Keep Colchester Cool

Magic the Gathering Duel Commander Event
2025-05-03 12:30 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | ACE Comics, 42 Culver Street East, Colchester, CO1 1LE, GB
Come join in our short notice duel commander event. The first in a long time. This is a 1v1 commander event rather than the usual multi player game.Duel Commander puts a different twist on the 100 card deck we all love to play.
This will be a swiss style event and each round will be best of 3 in a 50 min time frame. Unlike multi-player commander you will start on 20 life. It will be a 3 round event.
Prize support will be Modern Horizons 3 booster per player into the prize pot & everyone gets one for turning up too. Promo packs on offer also.
Start Time: 12:30pmCost: £18.00
Here is a link to the official rules of duel commander https://www.duelcommander.com/en/whatiscommander/and the current banned listhttps://www.duelcommander.com/en/

Star Wars Unlimited League
2025-05-03 12:15 - 17:00 | ACE Comics, 42 Culver Street East, Colchester, CO1 1LE, GB
New to the calendar Star Wars™: Unlimited league. Join for our Star Wars Unlimited league day & challenge your inner light or dark side.
How it works
Our bi-weekly league session for Star Wars™: Unlimited will give you plenty of casual play opportunities throughout the weeks. This is a great opportunity to meet new players, trade cards and pick up new stock while available. All you need to do is challenge a fellow player to a best of 3 match and you will both receive a weekly play booster (1 per week per player). Then each win will gain you 2 points on our league chart & 1 point if you lost. At the end of a set cycle we will then give out some extra prizes to the top 2 and some random prize going to anyone that has a point on the league chart.
Whats the cost?£5 each week, but everyone gets a Star Wars™: Unlimited booster during the event.
Start time: 12:15
Please note all of these events have limited spaces of 24 people, so to avoid missing out please either click attend on this event, come in and speak to a member of staff of call us on 01206 561912 to make sure you don’t miss out.

Mushroom workshop with Biome London
2025-05-03 11:00 - 15:00 | 74 High Street, CO1 1UE Colchester, United Kingdom, 74 High Street, CO1 1UE Colchester, United Kingdom
Biome London will be hosting a practical workshop giving you a chance to learn how to inoculate logs and create mushroom beds for your projects at home.Mycelium dowels will be available pre order after the workshop.There will be an opportunity to buy lunch in the cafe from 1-2pm, please note lunch is not included in the ticket price.

Indigo Moon Theatre: Mermarella - Cinderella of the Sea
2025-05-03 11:00 - 14:00 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
Tickets £7 / £6 concessions / £22 Family (A family group of 4, including at least 1 child)Doors open 11am, starts 11.30am.Duration: 45mins
From one of its earliest beginnings in ancient Egypt, a story best known across the globe as Cinderella shape-shifts its common threads into the world of the seas; linking nations and hosting a wealth of secret sea creatures from both fresh water and salt water…
Mermarella is not the same creature as those she serves, who envy her gifts. She is kidnapped and taken to where they dwell – not far from where the fresh blue river water of the Nile flows into the salty green sea water of the Mediterranean. She craves for acceptance in the salt water world – but will she ever be the same and find love again in this foreign kingdom?
Must she really become something else to achieve her dream, or might her differences enchant and inspire the dances everyone shares?
Puppetry, shadow theatre, enchanting music and a little help from the audience (and some torches!) bring this comic tale to its modern day outcome, aimed at thinking families and the young at heart of all ages.

JANE'S WALK 1: An ancient route to Copford Church
2025-05-03 11:00 - 13:00 | Copford Village Hall, CO6 1BX, Copford Village Hall, CO6 1BX
Copford back in time: follow a route first trod thousands of years ago. Around Gravel Pits Wood, across Copford Plains, to the Church with its fabulous 12th-century wall paintings and Romanesque apse. Children welcome (all off-road, wild woods and activities in the church!). With David Knock and Claire Macaulay.
Meet: 11am, Copford Village Hall, CO6 1BX (2m, 2hrs).
ACCESSIBILITY: A rural walk, with some mixed terrain and off-road paths that could be muddy in wet weather. Some medium gradients. But step-free, and plenty of help on hand! Be in touch to discuss further if necessary.

Wildlife Walk - Fingringhoe Nature Discovery Park
2025-05-03 10:30 - 12:30 | Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park – Essex Wildlife Trust, Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park - Essex Wildlife Trust
Join us for a gentle walk through one of the finest reserves in the county.We shall hear ,and hopefully see, many of the nightingales for which this famous.This walk will last about 2 hours at a friendly pace and is suitable for adults and accompanied older children.All welcome. No need to book. No charge

Late Night Opening: Nightingales
2025-05-03 10:00 - 21:00 | Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve
The reserve will be open late for a special series of nights to let us enjoy the Nightingales special song.
No booking required – Take a self-guided stroll around the reserve to experience for yourself one of nature’s most captivating sounds: Nightingale song.
The Visitor Centre will be open for the evening with snacks and hot and cold drinks and gifts available including our Nightingale themed range of household wares.
No booking required, please dress appropriately for the weather.A voluntary donation is appreciated to help support the work of Essex Wildlife Trust and help maintain habitat for the Nightingale’s.
Guided walks are available if required on other nights.

Museum Admission (Spring and Summer)
2025-05-03 10:00 - 17:00 | East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel & Wakes Colne Station Station Rd, Colchester, CO6 2DS, GB
We’re open on Museum Admission days for visitors to look around our 10 acre site from 10:00 to 17:00.
Have a look around our Station buildings, Signal boxes (where you can pull the levers and view the signalling equipment), Working Restoration Shed (where you can see exhibits being repaired), Goods Shed, Heritage Display Room for Displays of the History of Railway, including the Stour Valley Line, Paxman Diesels and hands on things for Children, Thompson Building housing our Model Railway Display Room, Outdoor Train Themed Childrens Playground, London Transport Playbus for the Children Picnic area with tables. Also take a look at our new Exhibition Hall which is taking shape and will continue to be worked on and opened in 2025.
Platform 2 Café, run by Stour Valley Catering – open from 10am – 3pm and serve tasty breakfast, lunch & snack options, as well as coffee, tea & a range of cold beverages.
We also have a Museum Shop selling a wide range of Merchandise, including Thomas the Tank Engine and a range of railway books.
£8 Adult£4 Children (4-17) See less
https://www.facebook.com/events/534154666332015/?event_time_id=534154786332003

Folk & Bespoke Artisan Craft Fair
2025-05-03 10:00 - 15:00 | Firstsite Colchester, Firstsite Colchester
Artisan Craft Fair, on Saturday 3rd May, 10am-3pm, free entry, at Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester CO1 1JH. Folk & Bespoke prides itself as being different, not the same boring shops that you see around town, bringing you the same cheap, unethical goods. Folk & Bespoke aims to bring you something different EVERY month! . We aim to be a unique shopping experience, a celebration of small independent businesses and time served craftspeople. My aim is to put you in the spotlight and support creative communities! My aim is for us to be the go to market for people to shop indie! . I hope that all of us small businesses will support other small businesses! . We are a small town community! You can’t go out without bumping in to someone you know or a familiar face. Our town will grow and this is the time for artisans, creatives and independents to flourish. . The demand is there, the talent is there. Let’s commit to being something different, something better, something great!

Colchester TrackPlay event
2025-05-03 10:00 - 13:00 | Stanway Village Hall, Colchester, CO3 0RH, GB
A fun and exciting experience for train-loving kids!With over 500 feet of track and more than 100 Thomas & Friends trains to choose from, the kids will be entertained for hours. They’ll be talking about this experience for a long time! Choose your preferred time slot and, on the day, relax with a hot drink while the kids have a blast letting their imaginations run wild playing with the trains.We also offer a special SEN (Special Educational Needs) session from 12:50pm – 1:50pm, ensuring a relaxed and inclusive environment for all.Book your slot today for a memorable, train-filled adventure!

Disney Lorcana League Archazia’s Island
2025-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 | ACE Comics, 42 Culver Street East, Colchester, CO1 1LE, GB
We at ACE are pleased to be able to bring you the new Lorcana weekly league. Our weekly league session for the Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game will give you plenty of casual play opportunities throughout the session. This is a great opportunity to meet new players and trade cards and pick up new stock while available.
With the new adjusted league rules we will now be giving out promo prizes each week rather than at the end of each month. This means there will be no pressure to attend every league session to max your points.
So the following items at random to participants every week:Perdita – Playful Mother promo cards (2 per week)Li Shang – Newly Promoted promo cards (2 per week)Bolt – Superdog pins (1 every other week)*Mad Hatter – Unruly Eccentric pins (1 every other week)*Show Me More! storage boxes (1 every week)
All morning we will have demo staff available to teach you all you need to know about this game. We will be running the demo’s with the new starter decks available.
Please note all of these events have limited spaces of 24 people, so to avoid missing out please either click attend on this event, come in and speak to a member of staff of call us on 01206 561912 to make sure you don’t miss out.

LATES – 80s Disco
2025-05-02 21:30 - 2025-05-03 00:30 | Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
Get ready to time-travel back to the raddest decade ever – the 80s, for one totally epic night of non-stop fun!
Dust off those iconic shoulder pads, slip into your boldest tutu and join us for a wild throwback party celebrating the era of neon leg warmers, dirty dancing and unforgettable hairstyles!
Get into the groove as our killer live DJ spins the hottest chart-toppers from legends like Wham!, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Duran Duran, Tina Turner, A-ha, Rick Astley and so many more!
So, pump up the volume and meet us at 9.30pm for this electrifying LATES bash honouring the most fabulous era in music history!

Pop Friday!
2025-05-02 21:00 - 2025-05-03 03:00 | Rubix Bar, Rubix Bar
Join us here in the heart of Colchester City for Pop Friday and some May Madness!
It’s Free Entry all night and our 2 resident DJs will be playing the biggest Pop, Retro and Dance Anthems from the 80s up till now as we bring the Party back to Colchester!

Chop Suey! Nu-Metal Anthems | Three Wise Monkeys Colchester
2025-05-02 21:00 - 2025-05-03 01:00 | Three Wise Monkeys Colchester
Chop Suey! Nu-Metal Anthems is coming to Three Wise Monkeys Colchester on Friday 2nd May for a massive nu-metal party!
Tickets on sale now from: skiddle.com/e/40810650
Playing Linkin Park / Limp Bizkit / System Of A Down / Slipknot / Papa Roach / Deftones / Korn / Mudvayne / Coal Chamber / Andrew W.K / Drowning Pool / Alien Ant Farm / Rage Against The Machine / Puddle Of Mudd / Staind / P.O.D / Soulfly and more.

Colchester Morris Dancers
2025-05-02 20:00 - 23:00 | Ye Olde Albion Pub, High Street, Rowhedge, Colchester, CO5 7ES, GB
Enjoy the Colchester Morris Dancers and keep your fingers crossed for dry weather!

Drag Me To The 80s
2025-05-02 19:30 - 22:30 | Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
DRAG ME TO THE80’S
Meet the cast of our 80’s Divas and join us on an unforgettable journey as this amazing production delivers a dazzling fusion of nostalgia, empowerment and a celebration of the extraordinary.
Get ready to dance, sing and be captivated by the powerhouse vocals of the queens who redefine the stage and bring the spirit of the 80’s roaring back to life.
The show features an incredible full live band and the music of Kylie, Madonna, Whitney, Bananarama , Queen, Abba, Rick Astley, Pet Shop Boys , Erasure,Duran Duran, Wham, Tina Turner and many more
Touring All Major Theatres 2024/25

RGF Celebration - 10th Anniversary of JOGLE Cycle
2025-05-02 19:00 - 23:00 | Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club, Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club
Join us for a casual evening of reconnecting and reminiscing at Colchester and East Essex CC on Friday 2nd May 2025, 7-11pm. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle and other fantastic FUNdraisers over the years. Tickets are £28pp (plus small booking fee) and include food provided by ‘Smashed@Trotters’. Let’s get together and CELEBRATE!!

Comedy Night
2025-05-02 19:00 - 23:00 | Colchester United FC, JobServe Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester, CO4 5UP, GB
Join us for the second of our Quarterly Comedy Nights in 2025!
Our MC for this date is a regular at Colchester United – Justin Panks who will be presiding over the evening’s merriment with his customary wit and comedic timing.
Opening the show will be Josh James whose warm delivery, easy-going persona and killer punchlines have proven popular with audiences – he was recently voted “Essex Commedian of the Year”.
Moving on, we welcome Muhsin Yesilada – a Psychology PhD by day; comedian by night – who is quicky making a name for himself on the circuit to the delight of his audiences.
Finally, our headliner on this occasion will be the brilliant Andrew Maxwell – an accomplished comedian whose set is guaranteed to have our audience chuckling long after the curtain comes down!
Doors open from 7pm, with comedy starting at 8pm. Our bar food menu will be available on the night should you feel peckish. Over 16s only, 16 to 18 year olds with parental discretion.
Book 10 tickets in one transaction and receive 2 free pitchers of beer for your table*.
Please note that circumstances out of our control may necessitate a change in the comedian line-up for the evening.
*All ten tickets must be booked in one transaction. Two free pitchers of Carlsberg per ten tickets booked together. Drink offered is subject to change. To be consumed by over 18s only.

FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER - DISCO NIGHT
2025-05-02 19:00 - 22:00 | 63 High street, Colchester, 63 High street, Colchester
Friday the 2nd May we are transforming CODA back to the golden era of disco.
Get Ready to Boogie All Night!Slip into your shiniest polyester outfit and step under the glittering lights. It’s time for Friday Night Fever, the ultimate throwback party where the beats are funky, the vibes are electric, and the dance floor never stops! Join us for a night of non-stop grooves, classic disco anthems, and outrageous 70s flair. Whether you’re a dancing queen or a funky town traveler, this is your chance to strut your stuff and relive the golden age of disco. DJPressPlay will be spinning all the hits, from ABBA to Earth, Wind & Fire
Best/most outrageous costume wins a £40 bar voucher
Lots of great drinks deals and special themed cocktails
Free Entry all night long!
7-2am

It’s a Thursday Thing!
2025-05-01 22:30 - 2025-05-02 02:00 | Rubix Bar, Rubix Bar
Join us for an our brand new Thursday night here in Colchester!
The big news is it’s 25%Off all drinks all night! 🥤🍸🍷🍺
Plus it’s FREE Entry!
After dinner, the pub or Karaoke in the city why not end your night in Colchester with a dance and a drink before you head home!

Classic Horror Nights! Shock Waves
2025-05-01 19:30 - 22:30 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
Tickets £6.Doors open 7.30pm, starts 8pm.
Monthly nights of retro horror screenings from the mainly Brit school of Hammer, Amicus etc. Presented by Classic Horror buff and local musician Jason Frederick. Popcorn, a monthly themed cocktail, plenty of dry ice and often very daft over-blown intros. Join us!
SHOCK WAVESFeaturing the gold and silver age masters of horror Peter Cushing and John Carradine – visitors to a remote island encounter aquatic nazi zombies – yes, you heard that right!

Life Drawing - Thursday, 1st May 2025
2025-05-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Straight Road Community Centre, Straight Road Community Centre
We are a local life drawing group in Colchester. We meet up for untutored drawings with professional models from all backgrounds.
All abilities are welcome. Just drop in, draw and pay £10 cash for the session.
Drawing boards, easels, papers, charcoal and pencils are provided for free or bring your materials.
Accessible venue.
Location: Straight Road Community Centre329 Straight Road, Colchester, CO3 9EF

OMB Film Quiz 12
2025-05-01 18:50 - 21:50 | Other Monkey Brewing – The Taproom, 5-6 St Nicholas St, Colchester, CO1 1LB, GB
Test your knowledge of films and help raise money for an incredible cause!
– £3 a head (cash only, all proceeds to charity)– Maximum 6 to a team – Food available throughout – Book via https://sevn.ly/xJWOHUhN
If you book and then decide not to attend, please cancel your booking.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the quiz is due to start.

Colchester Makerspace Social
2025-05-01 18:30 - 20:30 | Trinity Works,24 Trinity Street,Colchester,CO1 1JN,GB
A FREE monthly Open Workshop, a chance for current & potential members to come together and catch up.
Thinking of becoming a member and want to know more? Already a member and want to catch up with the others? Colchester Makerspace Socials are free of charge, include a short introduction to Colchester Makerspace and an opportunity to meet some of our members and associate artists.
You will also hear a short show-and-tell from our Maker of the Month.
This Social is part of a city-wide programme called First Thursdays – a new monthly festival with events throughout Colchester, celebrating its vibrant and diverse cultural scene. Venues across the city are thrown open for the community to showcase fantastic performances, workshops and interactive experiences.
Join our creative community: Enjoy up to 50% off classes and 24/7 access to our space and equipment. Memberships start at just £11 a month. Learn more: www.makercampus.co.uk/membership
Support Creativity: Donate to our kiln fund and help us keep making amazing things happen: https://gofund.me/1d2f2158
New to Colchester Makerspace? We’re a community workshop with ceramics, printmaking, and a vibrant program of classes. Explore our website: www.makercampus.co.uk

Guided Walks: Nightingales
2025-05-01 18:00 - 21:00 | South Green Road CO5 7DN Colchester, United Kingdom, South Green Road CO5 7DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Join us for a special evening : one of our guides will take you round the reserve in a small group private tour of the reserve to enjoy the speculator sound of the Nightingale.Visitor center cafe and shop will be open from 6-7pm for hot and cold drinks, snacks.Walk will commence at 7pm for approx 2 hrs.Booking essential.Please call 01206 729678. £15
https://www.facebook.com/events/1326723768343808/?event_time_id=1326726991676819

Vinyl Night - 70s Sounds
2025-05-01 17:00 - 21:00 | Two Brews, 11 Church Street, Colchester, CO1 1NF, GB
Vinyl Nights – Thursday evenings every other month starting from May 1st. Enjoy a relaxed evening of great music, good company, and some fantastic records spinning all night long!
This month – 70s sounds!!!

Call it Love
2025-05-01 11:30 - 17:00 | Art Exchange, Art Exchange
​Masters students from Art History at the University of Essex present ‘Call it Love’.
Love is fluid, messy, and often political. This exhibition rethinks the narratives we inherit—beyond romance, beyond tradition—to explore love in all its complexity. From chosen families to radical acts of care, this exhibition showcases contemporary artists and archival materials that challenge the limits of intimacy and connection.
Inspired by Charan Singh’s “They Called it Love, But Was it Love?”, the exhibition highlights love’s contradictions: it can be joyful yet painful, intimate yet collective. What happens when we reclaim tenderness as strength? When love becomes an act of defiance against a world that tells us to disconnect?
In a time of growing isolation, ‘Call it Love’ reminds us that reaching out—to ourselves, to others—isn’t just personal, it’s radical. What do you call love? Step inside and decide.
Featuring the artworks of Anna Maria Maiolino, Marina Abramović, Chloe Jones, Charan Singh, Soula Oluode, and Daisy Blower.
This exhibition is curated by MA Curating and MA Museums and Heritage students: Lauren Wainwright, Scarlett Angove, Yu Li, Carla Reboud, Vendija Zile, and Freeha Hashmi.
Free admission and everyone welcome.
For our Opening Hours visit our website: https://www.artexchange.org.uk/visit/
Image credit: “They Called it Love, But Was it Love?”, by Charan Singh, Commissioned by Day With(out) Art and Visual AIDS, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/events/519554680977914/?event_time_id=519554764311239

Students Union, Street Market
2025-05-01 10:00 - 15:00 | Square 3 University of Essex, Wivenhoe park, Colchester C04 3SQ, Square 3 University of Essex, Wivenhoe park, Colchester C04 3SQ
I will be in attendance with my full range of home made Chilli sauces, Chutneys, Jams, Alcoholic jams, marmalade’s, and cordials.

Bird Song I.D Workshop
2025-05-01 09:30 - 12:30 | South Green Road, CO5 7DN Colchester, United Kingdom, South Green Road, CO5 7DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Is there a more beautiful sound than bird song?
Learn to recognise the sounds of spring, join our expert guide Liz for a half day workshop to introduce you to the world of birdsong.
Start the morning with an hours theory talk inside before heading out onto the reserve to see what you can hear!
£15. Places limited, booking essential, please call 01206 729678

Colchester Brewkulele
2025-04-30 19:30 - 22:30 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
NOT YOUR AVERAGE UKULELE BAND. JOIN US FOR A FUN UKULELE SINGALONG IN THE GROUND FLOOR BAR OF THREE WISE MONKEYS FROM 7.30PM. FREE ENTRY
Turn up, tune up and get involved. There is a different songbook each month, downloadable via QR code on the night so anyone can play or sing along. It’s not about serious music, it’s about having fun, lively playing and releasing your inner backing singer.
Unapologetically lively. If other Uke bands have sent you to sleep, Brewkulele is here to wake you up!
About Colchester Brewkulele: started in 2014 as Colchester Ukulele, and in 2023 the group relaunched as Brewkulele with the support of Colchester Brewery, and in 2024 relocated to Three Wise Monkeys which is the perfect venue for a group which often pulls in close to 40 ukes.https://www.facebook.com/COLCHESTERUKULELE
