Major events, annual and one-off events are listed in the calendar below. Details of regular meeting times for clubs and groups are shown in the relevant section of this website or can be obtained from the contacts for each of the clubs.
If you know about an event that you think should be included here – let us know about it so that we can include it.
2025
efn Magazine
December-February quarterly issue no 207 has been published
EFN (Essex Folk News) is our quarterly magazine. Every issue includes articles and reviews, as well as a diary of folk events in Essex and a list of clubs and group
It is free to all EFA members, or can also be bought at certain folk clubs, price £2.
Contact editor@essexfolk.uk
The latest issue includes articles about the 90-year-old morris dancer who climbed the spire of Thaxted church, and a memory of Steve Monk and the annual Stepdance Day.
December
On Boxing Day:
Colchester Morris will be dancing at the Chequers, Great Tey,
Belchamp Morris at the Belchamp Otten Red Lion,
Chelmsford Morris outside The Retreat in Pleshy, then at The Leather Bottle
and Chingford Morris at The Angel, Waltham Abbey then at the Market Square and lastly at The Woodbine.
2026
January
New Year’s Day afternoon dance
Anne & Sibby are celebrating the 12 days of Christmas at Widford Village Hall from 2:30-5:30pm
Tickets £5 from John Tritton tritton405@gmail.com or tel: 07800 964652
Dartford Folk Club features Barn Fire on 6th January
Brown Boots on 13th January
The Medlars on 20th January
and The Goblin Band on 28th January
Good Easter Molly dancing on Plough Monday (12th January).
Benslow Music are running a course, Magic of the Melodeon, with tutors Hazel Askew and Lucy Huzzard. The course is 3 days, running fom 19th – 22nd January and is aimed at intermediate to advanced players. There are bursaries and discounts available for those who qualify.
Wivenhoe Folk Club are holding their opening session on 8th January (unusually the 2nd Thursday of the month)
Lea Valley Wassail 10th January. Come wassailing in Abbey Gardens with the Chingford Morrismen.
Pete Morton will be the guest performer at Romford Haverfolk on 21st January
Loughton Folk Club is hosting Al Neville on 22nd January and Doves Vagaries on 29th January
An audience without Jake Thakery will be at Colchester Arts Centre on Monday 26th January
February
Monday 2nd February – John Kirkpartick celebrates 200 Years of the Squeezebox at Colchester Arts Centre
Preview Club will re-open at The Plough, Westcliffe-On-Sea after the Christmas Break on 6th February
On 4th February Romford Haverfolk will have a featurette showcasing Steve Mayes
And… On 18th they will be hosting Smoky Wind
There will be a Barn Dance at Eastleigh Memorial Hall on 7th February. Tickets and information 07851 127644.
On Sunday 8th February Florence Sommerville will be at the Brentford Theatre
Tim Edey, the well known guitarist, will be performing at Hotbox (Railway Arches, Chelmsford) on February 12th.
On Monday 23rd, The Brothers Gillespie are performing at Colchester Arts Centre
March
Colchester Folk Club features Gilmore & Roberts on Monday 2nd March
…And Sam Carter on Monday 9th March at The Arts Centre
Tuesday 10th March – North Sea Gas are at The Hoy At Anchor Folk Club
On 18th March Romford Haverfolk are hosting Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner
Chingford Folk Dance Club are holding a special dance on Saturday 28th March from 7-10:30pm. Contact Suzanne Harper 0208 508 4770
Tuesday 31st March – Churchfitters are at The Hoy At Anchor Folk Club
May
Saturday 16th May
Provisional date set for the EFA Annual Grand Ball – at Stock Village Hall. Details to follow.
May 15th-17th is Old Leigh‘s Shanty Festival. Contact Tony Prior for more information 07805 641797
Monday 18th May – The Shackleton Trio are at Colchester Folk Club in The Arts Centre
June
Tuesday 9th June – John Kirkpatrick is at the Hoy At Anchor Folk Club in Leigh-on-Sea
The East Anglian Story Telling Festival will be held at The Food Museum, Stowmarket on 19th-21st June. Contact Carl Merry for info: 07815 737364
Saturday 27th June – Bury Folk Festival at the Walled Garden, Nowton Park, Bury Road, Nowton, Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk, IP295LU.
Tickets are on sale now. https://www.buryfolkfestival.co.uk/
July
Sunday 5th July
Provisional date set for the EFA Annual General Meeting – at Widford Village Hall. Details to follow.
August
FolkEast will take place on 21st-23rd August at the Sotterly Estate, Suffolk
October
Lady Maisery at Colchester Folk Club on Monday 12th October
Essex Folk Association 
You must be logged in to post a comment.