Sunday 14 June 2026, 2.00 – 3.00pm
The Minories, 74 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1UE

Join in this hilarious interactive event with multi-award-winning author Kes Gray as he talks about the evolution of his Oi! picture book  series, from Oi Frog! to Oi Dinosaurs! Guaranteed to get everyone giggling.

Kes Gray was born and grew up in Chelmsford in the 1960s and ‘70s. He has published over 100 books, including the popular Oi Frog! and The Trouble with Daisy series. Well-loved by young families for their humour and creativity, his books are largely inspired by his memories of growing up in Chelmsford and feature regular references to places and people across the district.

For ages 3+. All those aged under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets: £6
Box Office: eventbrite.co.uk

Part of Midsummer Madness Family Fun – A day of other worldly storytelling and creative mayhem in the enchanted setting of The Minories, Colchester’s oldest art gallery and garden. Our Midsummer Madness Family Day is the perfect place to get crafty and messy with our delectable range of free hands-on drop-in workshops, and much, much more.

The post From Oi Frog! to Oi Dinosaurs! – SOLD OUT appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Sunday 14 June 2026
The Minories
74 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1UE

A day of other worldly storytelling and creative mayhem in the enchanted setting of The Minories, Colchester’s oldest art gallery and garden. Our Midsummer Madness Family Day is the perfect place to get crafty and messy with our delectable range of free hands-on drop-in workshops, and more.

Free, drop-in, no booking required – so come along and see us, all ages welcome!

Ticketed Events

11.00am – 12.00pm
The Enchanted Cinema presents Where the Wild Rumpus Is

An interactive, enchanted cinema experience for wild things of all ages.

The wild rumpus begins! Hands, voices, and instruments from around the world create a live soundtrack as forests rustle, monsters roar, and oceans swell. Featuring live narration of Sendak’s book and led by professional musician Kieron Chissik on electric viola and keyboard, this screen-free, immersive experience invites children and grown-ups to become the orchestra for a cinematic book. For ages 5+. All those aged under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets: £6 per person
Box Office: eventbrite.co.uk

12.30pm – 1.30pm
❄️  Behind the Scenes of Snowy Joy & The Toysavers ❄️

2.00pm – 3.00pm
Kes Gray – From Oi Frog! to Oi Dinosaurs!

Photo of Kes Gray © Paul Starr

Join in this hilarious interactive event with multi-award-winning author Kes Gray as he talks about the evolution of his Oi! picture book  series, from Oi Frog! to Oi Dinosaurs! Guaranteed to get everyone giggling. For ages 3+. All those aged under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets: £6
Box Office: eventbrite.co.uk

Drop-in Activities

12.00pm – 3.00pm
The Young Ones Eco-Workshops and Storytelling

Wise Ram workshop credit Lorna Powell

Get crafty and messy with our free, hands-on, drop-in workshops taking place in the enchanted garden at The Minories.

Use materials gathered from the Essex coast to create your very own Beached-Up Sea Monster.

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 our Midsummer Madness day at The Minories. 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.

Essex Libraries will be joining us for some super storytelling. Watch out for a strange creature in the garden with terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in terrible jaws; knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of a nose…

All ages welcome.

Tickets: Free, drop-in, no booking required
All taking place in The Minories Garden

12.00pm
Marvellous Music

Tickets: Free, drop-in, no booking required
Taking place in The Minories Garden

The post Midsummer Madness Family Fun appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Saturday 27 June 2026, 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens, Muskham Road, Harlow, CM20 2LF

Come and celebrate stories in Harlow Museum’s Walled Gardens with storytellers, crafts and games for all the family. Free to attend.

Harlow Museum’s Walled Gardens are alive with stories. Come one, come all, gather round and listen to storyteller Dave Tonge, the Yarnsmith of Norwich, as he transports you back to long, long ago. Gather close and enjoy silly stories and mind mangling riddles from Saxon, Viking Medieval and Tudor times. Tall tales of wise fools and foolish wise, of lazy long limbed lads, and miserly merchants. Silly stories about poor penniless pedlars, dark and dangerous dragons, and even a plain and simple radish that was worth 100 gold coins!

Get crafty and messy with our Young Ones Eco-Workshops – try your hand at eco-printing using ink made from Essex oak galls, or Write a Letter to the future.

Bring a picnic and create your own stories, craft new characters and play fun-filled games in our gardens.

Free. Drop in between 12 and 3pm. No booking required.

Part of our Harlow weekend – Essex Book Festival is delighted to be heading to Harlow for a weekend of writing workshops, author and artist talks, family games, and poetry. Find out more at essexbookfestival.org.uk/harlow-weekend/.

The Eco-Workshops are 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.

The post Family Storytelling & Games appeared first on Essex Book Festival.