- 28 May -28 June 2026
- FREE
Clacton Rocks!
Clacton Rocks!
Saturday 20 June 2026
Essex Book Festival is teaming up with Essex Cultural Diversity Project and Clacton Arts Centre to host ‘Clacton Rocks’, a day of fun activities on Saturday 20 June across Clacton including Eco-workshops, The Human Library, Stand up For Diversity Clacton, and Art:Up Poetry Open Mic.
BSL Signed Know your Beach Workshop
Seaside Explorer’s Libby Scarfe
10.00am – 12.00pm
Clacton Beach, meet by Clacton Pier
Join Seaside Explorers on Clacton beach to explore the local habitat. We’ll be looking for treasures that the seaside has to offer to inspire some creative art from around the world. And, of course, there will also be some time for a story and maybe some marine mischief!
Stories and songs will be BSL interpreted.
Suits ages 5-11 but everybody welcome!
Tickets: £3 per young person. Accompanying adult free.
Book tickets: https://BSLknowyourbeach.eventbrite.co.uk
This event is part of The Young Ones project which is supported by Essex County Council’s Cultural Development Project Fund, to support the growth of cultural venues and organisations that bring culture to the heart of communities in Essex.
Beach Hut Storytelling
Mer Richardson
10.00am – 2.00pm
CVST beach hut- just along from Toby Carvery, Clacton-on-Sea.
From farm boggarts to funny fairies come and join local Storyteller Mer Richardson weaving warm tales connecting us to the world. Family friendly. Free. Drop in from 10-2pm.
The Human Library – Clacton
unjudge someone
11.00am – 3.00pm
CVS Tendring, Sam’s Hall, Imperial House, 20-22 Rosemary Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1NZ
The Human Library is coming to Clacton!
Just like in a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can borrow a book from a range of titles. The difference is that books are PEOPLE, and reading is a CONVERSATION.
Books in our Human Library come from all walks of life, and each has an experience to share. Come along, connect with people you wouldn’t normally meet, and celebrate positive differences in our communities.
Tickets: Free, no booking required. Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm.
Cold and hot drinks will be available to purchase as part of the event.
Find out more including how to become a human book at essexcdp.com/event/human-library-clacton/.
The Young Ones Eco-Workshops
12.00pm – 3.00pm
Clacton Library, Station Road (opposite the Town Hall), Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SF
Wise Ram workshop credit Lorna Powell
Join in the fun with these free interactive workshops.
Write a Letter to the Future which will become part of a county-wide children’s zine.
The Vanishing Lake with Wise Ram Theatre – Wise Ram Theatre will be running a free, family friendly drop-in activity at Clacton Library. All are welcome for fun creative activities, from drawing characters, doing crafts and playing games. By taking part you will help create a new fantasy adventure show called ‘The Vanishing Lake’.
Wise Ram Theatre is a theatre company based in Harwich making theatre with humour, heart and nerve. In 2025 they delivered a Eco-Theatre workshop for Manifesto4Essex in Colchester and family workshops at Essex Green Weekend. Read more on their website wiseramtheatre.co.uk or follow on social media @wiseramtheatre.
Tickets: Free, drop-in, no booking required
This event is part of The Young Ones project which is supported by Essex County Council’s Cultural Development Project Fund, to support the growth of cultural venues and organisations that bring culture to the heart of communities in Essex.
Creative Wellbeing Workshop
Mer Richardson
2.30pm – 3.30pm
Clacton Art Gallery, Rosemary Road
Befriending Your Thoughts To Change Your World.
Creative wellbeing workshop by local wellbeing coach and storyteller Mer Richardson. Learn how to rewire your brain and make personalised oyster shell decoupage affirmations.
Tickets: Free – donations welcome
Art:Up! Homecoming Poetry Reading And Open Mic
4.00pm – 6.00pm
Reuby’s Salt Beef and Cheesecake Bar, 66-68 Rosemary Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1TE
Art Up photo credit Christian Leppich
Join The Art:UP! This collaborative poetry project launched in the 2025 Essex Book Festival, and has seen more than fifty poets from across Essex get together and share new poetry.
The final instalment of this year’s project is on the topic ‘Homecoming’.
You can get involved by:
signing up to write something new with a partner,
writing your own poem on the theme,
or just coming along to support diverse voices from around the county.
This project is lead by The University of Essex, Essex Book Festival, Waxes Lyrical in Chelmsford, PoetryPlus in Manningtree and Clacton’s own Boho Banter.
We actively encourage new and neurodivergent writers to participate in this project.
To find out more, email Dr Jordan Savage: jksava@essex.ac.uk, or find us on insta: art_up_poetry
Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: artupclacton.eventbrite.co.uk
Stand Up For Diversity Clacton
6.30pm – 8.30pm
Reuby’s Salt Beef and Cheesecake Bar, 66-68 Rosemary Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1TE
You are invited to an evening of three-minute mini-talks and short shout-outs, bringing together those who want to champion diversity in Clacton.
Come along to make new connections, explore the transformative power of creativity, and collectively celebrate diverse voices involved in the arts and in our communities. All welcome.
Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: su4d-clacton.eventbrite.co.uk
Attila the Stockbroker
Punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter, Attila the Stockbroker will be performing in the evening at The Robert Burre.
Address: The Robert Burre, 183 Burrs Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 4LH
Watch this space for more details to come.