Rain or shine, there's so much to do in Essex this weekend. You can choose from outdoor shows and getting close to nature, to live music and theatre:
OFF ROAD TOUR SUMMER SAFARI Highwoods Country Park, Visitor Centre, Turner Road, Colchester CO4 5JR.Click here for more details
11.30am – 12.30pm or 2.30pm – 3.30pm on Sunday, August 10. £8 per person (£5 for those registered disabled). High Woods Country Park is one of Colchester's beauty spots. Take in the views around the Park in this gentle off-road vehicle tour that features thousands of different birds and mammals with Ranger commentary along the way.
LIVE MUSIC BEST OF MUSIC FEST Valentines Mansion & Gardens Emerson Road, Ilford, IG1 4XA. 11am-3pm on Sunday, August 10, all ages Free. No need to book.
Click here for more details Enjoy a delightful selection of acoustic music performances in a beautiful setting, showcasing different musicians & music styles. Picnics are welcome.
NATURE BAT WALK Castle Park, High Street, Colchester CO1 1TJ 8.10pm on Saturday, August 9. Adults £4, children free. Click here for more details
Spend an exciting evening listening and looking for the many species of bats that live in and amongst the beautiful, mysterious surroundings of Castle Park in Colchester. The meeting point for the bat walks is at the Cafe in the Park.
GARDENS OPEN GARDEN Ingatestone Hall, Ingatestone CM4 9NR. Sunday, August 10, 12-5 pm. Adults: £4, children under 16 go free. Click here for more details
Ingatestone Hall is grade I-listed, 16th-century manor house and opens this weekend for public viewing. Wander in its 10 acres of peaceful gardens, which contain a nut walk, stew pond, walled garden and rare clock tower. The admission is for the gardens only and proceeds go to the Red Cross.
DOG EVENT GREYHOUND WALKS ANNUAL AND FUN DOG SHOW Great Notley Country Park, Great Notley CM77 7FS. Sunday August 10, gates open 10am. Free entry to showground, car park £2.50. Dog show entry £2 per dog per class. Click here for more details
The Greyhound Walks Annual Show is one of the most popular and much anticipated events of its kind in the UK. There will be two judging rings for Greyhound/Lurcher classes, plus a Fun Dog Show open to any breed. There will be family games and fun, charity and trade stallholders, as well as refreshments.
NATURE SUMMER BUTTERFLIES WALK Belfairs Woodland Centre, Eastwood road North, Leigh-On-Sea, SS9 4LR. Saturday, August 9. 11am - 2pm. £5 per person.
Belfairs Woodland Centre are hosting a walk through their beautiful reserve to spot and identify summer butterflies. Woodland Ranger Ashley hosts the walk through the Belfairs reserve and will lecture about the conservation work being undertaken to promote butterflies in this area. Meet at the Belfairs Woodland Centre.
COUNTRY SHOW IT'S SHOWTIME Purleigh Halt, Barons Lane, Purleigh, CM9 6PF Sunday, August 10, 10am-5pm. Adults £6. Under 16s go free. Click here for more details This annual show in aid of Little Haven has grown year by year and raised more than £55,000 in total. The show contains over 130 stalls selling a variety of products, plus heavy horse show, Suffolk Punches, motorcycles, tractor displays, steam engines, demonstrations, and lots more. Refreshments and live music will be available throughout the day.
KIDS' THEATRE TREASURE ISLAND Hedingham Castle, Castle Hedingham, CO9 3DJ. Sunday, August 10, 6pm. Adults £14, children & concs £10, families £40.
Click here for more details The acclaimed Contemporary Theatre present Treasure Island with buccaneers and buried gold! Stevenson's classic tale of Pirates, Parrots and Pieces of Eight brought magically to life in the open air. With picnics welcome, the event seems like the perfect evening to enjoy some theatre in a relaxing setting.
CARNIVAL CLACTON CARNIVAL PROCESSION Clacton Town Centre, Clacton. Saturday, August 9, 6pm. Free event.
Click here for more details Watch the fun carnival procession as it makes its way through the town centre. This year the theme is fairytales so see how many of your favourite characters you can spot. Don't forget to try your hand at the local sandcastle competition.
FUN ON THE FARM SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER - TREASURE HUNTERS Barleylands Farm Park, Barleylands Farm, Barleylands Road, Billericay CM11 2UD. Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8. Admission: Adults £10, children £9, children under 2 go free.
As part of the third week of summer fun, join the staff as they go on an expedition around the farm, searching for treasure. Can you solve the puzzles and find the treasure chest that is bursting with sweet and treats? Don't miss all the usual farmyard fun including animal activities, sheep racing, new crazy farmers' croquet and the mini train.
