One minute it’s October, the next we’re halfway into December racing against the clock counting down to the big day.
Aside from all the stresses of Christmas present shopping or hunting for festive grubs and shrubs to feed your hungry brood, you’ll be wanting to fit in some fun.
But what to do?
Before you throw your bags in the air and scream because you can’t take on any more organisational jobs, relax! Your trusty What’s On has done the hard work for you by rounding up a selection of choices to suit all tastes and ages.
Now put your feet up with a mince pie and a Snowball and take a gander at this.
KIDS & FAMILY
Who: Christmas Orienteering
What: Take a map as you explore Hadleigh Country Park and find all the markers on your sheet. The whole family can get involved in this fun activity. Visit the office on arrival and purchase a map and sheet, £1 each.
When: December16th - December 24 (Between 8:30am - 4pm)
Where: Hadleigh Country Park, Chapel Lane, Hadleigh
Damage: £1 each
Who: Santa on the Pier
What: Rudolph and the gang have landed at the end of the Pier where Santa has his very own grotto in The Royal Pavilion. The Pier Train will take you down to meet with Santa and his helpers for some Festive Fun time. Refreshments, balloon modelling and face painting are available for an extra charge.
When: December 16 - December 24, between 10am - 4pm.
Where: Southend Pier, Western Esplanade, Southend.
Damage: £11 per child. Booking essential by calling 01702 215620 or in person at Southend Pier. Tickets include an adult and child return on the train and a gift from Santa.
Who: Festive fun at Wat Tyler Country Park
What: Cottage crafts, candle-making, Christmas trail and festive storytelling for children aged 5 and under.
When: Monday December 18, 10:30am.
Where: Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon
Damage: £3.50 per child. Book in advance - 01268 208090.
Who: A Bollywood Christmas What: Learn some Bollywood moves, have a go at the tabla and the sitar, and perform a very special version of jingle bells! This is an all-inclusive music group for 2-4 year olds (age is a recommendation, not a rule), hosted by Crayon Rock Music.
When: December 18, 2pm - 2:45pm.
Where: The Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh.
Damage: £6 per child by bank transfer or paypal, in advance to crayonrockrecords@gmail.com
Who: Santa at Belfairs
What: Children can join the Belfairs Woodland Centre for an hour of Christmas crafts and get to meet Santa himself, who will give out presents to all the boys and girls.
When: December 18 - 22 (various times).
Where: Belfairs Woodland Centre, Eastwood Road North, Leigh
Damage: £10. Advance bookings only by phone or in person. 01702477467.
Who: Children’s Christmas Party Extravaganza
What: Making, sticking, colouring in, decorating of baubles, sandwiches, crisps, nibbles, cakes, mince pies, singing, dancing, lots of Christmas party songs, topped off by the arrival of Santa Claus with a bag full of goodies so that each child can take home a present.
When: Thursday December 21; 12pm - 1pm/2pm - 3pm and Saturday December 23; 12pm - 1pm and 2pm - 3pm.
Where: Temple Cafe, London Road, Leigh
Damage: £10 per child via 01702 808760.
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ‘N’ OTHER LIVE MUSIC
Who: Santa Cause 5
What: Two stages full of some of Southend’s best loved bands performing to raise money to buy gifts to be delivered to homeless kids on Christmas day.
When: Saturday December 16, 6pm until 2am.
Where: Chinnerys, Marine, Southend
Damage: £5 from Fives, Leigh, Chinnerys, Leigh and Squeeze, Leigh or seetickets.com/event/the-santa-cause-5
Who: Riffmass At The Railway!
What: A night of heavy groove and swampy blues with live acts Joe Anderton, Happy Hooves, Crown the Mushroom, Howling Black Soul and Lo Chief.
When: Saturday December 16, 7pm.
Where: Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, Southend
Damage: £5 on door
Who: Steve Hooker’s Pre Christmas gig
What: Steve Hooker and the Stripped Down Stompin’ band will play two sets of rockabilly blues and soul. The occasion will be marked with the launch of the Veggie Sue Burger.
When: Saturday December 16, 8pm.
Where: Peggy Sue’s, London Road, Leigh
Damage: Free.
Who: Jazz at the Movies presents A Swingin’ Christmas
What: The Chris Ingham Quartet and Joanna Eden present their swinging Christmas show, Jazz at the Movies, performing songs of the silver screen made famous by Ella, Eartha, Frank, Doris, Dean, Bing and a whole gang of cool celluloid cats and hip Hollywood chicks. This is a regular sell-out at Ronnie Scotts. Joanna Eden is the vocal coach to pop sensation Sam Smith and has been called ‘the UK’s answer to Norah Jones and Diana Krall’. This show will also feature special guest Mark Crooks, the clarinet and saxophone star of the internationally acclaimed John Wilson Orchestra.
When: December 19, 8pm - 10:30pm
Where: Annie’s Jazz Club, Thorpe Hall Golf Club, Thorpe Bay
Damage: £14. Book online at anniesjazz.vpweb.co.uk or call 07504 232783 or email boneswithtones@gmail.com
Who: SoSlamafamalamaDingDong
What: SoSlam live acoustic music collective will be celebrating the end of the year with a Christmas party and you’re all invited! Live acts include Chris Robson, Emily Frith, The Avenue, Derek Cantona with some spontaneous jams made up of whoever is there and wants to join in.
When: December 21, 7:30pm - 11:15pm.
Damage: Free
Who: Noel South Party
What: South Records hosts this Christmas bash with bands and DJs. Bands are It Hugs Back, who were signed to 4AD, the main songwriter Matthew playing guitar in Wire. Also Dark Globes will be doing a load of covers for the night. There will also be DJs.
When: Saturday December 23, 8pm until midnight
Where: The Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, Southend.
Damage: Free entry but there will be a whip round.
DANCING ‘N’ PARTYING ‘N’ DJ NIGHTS (some also with live music)
Who: Almost Grown Christmas Party
What: Southend’s longest running Mod and Northern Soul Club, with regular DJs Martin Morgan and Rob Messer plus special guests Dick Coombes and Mick Love.
When: Saturday December 16, 9pm - 2am.
Where: Saks Underground, Clifftown Road, Southend
Damage: £5 on the door.
Who: Midweek D!sorder *Xmas Special*
What: Alternative party night featuring lots of indie, goth, punk, metal, grunge and rock classics, alternative Christmas songs, silly Christmas jumpers, Santa and elf hats, antlers, and bells plus three for two cocktails.
When: Tuesday December 19, 9pm until 2am.
Where: The Dickens, High Street, Southend.
Damage: Free.
Who: Lemon Soul Christmas Party
What: Soul to jazz via disco and boogie will be played at this party night which welcomes “dancers not posers”.
When: Friday December 22 , 7pm until 1am
Where: Peggy Sues, London Road, Leigh
Damage: £5 tickets from Fives Record Shop, Leigh Broadway.
Who: Middle Age Spread presents Christmas Spread
What: A leftfield disco for grown ups unafraid to dance.
When: Friday December 22, 8pm - 12:30am.
Where: Strictly Smartz, Elm Road, Leigh
Damage: SOLD OUT, but visit the Middle Age Spread Facebook group for any returns, £10.
Who: Christmas Party Night with DJ Greg Barker
What: Back to back floor fillers are promised for this party.
When: Friday December 22, 8pm until 11pm.
Where: Hamlet Court Pub, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
Damage: Free
Who: My Generation Christmas Special
What: DJ Ian punter will spin the best of British through the generations with all the top Christmas songs to get you in the spirit
When: December 23, from 9pm - 1am.
Where: The Dickens, High Street, Southend.
Damage: Free.
Who: Christmas Eve Eve
What: Party through until actual Christmas Eve, with fancy dress prop giveaways, themed cocktails and DJs Kango and Smithy.
When: Saturday December 23, 8pm until 3am
Where: East Coast Social, London Road, Southend
Damage: 5 entry after 11pm (VIP tables are available by contacting the venue).
Who: Club Flamingo and The Lowdown Present: XXXMas 12” Special
What: House, disco, funk and electronic DJ record night
When: Saturday December 23, 9pm - 3pm
Where: Bar Bluu, Lucy Road, Southend
Damage: £5 before midnight
Who: Christmas 80s night
What: “All the best 80s tunes in one night” are promised
When: December 27, 10pm - 3am
Where: The Pink Toothbrush, High Street, Rayleigh
Damage: £6 in advance from seetickets.com or £7 on the door A CALMER CHRISTMAS
Who: Mudlarks and Carols in Prittlewell Square.
What: The Mudlarks Choristers say they will unleash their fabulous new Christmas set onto the general public followed by mulled wine and carols!
When: Sunday, December 17, 5pm - 7pm.
Where: Prittlewell Square, off Clifftown Parade, Southend
Damage: Free
Who: The Christmas Quiz
What: Brain boxes are invited to this fun Christmas quiz, “like a regular pub quiz but with extra sparkle, as all questions will have a festive twist!”
When: December 21, 8pm until 11pm.
Where: Hamlet Court pub, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, 8pm - 11pm.
Damage: Free
Who: Christmas Pack Walk
What: All-inclusive dog walk where all breeds of dogs and those with varying level of social skills are welcome. Dogs in need of space from other dogs or humans should be wearing a yellow bandanna, reactive dogs should be muzzled and no retractable leads are allowed or leashes longer than six feet long. Any behavior questions should go to doggadogs@gmail.com.
When: December 22, 7:30 - 10.30pm.
Where: Meet at the The Shorehouse Harvester Restaurant, Shoeburyness, Southend
Damage: Free CHRISTMAS EVE!
Who: Christmas Eve with Food by John Lawson
What: Celebrate with a four course seasonal tasting menu and free-flowing bubbles! The menu is inspired by the Christmas season and all produce is sourced as local as possible.
When: December 24, 12pm - 6pm
Where: Food by John Lawson, 92 Leigh Road, Leigh.
Damage: £52 per head. Reserve a table via foodbyjohnlawson.com/christmas-eve-lunch/
Who: Christmas Eve at the Railway Hotel
What: All day festive fun will take place at this well-known music boozer starting with two sets of Sunday Blues with Martin McNeill and guests, from 4:30pm, followed by a Nirvana tribute band from 9pm, all interjected and ended with sounds from a rotation of Christmas DJs (Heather Campbell, George Monk and Fi Dulake) until midnight PLUS a filming of the Railway Players’ version of last year’s live production of the Christmas Carol, which was put on in the bar. It will be screened upstairs from 8pm.
When: December 24, from 4:30pm
Where: Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, Southend.
Damage: Free.
Who: Christmas Eve with Beggar
What: Rock covers band Beggar will be performing at the newly refurbished Cow & Telescope. Word is there will be three sets, naughty Santa’s, and “all sorts of stuff going on”.
When: December 24, 8:30pm - midnight
Where: Cow and Telescope (formerly The Sutton Arms), 79 Southchurch Road, Southend.
Damage: £5 on door or £3 in advance from the band (beggar.org.uk) or the venue
Who: The Dancing Monkeys Family Christmas Eve Party!
What: Party with The Dancing Monkeys (a modern, pop, chart covers band). Children are welcome for this festive celebration.
When: December 24, 6:30pm - 10:30pm
Where: The Spread Eagle, Victoria Avenue, Southend
Damage: Free.
Who: Christmas Eve Disco with DJ Micky G
What: Party classics and floor-fillers. are promised for this Christmas Eve party
When: December 24, 8pm - 11pm
Where: The Hamlet Court pub, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
Damage: Free
Who: Christmas Eve Party
What: Limited edition cocktails are promised at this party
When: December 24, 2pm - midnight
Where: The Slug and Lettuce, Southchurch Road, Southend
Damage: Free
Who: Caribbean Christmas Party with Tropical Heatwave
What: Party Caribbean style with some “traditional songs, cool reggae vibes, Latin and Calypso and the limbo” with Heatwave Band.
When: December 24, 9pm - 11:55pm
Where: The Shoeburyness Conservative Club, Kent Lodge, 86 Ness Road, Shoeburyness.
Damage: The club is a private club, but you can call 01702 292412, or email secretary@shoeburyconclub.co.uk about membership or guest fees.
Who: The Statins’ Christmas Eve Get-together
What: New wave tribute band the Statins are hosting a Christmas Eve get-together
When: December 24, 8pm.
Where: The Crickters pub, London Road, Westcliff
Damage: Free
BOXING NIGHT
Who: Get Right Back - Volume 10
What: Night of rotating DJs attempting to get you filling the floor all night. DJs include Rhys Rudolph Webb - The Horrors; Carolin’ Joe Spurgeon - The Horrors; Oliver Blitzen - Live Wire Soul Club; Ciaran O’Sleigh - ECC; Merry Martin Morgan - Almost Grown ; Adam Kosher Kinsey - Junk ; Jingle JaH Girl - Good As Gold; Bernie Bauballs - Blue Meanie; Santa Kissing Sean Moriarty- Southend Reggae Star; Sonny Eggnog Evans - International Disco Sound.
When: December 26, 8pm - 2am.
Damage: £5
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