle
15. HEAD TO ALB FESTIVAL
12–13 September | Castle Park, Colchester
Another brilliant Live music event takes to Colchester this year with ALB Festival’s return. It’ll be a full weekend of live music, food, drinks and family entertainment. This year’s line-up includes Scouting for Girls, Heather Small and Essex legends Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno (who I saw at a wedding many years ago – INCREDIBLE). Of course, VIP options are available for anyone wanting to ‘do’ the festival slightly more boujie…
Why I’d go: A late-summer festival feels like a great excuse to squeeze one last proper outdoor day into September. Fingers crossed for good weather, eh!
You can book your tickets here:
ALB Festival
16. Colchester Zoo’s Starlight Safari Nights
12 & 26 September | Colchester Zoo | Open until 8.30pm
Our county’s wonderful Colchester Zoo is staying open late on two Saturdays this September, giving its members & visitors the chance to see the zoo as the sun goes down. That means evening animal encounters, entertainment, storytelling and activities. This always has a magical ‘Night at the Museum’ feel to me!
Why I’d go: There’s something much more atmospheric about visiting the zoo as daylight disappears – and this feels like a really unique way to welcome in the changing of the seasons!
You can check out Colchester Zoo’s event here:
Colchester Zoo
17. A Curious Adventure: The Alice in Wonderland Drone SHOW
25–26 September | Colchester Castle Park
If you missed the Hylands edition of this earlier this month, fear not – there’s another chance to see more than 500(!) drones bring Alice in Wonderland to life above Colchester Castle Park on 25th & 26th September. The show combines illuminated drones, music and storytelling.
Why I’d go: This is exactly the sort of *slightly* bonkers September evening I hoped I’d be filling these monthly Essex event guides with tbh.
You can book tickets here:
Alice in Wonderland Drone Show
18. Bond Street Chelmsford Turns 10
26 September | Bond Street, Chelmsford | FREE
Bond Street Chelmsford is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday 26th September with a free day of live entertainment, music, theatre, arts and crafts, (yep, there’s more!), gams and so on across the top Essex shopping destination… Full disclosure: I have a bit of a soft spot for Bond Street, having worked with them in the past – and this one also happens to fall on my birthday.
Why I’d go: I’m still slightly shocked that our Essex Bond Street has been around for a whole decade! Cue the ‘I remember when it was just a carpark’ flashbacks…
You can check out Bond Street’s 10y Anniversary event here:
Bond Street Chelmsford
19. a drive-in under the stars
26 September | Barleylands, Billericay
Barleylands is hosting a Moonbeamers drive-in screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2 on 26 September. Because sometimes a September Saturday night calls for a giant screen, snacks and getting comfy infront of a film.
Why I’d go: I can’t ever get Danny Zuko singing ‘stranded at the drive-in’ out my head whenever I see a Moonbeamers event, and this one’s not to be missed.
You can book your tickets here:
Moonbeamers
20. SUPPORT A CHARITABLE CAUSE
27 September | Hopefield Animal Sanctuary
Cars, crafts, animals and live entertainment might sound like an unlikely combo, but that’s exactly what Hopefield’s Cars & Crafts Show is bringing together this month.
Taking place across their animal sanctuary grounds, the event will feature all of the above, while supporting Hopefield’s rescued animals.
Why I’d go: I’m an animal lover so any chance to support a fantastic, local charity is a ‘yes’ from me.
You can find out more here:
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary
Know somewhere I should have included?
If you’re hosting an event, opening a new business or have something happening in Essex that deserves to be on my radar, I’d love to hear about it. Email me at hello@gracefulblog.com and tell me what you’re up to — I’m always looking for the next thing to add to the Essex Edit.
NOTE – ALL EVENT TIMINGS, DATES AND OFFERINGS WERE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF WRITING.
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