What's On in Colchester
Things to do in and around Colchester: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Unforgivable Crime of Love: Fringe World Premiere 24 Oct
Les Kurkendaal-Barrett premieres his Reed Peggram solo show at Three Wise Monkeys on 24 October: six Fringe performances to 1 November, £13 a ticket, 12+.
Dates for the diary
- On now to 10 Oct Jane Eyre
- On now to 31 Oct Otto's Pumpkin Patch
- Tue 6 Oct The Delines and Seamus Fogarty
- Wed 7 Oct Colchester Market
- Thu 8 Oct Nish Kumar: Angry Humour from a Really Nice Guy
- 9 to 31 Oct The Pumpkin Patch East Bergholt
- 10 Oct to 28 Feb Against the Tide at Firstsite
- Sat 10 Oct Colchester Castle parkrun
- 10 to 31 Oct Cobbs Farm Pumpkins
- Sat 10 Oct Colchester Games Fair 2026
- 10 Oct to 28 Feb Out of Line: Banksy and the Art of Dissent
- Sat 10 Oct Jen Brister: Reactive
More stories
Wivenhoe
Shipyard Studios Wivenhoe: Christmas Cornucopia Back 20 Nov
Wivenhoe's living-room gallery reopens for the Art Trail on 13 to 15 November, then Christmas Cornucopia runs 20 November to 20 December, Wednesday to Sunday.
Halloween
Colchester Halloween 2026: Pumpkin Patches and Scare Trails
Foxes Farm at Eight Ash Green ran its last pumpkin patch in 2025. East Bergholt, Otto's, Cobbs Farm and Hasty's open in October: dates, prices, booking.
Christmas
Colchester Ice Rink: 5 December to 3 January, Culver Square
Colchester's Culver Square ice rink runs 5 December to 3 January, its operator says, not from 14 November. A password-locked pre-sale page went up on 5 October.
Events
What's On in Colchester: Banksy at the Minories, Then Fireworks
28 Banksys at the Minories from 10 October, Edgelands from the 15th, the Fringe from 21 October, fireworks on 5 November and the lights parade on 14 November.
Christmas
Santa's Grotto Colchester 2026: Castle, Zoo and Mercury
Three Colchester grottos are on sale for 2026. The Castle's is £12.95 a child, the Zoo's £17 plus entry, and the Mercury's runs 5 to 24 December. All dates.
Remembrance
Colchester Remembrance Sunday: 8 November, War Memorial
Colchester's Remembrance Sunday falls on 8 November 2026. Last year the service began at 10.45am at the High Street War Memorial, with the road shut 8am to 1pm.
Christmas
Colchester Zoo in Winter: 4pm Close, Trail of Light £15.50
Colchester Zoo is open daily from 9.30am except Christmas Day, closing at 4pm on winter weekdays. Christmas-day tickets from £21.15, Trail of Light from £15.50.
Heritage
Heritage Open Days Colchester 2026: Ran 11 to 20 September
Colchester Castle is free on Saturday 12 September only, normally £13.95, and 42 other sites open free. Day-by-day list for 11 to 20 September.
Bonfire Night
Colchester Fireworks: Thursday 5 November, Castle Park, £13
Colchester's Castle Park fireworks are on Bonfire Night itself, Thursday 5 November 2026. Gates 5.30pm, display 7.30pm, adults £13, and no tickets on the gate.
Christmas
Colchester Christmas Lights Switch-On: Saturday 14 November
Colchester's Christmas light parade leaves the Mercury Theatre at 5pm on Saturday 14 November. The ice rink operator now gives 5 December to 3 January.
Christmas
Colchester Christmas Market 2026: Sunday 6 December, Up to 120 Stalls
Colchester Christmas market 2026 is Sunday 6 December: up to 80 High Street stalls 10am-5pm, 40 more in the Moot Hall. Free entry, Sunday parking £1.80.
Christmas
Mercury Theatre Panto 2026: Every Date for Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk runs at Colchester's Mercury Theatre from 21 November to 17 January. All 45 playing dates, and the BSL, captioned and relaxed shows.