6 Festive Things to Do in Essex in December 2026
Updated for 2026 – 02/10/2026
Christmas Events in Essex 2026
Full of great towns, countryside, and coast, Essex has plenty to see and do. Our list of festive things to do in Essex highlights the best events planned this December.
This is just one in our series of local guides to December & the Christmas period – check out what’s on in Lincolnshire in December, festive events in Norfolk, Christmas events in Suffolk, things to do in December in East Yorkshire and December events in North Yorkshire.
1. Christmas Show at West Cliff Theatre
The West Cliff Theatre Christmas Show is a two-hour variety production featuring live vocalists, comedy, and dancers, running four days only from 17th to 20th December 2026. Tickets start from £21, with concessions at £19 for over 60s, and one free child seat comes with every adult ticket, which makes it a genuinely affordable family outing. Additional child tickets are £9. Multiple performances run across the four days, with matinee and evening options throughout.
Book tickets via the West Cliff Theatre website.
2. Santa Express at Audley End Railway
From 21st November to 24th December, the Christmas spirit will be in full swing at Audley End Miniature Railway.
Step into Christmas magic on the Santa Express! Board the train and journey through an enchanted forest filled with twinkling lights and festive scenes. At Father Christmas’ workshop, greet Father and Mother Christmas, receive a special gift, and meet friendly elves, the Nutcracker, and a graceful Ballerina.
Explore Fulfen Forest, make reindeer food, post your letter to Santa, enjoy stage shows, and warm up with a hot chocolate. A magical Christmas adventure for the whole family!
3. A Magical Christmas Experience at Clacton Pier
Santa’s Enchanted Grotto at Clacton Pier runs on selected dates from 28th November to 24th December 2026. Each child gets to meet Santa, Mrs Claus, Frosty the Talking Snowman, and the singing reindeer, and takes home a special 2026 Clacton Pier seal plush as a gift. Accompanying adults get in free alongside a paying child ticket.
If you want to make a full day of it, the pier has rides, adventure golf, an arcade, and the Big Wheel. Visits are timed and ticketed, so book your slot in advance.
4. Christmas Fair at Museum of Power
Meet Santa in his Grotto, enjoy a miniature steam train ride, check out the Christmas stalls and enjoy festive entertainment and rides on the Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th December between 09:30 & 16:00. Book your tickets now!
5. Glow at RHS Hyde Hall
Revel in a magical winter wonderland at RHS Hyde Hall Glow, with twinkling lights, vibrant colours, and festive cheer. Explore the illuminated gardens, from the iconic sycamore and neon tree to the new Robinson Garden installation. Pause for selfies at the giant star arch, enjoy the lights-on-the-lake show, and wander through sparkling tunnels to the glowing Winter Garden.
Warm up with seasonal treats at the Gardener’s Rest Restaurant or lakeside cabins, perfect for a festive family outing.
Available on selected dates from Thursday 26th November to Wednesday 30th December.
6. Enlightened at Castle Park in Chelmsford and Coggeshall
Enlightened Moments run immersive outdoor light trails across Essex this winter, with two locations worth knowing about.
Hylands Estate in Chelmsford hosts the trail from 27th November 2026 to 2nd January 2027, with dogs welcome on a lead. Markshall Estate in Coggeshall runs a shorter season from 11th to 24th December, also dog-friendly. Both trails are around a mile long and take roughly an hour to walk, with food vendors on site. Tickets are timed entry and must be booked in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Santa Express at Audley End Miniature Railway takes families through a lit forest to Father Christmas’ workshop, and Clacton Pier runs a Santa’s grotto with a soft toy for every child. The Museum of Power Christmas Fair adds a miniature steam train ride and festive stalls over one weekend.
Glow at RHS Hyde Hall is an evening walk through illuminated gardens with a lights-on-the-lake show and seasonal food by the water. The West Cliff Theatre Christmas Variety Spectacular in Clacton-on-Sea mixes singing, comedy and dance, and Enlightened in Chelmsford’s Hylands Estate and Coggeshall’s Markshall Estate are also must-sees.
Most Christmas events in Essex kick off in late November. In 2026, Enlightened at Hylands Estate opens on 27th November and Santa’s Enchanted Grotto at Clacton Pier opens on 28th November. Enlightened at Markshall Estate and the West Cliff Theatre Christmas Show both follow in December. RHS Hyde Hall Glow runs from November through to January 2027, though specific dates weren’t confirmed at time of writing. Check each organiser’s website for the latest availability and to book ahead, as timed events sell out fast.
Saddlebrook Chase is our Essex park and a good base for the Clacton-on-Sea events on this list, putting the pier and West Cliff Theatre within easy reach. Our Essex events guide covers what else is on across the county throughout the year.