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What's On

What's On in Southend

Events in and around Southend this weekend and in the weeks ahead, with dates, start times, venues and prices. Plus days out and family activities.

Top story Carol Services in Southend: Candlelit Carols, Christingles and a Sing-Along in Priory Park Carol services, Christingles and crib services at seven Southend and Leigh churches from 28 November to 24 December 2026, plus Carols in the Park. Updated November 2026. · 5 min read

Dates for the diary

  1. Sun 15 Nov Being (T)here community celebration 12pm · The Old Waterworks · Free
  2. Sun 15 Nov The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain 7.30pm · Palace Theatre · From £36
  3. Sun 15 Nov Fastlove: The Tribute To George Michael 7.30pm · Cliffs Pavilion · From £36
  4. Tue 17 Nov Sh!t Faced Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet 7.30pm · Palace Theatre · From £31.50
  5. 17 to 21 Nov Six The Musical Cliffs Pavilion · From £28.50
  6. Wed 18 Nov Pie, Mash and Quiz 7pm · Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavilion · From £16.95
  7. Thu 19 Nov Steam train from Southend Central to Chester Christmas Market 6.35am · Southend Central station · From £245
  8. Thu 19 Nov South East Essex Wildlife Hospital talk 7.30pm · Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre
  9. Fri 20 Nov Festive Friday, Hamlet Court Road 4pm · Hamlet Court Road · Free
  10. Fri 20 Nov Southend Youth Short Film Festival 5pm · Beecroft Art Gallery
  11. Fri 20 Nov Southend United v Boreham Wood 7.45pm · Roots Hall Stadium
  12. Fri 20 Nov Tropicana Nights: The Ultimate 80s Party Night 8pm · Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavilion · From £10

More stories

Christmas Christmas in Southend 2026: The Switch-On, Light Up Leigh, Snow White and Everything After Southend's lights go on at 6pm on 14 November 2026, Light Up Leigh is on 27 November and the panto opens on 12 December. Updated November 2026. · 3 min read Christmas Boxing Day Walks Near Southend: 10 Castles, Creeks and Woods to Walk Off Lunch Ten Boxing Day walks near Southend, from Hadleigh Castle to Two Tree Island and Gunners Park, with gate times, parking and pubs open. Updated November 2026. · 13 min read Christmas Scott's Light Up the Night: Rochford Trail From 21 Nov, £7 Scott's Light Up the Night opens on Saturday 21 November at the Rochford garden centre: 30 evenings to 3 January, £7 for adults and children, under-2s free. · 4 min read Lazydays Festival Olly Murs Headlines Lazydays Festival on Sunday 25 July 2027 Olly Murs headlines Lazydays Festival in Southend's Priory Park on Sunday 25 July 2027, after Dizzee Rascal and Kaiser Chiefs. Updated November 2026. · 8 min read Christmas Christmas Shopping in Southend: 14 Shops From the Pier to Leigh Broadway We checked 14 Southend shops, from Read on Sea's books to Argosy Toys, for opening hours, addresses and what each sells. Updated November 2026. · 12 min read Christmas Where to Buy a Real Christmas Tree Near Southend, From Field to Doorstep We checked 5 places to buy a real Christmas tree in Southend, from the council's Parks Team to a Prince Avenue farm, for 2026 prices. Updated November 2026. · 8 min read Food & Drink Christmas Dinner in Southend 2026: Eight Tables Worth Booking, From £49.99 Eight places in and around Southend serve Christmas Day lunch from £49.99 to £195, with children's rates, deposits and the dates to pay by. Checked November 2026. · 9 min read Christmas Southend Christmas Market 2026: 13 Dates, From the High Street to Leigh Broadway Southend High Street market is on Saturday 14 November 2026, 9am to 6.30pm, and The Victoria Centre has three more. Leigh has four. Updated November 2026. · 7 min read Christmas Ice Rinks Near Southend: 7 Places to Skate This Christmas, From £8.80 We checked 7 ice rinks near Southend, from Riverside in Chelmsford at £8.80 to Lakeside's Christmas rink, for dates, prices and rules. Updated November 2026. · 12 min read Health Southend Parent Support Group: Free, Opens Friday 16 Oct A free PANDAS peer support group for parents opens at The Hangout, London Road, on Friday 16 October, 10am to noon, then meets every other Friday. No referral. · 3 min read Christmas Light Up Leigh: Fri 27 Nov From 4pm, Broadway Shut 3pm-8pm Light Up Leigh is on Friday 27 November from 4pm, free, with the Broadway and Elm Road shut 3pm to 8pm. All three children's sessions have now sold out. · 6 min read Arts Being (T)here Southend: Free 15 Nov Event Now Fully Booked The free Being (T)here celebration on 15 November at The Old Waterworks is fully booked on Eventbrite. What the double LP is and how to join the waitlist. · 4 min read Halloween Dexter's Halloween, Rayleigh: Held 30-31 Oct 2026 The free horror walk-through at 28 and 30 Queens Road, Rayleigh, ran on 30 and 31 October 2026, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, with donations going to Little Havens hospice. · 6 min read Running Southend Rudolph Run: Sunday 13 Dec, 10.30am, Shoebury The festive 5-mile race starts at 10.30am on Sunday 13 December from Shoebury Common, with a one-mile junior scurry. On-the-day entry £30, juniors £7. · 4 min read Halloween Southend Halloween Parade: Held Sat 31 Oct, Route and Times The 2026 parade ran on Saturday 31 October from 6pm along Marine Parade, fireworks at 7.30pm. Route, road closures and timings, kept for next year's event. · 7 min read Events What's On in Southend: Lights Switch-On, Leigh and the Panto Sonny Green switches on Southend's lights on 14 November, the last free fireworks are on the 21st, Light Up Leigh on the 27th: listings with times and prices. · 15 min read Remembrance Southend Remembrance Sunday 2027 Is 14 November This Wednesday, 11 November, the Mayor leads a two-minute silence at 11am on Southend High Street. Remembrance Sunday 2027 falls on 14 November. · 8 min read New Year's Eve Southend New Year's Eve Fireworks 2026: 6pm and Midnight? Southend has held free New Year's Eve fireworks at 6pm and midnight off the pier for two years running. What is confirmed for 31 December 2026 so far. · 2 min read Christmas Santa in Southend 2026: Eight Grottos, From a Free Visit to Adventure Island The Royals grotto opens on 14 November 2026 at £8 a child, Adventure Island from 28 November at £40 and Prittlewell Priory on 12 and 13 December at £16. Updated November 2026. · 7 min read Southend Pier Southend Pier Winter Opening Times: Wednesday to Sunday Southend Pier is open daily, 10.15am to 6pm, as of 3 November. Its festoon lights return on Saturday 14 November, 4pm to 8pm. Winter days and train prices. · 4 min read Leigh-on-Sea Old Leigh Regatta 2026, held 12-13 Sept: Times and Roads The regatta is free and opens at 11am on Saturday 12 September. High Street and Belton Bridge shut 7am to 9pm from Friday, and two car parks lose every bay. · 6 min read Fireworks Southend Fireworks: Last Free Displays 14 and 21 Nov, 7.30pm Two free fireworks displays are left off Southend Pier, at 7.30pm on Saturday 14 November (switch-on night) and Saturday 21 November, the season's last. · 18 min read Christmas Southend Christmas Lights 2026: Switched On by Sonny Green Sonny Green switched on Southend's Christmas lights on 14 November. The last seafront fireworks are on 21 November and Deck the Malls on 5 and 6 December. · 6 min read Theatre Cliffs Pavilion Panto 2026: Snow White, 12 Dec to 3 Jan Southend panto 2026 is Snow White at the Cliffs Pavilion, 12 December to 3 January, with Shane Richie and Faye Tozer. Show times, prices and how to book. · 9 min read Trains and Travel Steam Train Leaves Southend Central for Chester, 19 Nov A steam-hauled excursion leaves Southend Central at 06.35 on Thursday 19 November for Chester Christmas Market, back at 22.50. Fares start at £245. · 3 min read City Jam Southend City Jam 2026, held 28-30 Aug: Map and Workshops City Jam is free from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August, with 200+ artists painting live. Workshop times, where to find the murals, and how to get in. · 4 min read What's On Things to Do in Southend in 2026: Pier, Beaches & Prices What Southend Pier costs to walk or ride the train, Adventure Island entry and hours, and the best free days out, from Old Leigh to the beaches. · 10 min read