Summer Fun
Welcome to your guide to fun activities for the family this summer
We know that keeping the kids entertained over the holidays can be a challenge
That's why we are gathering together all that's going on locally that you can do as a family - and on a budget
Save this page to your favourites as we will be updating regularly with new events, offers and ideas
The Big Lunches are back!
These community led events have become a highlight of the Summer in Thurrock
Entry to The Big Lunches, and the majority of activities, are free and families are encouraged to come along with a picnic to share
Thanks to Start Thurrock, visitors to the Big Lunches will be able to enjoy a range of exciting workshops, performances and creative activities at each location
Impulse Leisure and Active Essex are putting on physical activities, sports and games for people of all ages to try, plus there will be stalls, face painting, music, performances and a DJ
Some additional activities may incur a small cost, and refreshments such as tea, coffee, ice creams and cakes will be available to buy on the day
The Big Lunch events run from 12noon to 4pm
South Ockendon Big Lunch – Monday 28 July
- Dilkes Park, Fairham Ave, South Ockendon, RM15 5NN
- Highlights: SAY will be performing the album: skool edition. Then, prepare to be wowed by Gandini Juggling who have been amazing crowds with their contemporary take since 1992.
East Tilbury Big Lunch – Thursday 31 July
- Gobions Park, Princess Margaret Rd, East Tilbury, RM18 8TN
- Highlights: Get ready to dance with Folk Dance Remixed, who'll be putting a funky twist on traditional maypole steps! Enjoy the interactive dance show Arcade by Casson & Friends, plus a live DJ, creative activities, sports, entertainment, and more.
Picnic in the Park: Tilbury – Wednesday 6 August
- The Anchor Fields, Tilbury, RM18 8EY
- Highlights: Glass House Dance invite you to join them on a clubbing journey through the ages at Tilbury Picnic in the Park.
Chadwell-St-Mary Big Lunch – Thursday 7 August
- Pyramid Resource Centre, Heath Rd, Grays, RM16 3AP
- Highlights: Folk Dance Remixed brings their vibrant Step Hop House showy, blending maypole, clogging, street, and breakdance with global beats and live music. Enjoy a live DJ, creative activities, sports, and more!
Purfleet-on-Thames Big Lunch – Wednesday 13 August
- On the Green (by the Beacon), Centurion Way, Purfleet-On-Thames, RM19 1QA
- Highlights: Vanhulle Dance Theatre presents Olive Branch, a family-friendly acrobatic show about friendship and saving nature, packed with physical theatre, martial arts, and heart. Enjoy a live DJ, creative activities, entertainment, sports, and stalls from The Purfleet Community Hub.
Blackshots Big Lunch – Monday 18 August
- Impulse Leisure, King George’s Field, Blackshots Lane, RM16 2LP
- Highlights: Blackshots hosts its first-ever Big Lunch with a vibrant Bhangra performance by Cohesion Plus, complete with dhol drums! Enjoy a thrilling Skate Jam show and workshop from King Ramps, plus basketball coaching for all skill levels.
Aveley Big Lunch – Friday 22 August
- Recreational Ground, High St, Aveley, RM15 4BX
- Highlights: Folk Dance Remixed’s Ceilidh Experience brings high-energy folk dancing with a funky twist and live music. Enjoy a DJ set, creative activities, sports, stalls, and free scooter and skateboarding coaching from Team Rubicon.
Corringham Big Lunch – Thursday 28 August
- Corringham Town Park, Springhouse Rd, Corringham, SS17 7LF
- Highlights: Join Cohesion Plus for a lively, interactive Bhangra workshop that celebrates culture, community, and the joy of dance.
The Big Lunch is a community-run initiative, supported by a partnership between Start Thurrock, Thurrock Council, Thurrock CVS, Impulse Leisure and Active Essex
For more information: Big Lunches & Picnic in the Park 2025 - Start Thurrock
Experience the Great Outdoors at Grangewaters
Thurrock's very own activity and education centre, Grangewaters, offers a host of exciting activities, from kayaking to navigation, archery to abseiling, paddleboarding and canoeing to climbing, as well as special activities for the little 'uns
Grangewaters has organised a weekly calendar of activities for all the family over the Summer break
This includes archery, sailing, climbing, bushcraft, high rope, kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddleboarding
For children, aged 18 months to five years old, the Wiggly Bugs nature group runs every Friday morning (9.30am to 11am)
The Grangewaters dedicated website is coming soon, making it much easier to book your tickets and plan a great day out. Watch this space.
Thameside Complex
HOME:ZERO - MAKERS OF IMAGINARY WORLDS
13 August to 18 August, Thameside Cafe
An interactive performance invites visitors into a fantastical world where time is running out. In this playful, immersive installation, inspired by National Gallery paintings, families spark their imaginations to create extraordinary changes and envision a more sustainable future. Ideal for families with children aged 6-10, session time: 25 minutes.
SING TOGETHER!
A FREE and fun singing session open for everyone
- Friday 8 August, 10am to 12.30pm
- Grays Baptist Church Hall, Hathaway Road, Grays, RM17 5JL
Everone is welcome, no experience needed just your enthusiasm, and children need to be accompanied by an adult. The session ends with a pop up performances in Grays Town Centre.
Click here to book your FREE space
Discover your heritage at the Thurrock Museum
Explore 250,000 years of Thurrock history at our museum space, on the ground floor of the Thameside complex
NEW EXHIBITION: Tell Them Of Us
- Saturday 2 August to Thursday 4 September
- The stories and photos of local people who served in the Far East during World War Two. The exhibition marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Japan.
NEW EXHIBITION: From Here To Zero
- Saturday 9 August to Thursday 11 September
- A thought provoking look at the history of Thurrock's journey towards becoming a net zero borough
Both exhibitions are free
Find out more about your museum
Embrace the great outdoors in Thurrock
Summer is the perfect time to explore the unique and outstanding parks and open spaces in your borough.
Get closer to the local wildlife, enjoy a picnic with the family or take a short stroll. Thurrock has many green spaces and parks, each with its own unique charm and many with activities for the young ones, like the Grays Beach Riverside Park (pictured)
Park events
Koala Park
- Football, boxing and refreshments
- Every Tuesday, 4pm - 5pm
- for more information contact Kelly at kherring@atfcommunity.com
King George's Park (known as Daisy Park), Tilbury
- Football, boxing and refreshments
- Every Wednesday, 4pm - 5pm
- for more information contact Rachael at rlong@atfcommunity.com
Blackshots Park
- Family Fun Fair
- Thursday 31 July to Sunday 10 August
West Thurrock Memorial Park
- Family Fun Day
- Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August, 4pm to 6pm
- Activities include mini-football, basketball, dance, refeshments and more
Thurrock is renowned for the diversity of its natural beauty; from woodlands from riverside walks; historic forts to wonderful wildlfe. One of the best way to enjoy the borough is following one of these walks
Davy Down and Mardyke Woods Circular
- Distance: Approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highlights: Woodland trails, Mardyke River views, wildflowers like wood anemones and bluebells, and potential sightings of kingfishers
Thames Estuary Path
- Distance: Approximately 29 miles (47 km) from Tilbury to Leigh-on-Sea
- Sections in Thurrock:
- Tilbury to East Tilbury: 7 miles (2.5–3 hours)
- East Tilbury to Stanford-le-Hope: 3.5 miles (1–1.5 hours)
- Features: Riverside views, historic forts, and diverse wildlife.
Langdon Hills Country Park
- Distance: Various trails ranging from short walks to longer hikes
- Highlights: Ancient woodlands, panoramic views over the Thames Estuary, and diverse wildlife.
- Access Points: Car parks at One Tree Hill and Westley Heights.
Find your new favourite local park: Parks and countryside | Thurrock Council
Thameside Nature Discovery Park
The Thurrock Thameside Nature Discovery Park is real gem, with opportunities for birdwatching, insect watching and ship watching as well as wonderful walks and cycle paths and stunning views across the Thames Estuary
Find out more: Thameside Nature Discovery Park | Essex Wildlife Trust
Check out these great outdoor events for the young ones and families
Thameside Pond Dipping
- Wednesday 30 July
- 10am-11am and 11:15am-12:15pm
- Meeting point: Crown Cottage Green
Enjoy a session of exploring and learning about the creatures within our wildlife pond! All equipment is provided. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear as we will be outside all session. Advance booking is essential. £5.64 per child
Thameside Summer Family Forest Fun
- Wednesday 30 July and Monday 11 August
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Meeting point: Crown Cottage Car Park
Enjoy swinging in the hammock, being creative with craft, digging in the mud kitchen, look for minibeasts, and cooking around a campfire (weather permitting!). Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear as we will be outside all session. Advance booking is essential. £8.80 per child
Robin Hood - new musical adaptation for all the family
- Thameside Nature Discovery Park
- Thursday 31 July, 5pm
A brand new musical adaptation of this classic tale sees King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham trying to thwart the legendary outlaw, Robin Hood and his band of merry men as they steal from the rich to give to the poor. Expect music, laughs, thrills and singalongs.
This new touring production from Folksy Theatre takes place in the beautiful outdoors, so don't forget to bring your picnic, blanket and folder chairs. Children £10, adults £12
Thameside Nature Discovery Park, Mucking Wharf Road, Stanford Le Hope, SS17 0RN
For more information and tickets
Thameside Marine Week Wild Art
- Monday 4 August
- 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Come and enjoy a fun-filled arts and crafts session, where you can create your own marine-themed masterpiece by taking inspiration from the surrounding Estuary! £7.73 per child
Thameside Nature Tots Summer Special
- Monday 4 August
- 10:00am - 12:00pm
A morning to explore, relax, enjoy a craft, or get mucky in the woods! We will finish the session around the campfire (weather permitting ) Advance booking is essential and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please come dressed for the weather. £8.80 per child
Thameside Evening Pond Dipping
- Wednesday 6 August
- 6pm-7pm; 7.15pm-8.15pm
- Meeting point: Crown Cottage Green
Enjoy a session of exploring and learning about the creatures within our wildlife pond! All equipment is provided. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear as we will be outside all session. Advance booking is essential.
This is a family event all attendees, including adults and children, will require a ticket to attend. £5.64 per child and £5.64 per adult.
Thameside Reptile Safari
- Monday 11 August
- 9:00am - 11:00am
Enjoy a morning ramble around the reserve and education area, learning and exploring why Thameside is a great habitat for reptiles. We'll take a look at some reptilian artifacts and see if we can spot some basking in the sun! This is a family event and all attendees, including adults and children, will require a ticket £10.88 per child and £10.88 per adult.
Thameside Nature Tots Summer Picnic
- Monday 18 August
- 10:00am - 12:00pm
A morning to explore, relax, enjoy a craft, or get mucky in the woods! We will finish the session around the campfire (weather permitting). Advance booking is essential and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please come dressed for the weather. £8.80 per child
Thameside Wildlife Safari: Pond, Meadow and Woodland
- Monday 18 August
- 2pm-3:30pm
- Meeting point: Crown Cottage Car Park
Explore a range of habitats with magnifying glasses, ID charts, and sweep nets, and discover the fascinating creatures that live in our meadow and woodland! All equipment provided. Minibeast-themed crafts and activities will also take place! £7.73 per child
Thameside Wild Night Out
- Wednesday 20 August
- 7:00pm - 9:00pm
- Meeting point: Crown Cottage Car Park
Discover the wildlife of Thameside as the sun sets, with bug hunting, pond dipping, forest fun, and a campfire (weather permitting). This event is suitable for children over 5, and children must always be accompanied by an adult. £7.73 per person
Get down to your local library
The Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden
With the Summer Reading Challenge children read 6 books over the summer and get a certificate, a medal - and they learn the joy of reading that can stay with them for the rest of their life!
Find out what is going on at your local library here
Don't forget babies and toddlers can also join the Summer Reading Challenge and collect their own stickers and gold sticky medal and certificate!
Brush up on oral health
The oral health team will be holding drop in sessions, handing out free toothbrush packs for children 0-3 and 3+ and giving advice
Blackshots Library - Monday 4 August, 11:00am-12:30pm
East Tilbury Library - Thursday 14 August, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Grays Library - Tuesday 26 August, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Pick up your free sunflower seeds!
As part of the Summer Reading Challenge our libraries have partnered with Thurrock Garden Centre in South Ockendon who have donated free sunflower seeds for children. The seeds will be available at the Imagination Station events and the summer rhyme time events and at the Big Lunches
Don't forget that all year round libraries run a host of clubs for young and old, from reading groups to sewing circles and story times Find out what's happening at your local library
Get your bike checked for free!
Free cycle checks and repair drop-ins with the Forward Motion Cycle Hub at our libraries
Aveley Library
- 11am to 1pm
- Thursday 14 August
Belhus Library
- 1:30pm to 3:30pm
- Thursday 14 August
East Tilbury Library
- 3pm to 4:30pm
- Thursday 21 August
Tilbury Library
- 12:30pm to 2:30pm
- Thursday 21 August
Family Hubs
There are a host of special Summer events for the young ones at our family hubs.
Thameside Family Hub
Culture fun
- Monday 4 August
- 10am - 11.30am
- 1.30pm - 3pm
Just For You Summer Fun
- Wednesday 20 August
- 10am to 11.30am
SEND stay and play sessions
- Wednesday 20 August
- 10am to 11am
If you are interested in any Thameside Family Hub events, call 01375 652280 to book your place
Chadwell Family Hub
SEND stay and play sessions
- Friday 22 August
- 10am to 11am - 0 - 5 year oldss
- 1.30om to 2.30pm 5 - 11 year olds
- Call 01375 840433 to book your place
Stifford Family Hub
Knights and Princesses
- Tuesday 12 August
- 10am - 11.30am
- 1.30pm - 5pm
Messy Summer Fun
- Wednesday 27 August
- 10am - 11.30am
- 1.30pm - 3pm
If you are interested in any Thameside Family Hub events, call 01375 625653 to book your place
Find out about Family Hub and register with your local Family Hub here
Summer Youth Club at Thurrock Rugby Club
A summer club for 13 to 17 years old will by running on selected days at the rugby club during the holidays
Youngsters can enjoy football, music, dance, cookery, bushcraft, yummy food and more - and it's free
- Monday 28 July, 3pm to 5pm
- Tuesday 5 August, 3pm to 5pm
- Tuesday 12 August, 3pm to 5pm
- Tuesday 26 August, 3pm to 5pm
The club is organised by JTD Arts and Active Essex. You can call 07856 869296 or just turn up.
Thurrock Rugby Club, Long Lane, RM16 2QH
Youth activities at Purfleet-on-Thames
The Riverview Charitable Trust and its local partners in Purfleet-on-Thames have organised regular sports and fun activities for young people over the summer holidays
The Sports in the Parks events include football and basketball. The Outreach events include arts and crafts, multi-sports and light refreshments. At all the events there are friendly youth workers available for a chat
Wednesday 9 August
- Sports in the Parks
- 2.50 to 3.50 – Opera House Park
- 4pm to 5pm - Spider Park
- Open to all – aged 9+
Thursday 10 August
- Youth Outreach
- 2pm to 4pm
- Garrison Shops
Thursday 17 August
- Youth Outreach
- 2pm to 4pm
- Uplands Estate Parks
Wednesday 23 August
- Sports in the Parks
- 2.50 to 3.50 – Opera House Park
- 4pm to 5pm - Spider Park
- Open to all – aged 9+
Thursday 24 August
- Youth Outreach
- 2pm to 4pm
- River Green
Find out more: Riverview Charitable Trust (formerly St Stephen's Community Trust) Purfleet-on-Thames
Get walking and gardening with T100 and Kinetika
T100 is a unique, local cultural project that helps young people and the whole community to really connect with Thurrock and its surroundings in new and unexpected ways
It holds regular free walks
It manages a community garden, created and maintained by volunteers, on a section of former wasteland in Purfleet-on-Thames
The community garden, located in the grounds of High House Production Park in Purfleet-on-Thames, is a friendly and welcoming space for everyone, operated by the arts group Kinetika.
They are looking for regular volunteers who can come down and help every third 3rd Wednesday of the month in to maintaining the garden and get involved in growing plants to be used for natural dyes. Under 18s are welcome but need to be accompanied by parent/guardian throughout.
Next dates: Wednesday 16 July and Wednesday 20 August. Spots are limited so please email george@kinetika.co.uk for full information and to confirm you’d like if you plan to attend.
Find out more about T100 and its Young Ambassadors
Find Your Active Self
Active Essex has a brilliant website that tells you about a host of fun and healthy activities and sports, available in Thurrock and across Essex. It includes stuff that is free or low cost.
Get started on Finding Your Active Here
And if you have young ones, don't forget to download the Summer Activity fun book. It has plenty to entertain your kids, including quizzes, tasty kid-safe recipes and loads of actitivies, garden games and other fun ideas to keep them from being bored.
Your monthly guide to staying physically active for free or low cost
Every month, Thurrock's Community Volunteer Service (CVS) and Find Your Active Thurrock produce a guide to free and low cost physical activities in the borough. It's really useful for the summer months, but also helpful all year round.
Sign up for their free monthly e-booklet here
RSPB Rainham Marshes
Rainham Marshes is a peaceful paradise and haven for all kinds of wildlife – birds, water voles, dragonflies and more – right on your doorstep in Purfleet
It is free to enter and the perfect place to wile away a beautiful and memorable summer day with the family. There are nature trails, woodland and riverside walks and a toddler play area
Some special events that might take your fancy:
- Saturday 26 July Dragonfly Guided Walk Tickets £12 - £15
- Sunday 3 August Wildlife Walk Tickets £8 - £10
- Sunday 10 August Dragonfly Guided Walk Tickets £12 - £15
- Sunday 17 August Wildlife Walk Tickets £8 - £10
- Friday 22 August Butterfly Guided Walk Tickets £12 - £15
For more details: Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve, Essex - The RSPB
Essex ActivAte Summer Holiday Clubs
This Summer Essex ActivAte will be delivered at more than 30 clubs across Thurrock.
There are free funded spaces for children on income related free school meals identified by the school. If you qualify you will have received an email from ‘Holiday Activities’ which includes a voucher with 20 credits to attend any of the holiday clubs listed! Just click the book now link and search your area.
For more information about the Essex ActivAte Holiday programme go to - Essex Activate | Active Essex
Arts Outburst
For almost 20 years, Arts Outburst has been co-creating art and cultural projects with the people of Thurrock (and beyond)
Arts Outburst is taking part in the Big Lunches over the summer and they also run adult events, from Zumba classes to choirs.
They offer some amazing creative classes and opportunities for young people living and studying in Thurrock over the summer and into the autumn
Check out their summer calendar
Are we missing any events or happenings in the borough? Please let us know by emailing the information to communicationsteam@thurrock.gov.uk