Special Events

The ESSEX FOLK ASSOCIATION BALL is held annually. Folk dance Balls are not held very often but EFA tries to organise one each year.

The date for the 2026 ball has been set for Saturday 16th May at Stock Village Hall- so put this date into your diary.

Tickets are now on sale from the treasurer treasurer@essexfolk.uk

The HARWICH INTERNATIONAL SHANTY FESTIVAL takes place every year in the old town at Harwich where shanty crews from around the world come to Essex to entertain us and take over the town for a few days.

Wherever you go in the town, be it in the pubs, in the streets, even inside the Redoubt fort, you will likely encounter singers dressed in strange nautical garb. Perhaps you will catch a glimpse of an old Thames Sailing Barge on the quayside or hear the sound of a cannon being fired over the estuary.

The festival has taken place annually since 2006. The 2026 festival is planned for 9-11th October
For the latest information contact https://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/

The LEIGH-ON-SEA FOLK FESTIVAL was established in 1992 and had become the largest free folk festival in the country. With concerts, dance displays, ceilidhs, a centrepiece procession, workshops, open mic, kids’ activities, film, street theatre, storytelling, busking, art and plenty more besides.

In May 2020, to get around the pandemic problems, the enterprising festival organisers ran ‘Front Room Folk’ as an online event.

Garden Gatherings – was an event put on by Leigh Folk Arts Assoc in sept of 2021 – pretty similar to folk festival…but slightly different. https://www.thegardengatherings.com/.

Unfortunately the festival was suspended last year. However, in order to raise funds for the reinstatement of the festival there will be a fund raising concert on 5th April featuring Sam Sweeny in the Fisherman’s Chapel.

For the latest information contact https://leighfolkfestival.com/

The fifth annual Old Leigh Shanty will be held over the weekend 15th to 17th May 2026 with four and twenty shanty crews from all over the country making the journey to perform free of charge at venues throughout the atmospheric old fishing village. 

The shanty crews will be joined by several local folk artistes and bands as well as a morris side or two and a whole load of pirates. 

The weekend starts with a shanty sing around at The Crooked Billet, then from noon on Saturday there will be performances at No 1 Cocklesheds, Billet Wharf, The Peterboat, Strand Wharf, The Boatyard Restaurant, The Olde Smack, The Mayflower PH and Victoria Wharf.

Thanks to support fro Leigh on Sea Lions, Leigh Town Council, SK Bars and Priority Management, all the entertainment will be free of charge. 

So far, the following Shanty Crews have agreed to participate in this community event: Black Deep Shanty, The Brave Marauders, The Hogeye Men, The Hoolies, Hoy Boy, The Hoy Shanty Crew, Impressed, Isle av a Shanty, The Loose Cannons, The Lowestoft Longshoremen, Mains’l Haul Shanty. The Motley Crew, the Mutinous Swans, The Orwelmen Shanty Crew, Pot of Gold Shanty, Sheringham Shantymen (tbc), Short Drag Roger, Sirens at The Helms and The Steepholmers. 

Local performers include : Any Good Thing, Arfur Do & The Toe Rags, Captain Morgan’s Rum Do, Cockleshell Clog, Emerald Hill, Fran & Belinda, Goodnight Crow, Grand Reunion, Harvest Moon, Mucky Dennis & The Grifters & The Mudlarks. There may even be an appearance from the Blackwater Pirates and The Blew Regiment of the Sealed Knot.

If you want more information, 

Contact Tony Prior 07805 641797 tony@priority.ms