Events in Colchester

Did you know that there was an earthquake in Colchester in 1884? Or that mammoths and hippos used to roam this area? Find out more about local wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change at this much-loved, family-friendly museum. There’s even more fun in store for Easter - follow clues around the museum and uncover fascinating facts. Download the worksheet.

Double points on our Bonus Box inside the museum. Admission is free.

The C3 Church is hosting a "Sign in the Sky" event in Colchester on Good Friday which will be visible over Colchester Castle. Come and spot this display - double points on Box 78.

Come along to a free, fun family fun day at the C3 Church on Ypres Road, CO2 7FD. There are loads of games, activities and food for the community. Double points on Box 54.

Head to Culver Square Shopping Centre 10am - 4pm and find our Bonus Beat Box for double points! All registered players will also be in with a chance to win 1 of 10 vouchers for food retailers at Culver Sq.

Note - this is a paid event but to a charitable organisation

Roll into Spring with an egg-citing Easter roller disco at Charter Hall (Leisure World)! Brought to you by the Rollerworld Foundation, this will be an unforgettable day of skating with Easter themed activities! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer, they have plenty of room for everyone to glide, spin, and smile!

Book your session - tickets cost £13.50 per person. Places need to be pre-booked.

• 11am - 12pm: Relaxed Skate
• 12pm - 5pm: Family Skate
• 7pm - 11.30pm: Over 14’s Roller Disco

Double points on our Bonus Beat Box (except 5pm-6pm during closure).

Come along to this fantastic basketball double header community day with the Essex Rebels at the Essex Sports Arena. Fans and families can enjoy an afternoon of activities, youth sport sessions and basketball action. See the schedule.

This weekend, random Beat Boxes across the area will be giving out triple points? How many can you find? Go explore! The triple point Boxes will changes from Saturday to Sunday so get moving!

Rediscover the nature on your doorstep this Go Wild week with our photo competition. We want to see what “Go Wild” looks like in your community – from your favourite woodland walk to wildlife sightings, there’s so much to share! Share your snaps with us @BTSColchester on Facebook and X with #GoWildColchester, or send in via email.

Courtesy of our friends at Colchester Museums, we have a fantastic family annual pass up for grabs for Colchester Castle & Hollytrees Museum. You’ll be able to continue your outdoor and cultural adventures beyond Beat the Street.

Entries close: 14 April

Prize Terms & Conditions

• Prize is 1 x Museum Annual Pass (worth £60). Valid 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027. The pass gives free entry for either: 2 adults + 2 - 3 children, or 1 adult + 3 - 4 children to Colchester Castle or Hollytrees Museum.
• Competition closes on 14 April
• No monetary alternative will be offered
• The passes are non-transferable
• Winner will be contacted via social media or email (where you submitted your entry)
• The winner must provide their details to Colchester Museums and collect the Pass in person from Colchester Castle

The Museum Annual Pass is subject to the following terms:

• The Pass is valid until the expiry date printed on the card (12 months from issue)
• The Pass must be presented on every visit to Colchester Castle and Hollytrees Museum. It is the only accepted proof of eligibility
• Passholders must be present when using the Pass. Proof of identity may be requested
• If the Pass is not presented on entry, free admission will not be granted.
• Lost or damaged Passes can be replaced for £4
• The Pass may only be used by those named on it and is strictly non-transferable
• The Pass is not valid for school visits or ticketed/bookable events. Standard charges apply
• Refunds are not available. This does not affect statutory rights
• Passholders are responsible for informing Colchester Museums of any change of contact details
• Colchester Museums reserves the right to terminate a Pass if behaviour is deemed inappropriate or disruptive
• By opting in on the registration form, passholders agree to receive updates about museum news, exhibitions, events and offers. Data will be handled securely and never sold. Full privacy details are available.

We’re putting together our biggest walk yet! Come and join Beat the Street and the Healthy Environments Team from Colchester City Council to walk the Orbital! Challenge yourself to the full 15 mile route or drop in along the way to walk a distance that’s comfortable for you. Connecting the city’s loveliest green spaces, the route follows public rights of way and cycle paths. We’ll be offering double points on all the Beat Boxes along our route. Meet at Highwoods Chanterelle Car Park.

See our anticipated schedule below:

Beat Box 115 Hillridge / Beat Box 118 Langham Place
9.30am – Chanterelle Car Park Highwoods
Beat Box 117 St Joseph Road
10.10am – Bullock Wood
10.30am – Welsh Woods
Beat Box 103 on Bromley Road
11am – Salary Brook Local Nature Reserve
11.30am – Wivenhoe Trail
Beat Box 75 Recreation Road
11.45am – Parson’s Lane
Beat Box 68 Old Heat Road
11.55am – Bourne Valley
12.05pm – Bourne Mill
Beat Box 63 on Bourne Road
12.15pm – Middlewick
12.30pm – Queen Elizabeth Way / Monkwick School
Beat Box 46 School Road
12.50pm – St Michael's Montgomery Playground (we will stop here for a 15 minute break)
Beat Box 32 on Baronswood Way
1.20pm - Shrub End Sports Ground
1.40pm - Landseer Green Open Space
Beat Box 37 Rembrandt Way
1.50pm – Lexden Dyke (Bluebottle Grove)
2pm – Lexden Park Local Nature Reserve
2.15pm – Lexden Springs Local Nature Reserve
2.30pm – Hilly Fields Local Nature Reserve (Elianore Road)
2.45pm – Hilly Fields Local Nature Reserve (Sheepen Rd)
3pm – Cymbeline Meadows (Cymbeline Way)
Beat Box 95 Tuffnell Way/Bergholt Rd
3.15pm – Charter Woods
3.40pm – Braiswick Lane
Beat Box 111 Hakewill Way
3.50pm – Northern Approach Rd/ Colchester General Hospital
Beat Box 109 nr Queen Boudica School entrance
Beat Box 115 Hillridge
4.10pm – Finish Highwoods Country Park (Chanterelle Car Park)
Beat Box 118 Langham Place

Head to Culver Square Shopping Centre 10am - 4pm and find our Bonus Beat Box for double points! All registered players will also be in with a chance to win 1 of 10 vouchers for food retailers at Culver Sq.

Let's Go Wild! Get double points in parks & green spaces all weekend. Double points on Boxes: 1, 4, 5, 12, 14, 16, 33, 39, 41, 43, 44, 46, 48, 52, 54, 61, 72, 79, 82, 85, 89, 94, 99, 100, 112, 115, 123, 124, 126, 127, 128, 133 & 138.

Join Blossome for a special Sense & Savour walk to cultivate happiness in beautiful Colchester Castle Park.

This gentle guided walk introduces a simple self-compassion practice that helps you intentionally notice and savour positive moments, the warmth of the sun, birdsong, fresh air, or the beauty of spring in the park. Research shows that when we slow down and appreciate these small experiences, we can boost positive emotions and support our wellbeing.

Our engagement coordinator Tracey will be there, with our Bonus Box giving out double points.

After the walk, come back to Firstsite Gallery to take part in “Mindful Slow Stitching”, a calming creative activity where hand stitching becomes a way to slow down, focus the mind, and connect with others.

Come along, bring a friend, and discover how small moments of movement, mindfulness and creativity can help cultivate happiness.

• Meet at Firstsite Gallery – 1pm
• Walk begins 1.30pm

Everyone is welcome.

Blossome supports anyone affected or bereaved by another person’s alcohol or substance misuse, offering self-care activities and communities that help people rebuild wellbeing through self-compassion, connection and creativity.

A visit to Colchester Castle is better than ever before with interactive displays and star exhibits, like the Colchester Gladiator Vase and Fenwick Hoard of Roman treasure. Have a go at building a Norman archway, dressing as an Iron Age Briton, steering a Roman chariot or firing our replica ballista at the east wall. Come and find our Bonus Box at reception for double points. There is a cost to entering the museum - see tickets and book online.

Don’t miss out on a historic moment for Colchester - the first time a dinosaur has ever been displayed in the city, and the first time this exceptional skeleton has been seen anywhere in the world. Families should prepare for something big, ancient, incredibly rare and utterly unforgettable. Come along to Hollytrees Museum and be among the very first in the world to stand face‑to‑face with Juliasaurus. Double points on the Bonus Beat Box. Book your ticket online. Tickets are £5 per adult, £3.50 per child (under 4’s go free) or family saver tickets are £15.

It's the final week! This week score double points on all Beat Boxes. Go Celebrate!

Head to Culver Square Shopping Centre 10am - 4pm and find our Bonus Beat Box for double points! All registered players will also be in with a chance to win 1 of 10 vouchers for food retailers at Culver Sq.

Join us for a fun, family cycle ride and take on the “Hill of Doom” - meeting at Old Health Rec Car Park (Port Lane) and cycling to Highwoods Visitor Centre and back again. This is a 3 mile ride each way. Double points on Boxes 75, 77, 89 & 98 along the route.

Come along to the production of “The Invincibles” - all about the Sterling Ladies, a football team created in 1917 when men were away fighting in World War One. This story weaves together with a modern perspective, exploring England’s progress in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Explore more and book tickets.