Fri 12 Feb 5.30pm | Lantern Walk on Hadleigh Downs, Hadleigh Park | Make a colourful lantern then join other families in a lantern-lit walk across the Olympic mountain bike venue. | £5 per child Book now to attend phone 0345 603 7624. Suitable for age 3+ |
Sat 13 Feb 10am – 5pm | Raspberry Pi Event, Chelmsford Library | We will have interesting activities for all ages and abilities and activities suitable for primary school children/beginners upwards in using a Raspberry Pi. Put on by Essex Libraries and the Southend Raspberry Jam. | Book now to attend for free. Phone 0345 603 7628 |
Sat 13 Feb to Sat 21 Feb 10.15am – 2pm | Secret Story Walk, starts from Thorndon Country Park South Pavilion Café | Explore and experience the woods on this this self- guided trail. The story of your own creature develops as you enjoy our play activities in the outdoors. You can really use your imagination. | £3 per trail guide. No need to book. Suitable for children ages 3-9 |
Sat 13 Feb to Sat 21 Feb 10am – 3pm | Mini rangers trail, Weald Country Park | Buy a Trail booklet from the Visitor Centre, follow the map and stamp each page as you complete your Ranger jobs. Then return to the Visitor Centre to collect a well done gift. Please dress for a walk in the park with lots of mud. Body carriers are advised for small children as not all paths are suitable for buggies. | £3 per booklet, no need to book |
Mon 15 Feb 10.30am – 3pm | Art Workshop at Loughton Library | Come along to lessons in drawing and colouring, held by professional artists. | £6 per person. Book now by phoning 0345 603 7628 Suitable for Ages 7+ (Parents welcome although they must book and participate) |
Mon 15 Feb 10.30am – 3pm | Recycle Themed Dinosaur Events, Witham Library | Come and visit Steggy, the Stegosaurus Rex made up completely from recycled electronic materials. Come along for quizzes, treasure trails and more | No need to book; drop in any time for free entry |
Mon 15 Feb 2 – 3pm | Harry Potter Night of Spells, Wickford Library | Join us to celebrate the magic of the Harry Potter series with crafts, colouring, and activities to entertain young witches and wizards aged 7 and up. It would be Riddikulus to miss this! | Ages 7 and over. No need to book; drop in any time for free entry. |
Mon 15 Feb | Pop up Drama, Harlow Library | A unique drama and art workshop that will stretch your child’s imagination, build their confidence and teach them invaluable art and drama skills. | Book now by phoning 0345603 7628. £10 per child |
Mon 15 Feb 11am | Teddy Bears picnic at Southminster Library | Make your own Paddington Bear, quiz trail and other activities. Bring a snack and decorate a cake for a teddy bears picnic storytime. | Free of charge, no need to book. Suitable for under fives However elder siblings are welcome. |
Mon 15 Feb 10.30am – 12 noon and 1.30pm – 3pm | How to Draw and How to Colour, Loughton Library | Children’s workshops | Must book before-hand. Phone 01992 564000 |
Mon 15 Feb to Fri 19 Feb | Bear Hunt, Great Baddow library | Going on a Bear Hunt’ themed week including Teddy bears story time – bring your teddy, find the famous bear trail and teddy bear crafts. | Open to all children aged 0-11 years old. No need to book. Drop in for free. |
Mon 15 Feb to Sat 20 Feb | Harry Potter Week, Chelmsford Library | Drop in to participate in a load of fun, Harry Potter related activities such as word scrabble, colouring, and making your own Hogwarts tie | No need to book. Drop in any time for free entry. |
Tue 16 Feb 10am – 12pm | Knex workshop, Frinton Library | Create Knex models using your problem solving skills, imagination and communication. | Limited spaces. Pop in or phone to book a place on 01255 672581. |
Tue 16 Feb 10.30am to 12.00pm | Bugs and Other Creepy Crawlies, Maldon Library | Event will involve story time, making bug related craft, and making fresh fruit kebabs. | Children up to 11 years old. Free entry and no need to book. |
Tue 16 Feb 2pm – 3pm | Real Life Fireman, Sible Hedingham Library | Come and meet a REAL fireman, hear some great stories and make your own fire engine! | Aimed at under sevens and is free of charge. No need to book. |
Tue 16 Feb 2pm to 4pm | Knex Workshop, Clacton Library | Create Knex models using your problem solving skills, imagination and communication. | Ticketed event. To book, phone 0345 603 7628. |
Wed 17 Feb 10am – 11.30am | Where’s Wally? trail, quizzes, crafts and fun, Broomfield Library | Be the best dressed Wally in red and white | Free entry and no need to book. Suitable for ages up to eight. |
Wed 17 Feb 11am – 1pm | Harry Potter Event, Rayleigh Library | Come in costume and join in with the activities for children | No need to book. Drop in any time for free. Suitable for children ages 5-9. |
Wed 17 Feb 11am – 2pm | Wild Wednesday, Danbury Country Park | Free children’s activities, including making dens and mud pies, wading in the stream, splashing in puddles, kicking leaves, forest crafts, finding fish and more. | Free of charge. No need to book. |
Wed 17 Feb 3pm | Paddington Bear story time and Activities Event, Wickham Bishops | Join in with story time, colouring and craft activities | Free entry and no need to book. Suitable for under fives. However, elder siblings are welcome. |
Wed 17 Feb 2pm | Family Bike Ride, Hadleigh Park | This is a fun ride for families, taking in the beautiful landscape of the Hadleigh Downs and Thames estuary. Helmets MUST be worn – “no helmet, no ride”. Please ensure your bike is in a safe riding condition. | Book now to attend. Phone 01702 551076. This event is free if you bring your own bike. Alternatively bike hire is available – please reserve a bike in advance by phoning 01702 551076. Suitable for families with children aged 10+ (all children must be accompanied) |
Thu 18 Feb 10am – 12 noon | Kite Making, Hadleigh Park | Make your very own kite with the help of the rangers, then send it soaring over the downs. | Suitable for ages 4+£5 per kite. No need to book. |
Thu 18 Feb 10am – 12 noon | Drop in Pirate and Princess Event, Brightlingsea Library | Drop in Pirate and Princesses Event at Brightlingsea Library. Children welcome to dress up. Story time at 11am. Crafts between 10 –12. | No need to book. Drop in anytime for free. Children of all ages welcome. |
Thu 18 Feb 2pm | Harry Potter Event, Brentwood Library | Come along and take part in our Harry Potter quizzes and join us as we make a spell trail | No need to book. Drop in any time for free entry. |
Fri 19 Feb 2pm – 4pm | Owls From Plop to Hedwig, Danbury Library | Free children’s crafts – make an owl. Share a story. Learn more about owls by following our puzzle trail. | No booking required. Drop in for free. |
Sat 20 Feb 10am – 12 noon | Hour of Code Event, Rayleigh Library | Take the opportunity to spend a fun hour learning to code with Star Wars, Minecraft or Frozen. | For children aged 7-11. |
Sat 20 Feb 2.30pm – 4.30pm | Reading Dangerously, Colchester Library | Come along to an afternoon with the Year of Reading Dangerously team, who will be sharing their enthusiasm for writers from around the world, through a number of activities, including speed- dating with books. Includes afternoon tea and a chance to chat to other readers. | Drop in for free. No booking required. |
Sun 21 Feb 1pm – 3.30pm | Iron Age Roundhouse Open Afternoon, Hadleigh Park | Explore our replica Iron Age roundhouse and learn how your ancestors lived 2000 years ago. Find out how charcoal was made – without it, there wouldn’t have been an Iron Age. Drop in event. | Free entry to Roundhouse. |