If you’re looking for free ways to keep the children entertained during the summer holidays, Chelmsford City Council’s Play in the Park programme is back with an exciting line-up of activities at parks and community venues across the district.
Running throughout the summer break, these free two-hour sessions are designed for children aged three to 11 and include everything from sports and crafts to inflatables, animal encounters, storytelling and parkour.
What is Play in the Park?
Play in the Park offers children the chance to get active, make friends and enjoy a variety of supervised activities in parks close to home.
Every play in the park session includes a mix of:
- Sports and outdoor games
- Arts and crafts
- Play activities
- Special guest attractions
Throughout the summer, children can enjoy exciting extras including inflatable assault courses, pirate ships, giant slides, mobile zoos, circus skills, face painting, slime making, giant bubbles, skateboarding, scooter lessons, parkour, storytelling and much more.
Sessions are suitable for children of all abilities, and many venues offer both morning and afternoon sessions.
Summer 2026 Chelmsford Play in the Park Schedule
| Date | Location | Area | Sessions | Special Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 July | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Inflatable assault course |
| 22 July | Priory Playing Field | Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre | AM | — |
| 23 July | East Hanningfield Village Hall | East Hanningfield | AM | Inflatable dodgem cars |
| 23 July | Andrews Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Sand art, skateboarding & scooter lessons |
| 24 July | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Storytelling (AM), Mister B party (PM) |
| 24 July | Paradise Park, Writtle Sports & Social Club | Writtle | AM & PM | Inflatable Kids Kingdom |
| 27 July | Great Baddow Recreation Ground | Great Baddow | AM & PM | Assault course, Museum of Chelmsford activity |
| 28 July | Jubilee Park | Galleywood | AM & PM | Animal encounter |
| 29 July | Saltcoats Park | South Woodham Ferrers | AM & PM | Inflatable pirate galleon |
| 30 July | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Large inflatable slide |
| 3 August | Dawson Memorial Field | Danbury | AM | Inflatable Kids Kingdom |
| 3 August | Chelmer Village Green | Chelmer Village | AM & PM | Face painting |
| 4 August | John Galley Memorial Ground | Boreham | AM & PM | Funfair games, assault course, glitter, crafts & sensory |
| 4 August | Chelmer Village Green | Chelmer Village | AM & PM | Parkour |
| 5 August | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Mobile zoo (AM), giant bubbles (PM) |
| 5 August | Springfield Parish Centre | Springfield | AM & PM | Assault course & soft play |
| 6 August | Great Baddow Recreation Ground | Great Baddow | AM & PM | Carousel, dodgem cars, Museum activity |
| 6 August | Chelmer Village Green | Chelmer Village | AM & PM | Storytelling |
| 7 August | Oaklands Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Storytelling, carousel, crafts, tennis & more |
| 7 August | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Inflatable Helter Skelter |
| 10 August | Runwell Park | Runwell | AM & PM | Assault course, Ferris wheel, face painting, crafts |
| 10 August | Taylor’s Park Recreation Ground | Little Waltham | AM | — |
| 11 August | Beaulieu Community Garden | Garden Community | AM & PM | Inflatable pirate galleon |
| 11 August | Chelmer Park | Galleywood | AM & PM | Tennis games |
| 12 August | Priory Playing Field | Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre | AM | — |
| 12 August | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Funfair carousel |
| 13 August | Andrews Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Dragonball & inflatable play park |
| 13 August | Great Baddow Recreation Ground | Great Baddow | AM & PM | Circus skills & pirate galleon |
| 14 August | Melbourne Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Slime making, skateboarding & scooter lessons |
| 14 August | Central Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Giant bubbles & parkour |
| 17 August | Dawson Memorial Field | Danbury | AM | Large inflatable slide |
| 17 August | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Inflatable pirate galleon |
| 18 August | Saltcoats Park | South Woodham Ferrers | AM & PM | Dragonball |
| 18 August | Nursery Playing Field | South Hanningfield | AM | Inflatable Kids Kingdom |
| 19 August | Melbourne Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Balloon workshop (AM), Helter Skelter |
| 19 August | East Hanningfield Village Hall | East Hanningfield | AM | Mobile zoo |
| 20 August | Great Leighs Village Green | Great Leighs | AM & PM | Smoothie bike |
| 20 August | Great Baddow Recreation Ground | Great Baddow | AM & PM | Inflatable Disco Dome |
| 21 August | Hylands Park | Writtle | AM & PM | Parkour, mobile zoo (AM) |
| 21 August | Central Park | Central Chelmsford | AM & PM | Mister B party & Dragonball |
Session times:
- Morning: 10am–12pm
- Afternoon: 1pm–3pm
Picnic in the Park Returns
Families can also enjoy Picnic in the Park, taking place at Melbourne Park from 27–31 July.
Each day has its own exciting theme:
- 🦸 Monday – Superheroes
- 🚀 Tuesday – Space
- 🧸 Wednesday – Teddy Bears’ Picnic
- 🌊 Thursday – Under the Sea
- 🪩 Friday – Disco Party
Alongside themed sports, games and crafts, there will also be free food demonstration workshops (booking required), fruit tasting sessions and a free hot lunch for children who receive benefit-based free school meals.
Fancy dress is encouraged but not essential.
How to Book
All Play in the Park and Picnic in the Park sessions are completely free, but booking is recommended as places are limited.
To view the full programme and reserve your place, visit the Chelmsford City Council website.
Whether your child enjoys climbing inflatables, meeting animals, getting creative with crafts or simply spending time outdoors with new friends, Play in the Park is one of the best free family events taking place in Chelmsford this summer.
