Local news, what's on and the information you need for Colchester, Braintree and the Stour valley.
The Colchester Post

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What's On

What's On in Colchester

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

Top story 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. Tickets are not on sale yet; skate aids cost £7.50. · 6 min read

Dates for the diary

  1. On now to 10 Oct Jane Eyre Mercury Theatre
  2. Thu 1 Oct First Thursdays: relaxed opening at Colchester Castle 3pm · Colchester Castle
  3. Thu 1 Oct Megson 8pm · Colchester Arts Centre · From £20
  4. 2 to 3 Oct Oktoberfest in Castle Park Castle Park
  5. Sat 3 Oct Colchester Castle parkrun 9am · Castle Park · Free
  6. Sat 3 Oct The Spooky Magic Show 11am · Mercury Studio, Mercury Theatre
  7. Sat 3 Oct Colchester United v Luton Town 3pm · JobServe Community Stadium
  8. Sat 3 Oct Mark Thomas: 40 in Stand-Up Years 8pm · Colchester Arts Centre · From £15.50
  9. Sat 3 Oct Haunting Nights ghost hunt at the Town Hall 8.45pm · Colchester Town Hall
  10. Tue 6 Oct The Delines and Seamus Fogarty 8pm · Colchester Arts Centre · From £27.50
  11. Thu 8 Oct Nish Kumar: Angry Humour from a Really Nice Guy 7.30pm · Charter Hall, Colchester Leisure World
  12. 10 Oct to 28 Feb Against the Tide at Firstsite Firstsite · Free

More stories

Events What's On in Colchester: Banksy at the Minories, Then Fireworks Oktoberfest in Castle Park this Friday, 28 Banksys at the Minories from 10 October, the Colchester Fringe from 21 October, then fireworks on 5 November. · 8 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 3 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 8 min read 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. · 6 min read 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. · 6 min read Christmas Colchester Christmas Market: Sunday 6 December, 40 Stalls Colchester's Christmas market is Sunday 6 December 2026. The Moot Hall gift market runs 10am to 4pm, 40 stalls, free entry, and the Santa Fun Run is 10am. · 6 min read 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. · 7 min read