Bookings are now open for this year’s fabulous summer holiday programme.
From arts and crafts to multi-sports and musical theatre to Play in the Park, there’s something for everyone in Epping Forest District Council’s 2023 summer holiday programme.
Booking is essential, unless stated as a drop-in session. Book early, so you don’t miss out.
What’s On brochure
The new edition of ‘What’s On’ is now available.
The brochure includes details of all activities, workshops, events and exhibitions for children and adults happening across the district from now until the end of September.
Summer activities
M.A.D. camp (multi-activity day)
- Where: King Harold Academy, Broomstick Hall Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1LF
- When: Tuesday 25 and Thursday 27 July
and
- Where: Leverton Primary School, Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3BE.
- When: Tuesday 22 and Thursday 24 August
- Time: 8.30am to 4pm
- Price: £26
- Age range: 5 to 12 years
- Book online
MAD camp is a brilliant opportunity to try something new and learn basic skills in various sports such as football, athletics and try different arts and crafts including painting.
Please provide your child with a packed lunch and refillable bottle, also depending on the weather, waterproof clothing.
Musical in 2 days: Matilda
- Where: North Weald Village Hall, High Road, CM16 6BU
- When: Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 August
- Time: 10am to 3.30pm
- Price: £50
- Age range: 6 to13 years
- Book online
Fabulous performers required to show off their singing, dancing and acting skills in a mini version of Matilda. Working with our professional choreographer, you’ll recreate scenes and musical numbers to pop songs and musical theatre tracks from the hit musical; then show them to your family and friends in a performance at the end of day 2.
Tiger day
- Where: Epping Forest District Museum, 39-41 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EL
- When: Saturday 29 July
- Time: 11am to 3pm
- Price: Free
- All ages welcome
Join us for a super special Tiger Day. We’ll be celebrating all things tiger related with stories, trails and crafts to enjoy alongside a visit to the Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition.
No need to book, just come along on the day. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Play in the Park
Play in the Park is all about playing games and having fun outdoors. The Play in the Park team will bring a range of sports equipment and arts and crafts resources for children and their parents/carers to enjoy together. The team will be there to help organise activities and games.
No need to book, just drop in at any time. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All Play in the Park activities are free.
Abridge
Supported by Lambourne Parish Council.
Abridge Village Hall Field, 39 Ongar Rd, RM4 1UH.
- Wednesday 2 August: 10am to 12noon
- Friday 4 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Wednesday 9 August: 10am to 12noon
- Wednesday 16 August: 10am to 12noon
- Friday 18 August: 10am to 12noon
Buckhurst Hill
Supported by Buckhurst Hill Parish Council.
Roding Valley, Recreation Ground, Roding Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6BU
- Wednesday 2 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Wednesday 16 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Roding Valley Recreation Ground, Spider Park Field, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6BX
- Monday 7 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Wednesday 9 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Loughton
Supported by Loughton Town Council.
Roding Valley Recreation Ground (near Tennis Courts), 194 Roding Rd, IG10 3LQ
- Monday 31 July: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Jessel Green, Jessel Drive, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2EQ
- Tuesday 1 August: 10am to 12noon
- Friday 18 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Nazeing
Supported by Nazeing Parish Council.
Elizabeth Close Play Area, Nazeing, EN9 2HX
- Friday 4 August: 10am to 12noon
- Tuesday 15 August: 10am to 12noon
North Weald
Supported by North Weald Bassett Parish Council.
Thornwood Common Playing Field, Parish Hall, Weald Hall Lane, CM16 6NB
- Tuesday 8 August: 10am to 12noon
Ongar
Supported by Ongar Town Council.
Shelley Park, St Peters Avenue, Ongar, CM5 0BT
- Tuesday 1 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
- Thursday 10 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Jubilee Park Pavilion, Love Lane, Chipping Ongar, Ongar CM5 9BL
- Thursday 3 August: 10am to 12noon
- Thursday 17 August: 10am to 12noon
Sheering
Supported by Sheering Parish Council.
Sheering Recreation Ground, The Street, Sheering, Bishops Stortford, CM22 7LX
- Tuesday 8 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Lower Sheering Playing Field, Lower Sheering, CM21 9PS
- Monday 14 August: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Waltham Abbey
Supported by Waltham Abbey Town Council.
Town Mead Leisure Park, Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1JH
- Monday 31 July: 10am to 12noon
- Monday 7 August: 10am to 12noon
- Monday 14 August: 10am to 12noon
Ninefields Play Area, Hillhouse, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EL
- Thursday 10 August: 10am to 12noon
Family fun drop-in
- Where: Epping Forest District Museum, 39-41 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EL
- When:
- Tuesday 25 July: Clay Day
- Tuesday 1 August: Animal Puppet
- Tuesday 8 August: Tiger Prints
- Tuesday 15 August: Peg Doll
- Tuesday 22 August: Clay Creations
- Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm
- Price: £2.50
- All ages
Join us at Epping Forest District Museum for our summer drop-in sessions. All ages are welcome but the activity most suits those aged from 5 to 11 years.
No need to book, just drop in during the times above and allow about 30 minutes to do the activity.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
West Essex Inclusion Project
The West Essex Inclusion Project supports children and young people with a learning difficulty or disability through sport and leisure activities.
Booking essential for all activities.
If you’d like to know more about the West Essex Inclusion Project, contact Will Fordham, Disability Inclusion Officer,
Email: wfordham@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
ActivAte
- Where: Leverton Primary School, Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3BE
- When:
- Monday 24 and Wednesday 26 July
- Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 August
- Tuesday 8 and Thursday 10 August
- Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 August
- Monday 21 and Wednesday 23 August
- Time: 10am to 2pm
- Price: £5
- Age range: 4 to 14 years
- Book online
ActivAte offers multiple days of jam-packed fun and activities including arts and crafts, team building games, sports, competitions, challenges and food workshops. All children will receive a hot meal for lunch too (notice of what the meal is will be emailed before the session start date). Please note some dates differ from the brochure; dates above and on booking page are correct.
This session is for children and young people aged 4 to 14 years old with SEND, who receive free school meals or come from working families or families who need the holiday support. Our ActivAte SEND hub is in partnership with Essex County Council.
Athletics
- Where: Roding Valley Recreation Ground, 194 Roding Road, Loughton, IG10 3LQ
- When: Wednesday 9 August
- Time: 1pm to 3pm
- Price: £8.80
- Age range: 8 to 14 years
- Book online
Come and join us for fun, mini challenges to explore your athletic ability. Compete on your own and work as a team to test your skill.
Please note this session takes place outside, please dress for the weather.
Bounce and Swim
- Where: Ongar Leisure Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, CM5 0GA
- When: Friday 4 and Friday 25 August
- Time: 1pm to 3pm
- Price: £18
- Age range: 0-14 years
- Book online
Come and enjoy an hour of trampolining, finished off with an hour of swimming. Parents can swim too. All children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Tennis
- Where: Roding Valley Recreation Ground, 194 Roding Road, Loughton, IG10 3LQ
- When: Monday 7 August
- Time: 10am to 12noon
- Price: £8.80
- Age range: 8-14 years
- Book online
Come and give our exciting tennis session a try. Learn new skills through various games and challenges. All equipment provided. Street Tennis is perfect for all abilities, including beginners. Siblings welcome.
You are welcome to bring your own racquet if you have one.
Forest Fun Day (The Hive)
- Where: Suntrap, Church Road, Loughton, IG10 4AJ
- When: Monday 14 August
- Time: 10am to 3pm
- Price: £22
- Age range: 0 to 14 years
- Book online
Our Forest Fun Days include bush crafts, sensory trails and exploring the forest. Siblings can attend, just book them a space and dress appropriately for the weather. This session promises to be packed with learning and lots of fun.
Please provide your child with a packed lunch and refillable bottle, also depending on the weather waterproof clothing.
M.A.D. Camp (multi-activity day)
- Where: King Harold Academy, Broomstick Hall Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1LF
- When: Tuesday 25 and Thursday 27 July
and
- Debden Park High School, Willingale Rd, Debden, Loughton IG10 2BQ
- Tuesday 22 and Thursday 24 August
- Time: 8.30am to 4pm
- Price: £26
- Age range: 0 – 14 years
- Book online
MAD camp is a brilliant opportunity to try something new and learn basic skills in sports such as football, athletics and try different arts and crafts including design kits and painting.
Please provide your child with a packed lunch and refillable bottle, also depending on the weather waterproof clothing.
Sensory walk and a picnic in the park
- Where: Gunpowder Park, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3GP
- When: Friday 18 July and Friday 18 August
- Time: 11am to 1pm
- Price: £3
- Age range: 0-14 years
- Book online
Join us for a sensory walk in the Gunpowder Park before relaxing and enjoying lunch with other families. Use your senses to connect with your surroundings as we explore the natural spaces in the gunpowder park. This session will include an hour-long sensory walk before we stop for lunch.
Play Adventure
- Where: Hazelwood Childrens Centre, Hillhouse Primary School, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EL
- When:
- Monday 24 July
- Monday 31 July
- Monday 7 August
- Monday 14 August
- Monday 21 August
- Time: 3.30pm to 5pm
- Price: Free
- Age range: 0 to 7 years
- Book online
Our free Play Adventure (previously Sparkles) sessions will support your child’s early development through fun games, free-play and sensory play. Your child will develop new skills and make lots of new friends at this session.
Tiger Tea Party at the museum
- Where: Epping Forest District Museum, 39-41 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EL
- When:
- Thursday 3 August
- Thursday 17 August
- Time: 10am to 12noon
- Price: £4.60
- Age range: 0 to 7 years
- Book online
Join us at Epping Forest District Museum to enjoy The Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition and take part in our fun craft activity. We’ll be making our own paper scented teapot and teacups to have our own tea party with a tiger. There’ll be a story to share and nursery rhymes to sing along to as well. You’ll also have the chance to explore the museum and get hands on with more of our special historical objects.
Stay up to date
Make sure to follow our social media to be up to date with everything going on this spring:
Twitter and Instagram:
- @efdccommunity
- @efdmuseum
Facebook:
Join our family mailing list and be one of the first to hear when future bookings go live
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