Local festivals

During the summer months, several festivals takes place in Southend and its surrounding areas.

July sees the Village Green festival take place in Southend’s Chalkwell park. Last year’s event attracted over 31,000 visitors of all ages as they were treated to various musical styles, dance, comedy and all round entertainment.

In August, the Southend Carnival is to be found along the "Golden Mile" on the seafront with the lighting of the Southend Illuminations.

The Southend-on-Sea Film Festival is a combination of world and independent cinema, documentaries, children’s films, popular classics, and British noir.  It runs over five days in spring. Film and TV actor Ray Winstone is the festival’s patron. The organisers have just launched the Horror-on-Sea festival which takes place in January.

Leigh Folk Festival is a three day event held each summer in Old Leigh. It celebrates live English folk music in a seaside setting.

Old Leigh Regatta is a family event with stalls, dancing, local food, music, and water activities.