1Free! (worth double-checking)Chelmsford Silver Band & Harmonie Concert Band
The ever popular Music in the Park returns to Priory Park bandstand for 2026. The bandstand will come alive with top local bands and musicians!
12.7 milesSat 11 Jul
Top Picks
Free Things This Weekend
Good local plans needn't cost the earth. This page keeps an eye on the stronger free events nearby, so you can skip the faff and get straight to the promising stuff.
11–12 July Near Bell's Forstal
Not every listing gets a golden ticket
We don't just scoop up anything with a £0 next to it. These picks still need to be nearby, useful, and properly explained, because 'free' is lovely but 'free and baffling' is less of a selling point.
Happening Saturday 11 July to Sunday 12 July.
Picked for Bell's Forstal, not somewhere halfway across the county.
Only Local Gems and Curated venues make the cut, because standards are still a thing.
Listings with proper descriptions get bumped up the list. Three words and a shrug will not do.
Our 10 picks near Bell's Forstal
1Free! (worth double-checking)
2Free! (worth double-checking)Elevate Saturdays
at Ovation
Get ready to let us take you higher every Saturday NIght – the BIGGEST and WILDEST party in Maidstone! This is where the weekend truly comes alive, bringing you high-energy beats, unbeatable vibes and an unforgettable night out!
14.5 milesSat 11 Jul
Don't miss the next one
Local events near you, in your inbox
One email a week with the local stuff worth knowing — before it's already happened.
Sign me up
Free. Unsubscribe whenever you like.
3Free! (worth double-checking)Music in the Woods
Come and enjoy a picnic and music from local musicians in the open air at Belfairs Woodland Centre for free!
12.7 milesSat 11 Jul19:30
4Free! (worth double-checking)Quench presents: Working Class in the Arts Symposium
Sun 12 Jul 2026, 1–4pm Free entry, advance booking required
24.9 milesSun 12 Jul
5Free! (worth double-checking)Beat and Beans
at Churches Together in Hadleigh
FREE event - live music, a variety of refreshments and space to chat. In July we shall welcome back Any Good Thing to entertain us. You are welcome to come and go as you please.
23.9 milesSat 11 Jul11:30
6Free! (worth double-checking)Rhythms of London
Rhythms of London explores the city through contrast, movement, and close observation. The exhibition brings together two interconnected bodies of work that reflect different layers of urban experience. The first focuses on trees, abstract foliage, and museum interiors. These works capture quieter moments within the city, where natural forms and architectural spaces create a sense of pause. Branches, leaves, and structural elements are observed and reinterpreted through line, colour, and composition, revealing underlying rhythms that often go unnoticed. In contrast, the second body of work turns towards people and movement. Figures appear fragmented and fluid, dissolving into colour and gesture. These works respond to the pace and density of city life — the constant flow of bodies, overlapping trajectories, and fleeting interactions. Rather than depicting individuals, they evoke the collective energy of London as a shared, ever-changing environment. Together, the two series present London as a space shaped by opposing forces: stillness and motion, clarity and ambiguity, solitude and collective presence. The shift between quiet observation and dynamic movement reflects the way the city is experienced — not as a fixed image, but as a sequence of changing impressions.
43.9 milesSun 12 Jul
7Free! (worth double-checking)Down Memory Lane May 2026
A happy, nostalgic afternoon full of all your favourite melodies. This hour-and-a-half-long performance includes a 20-minute break for a free cuppa and biscuit, served in the performance area for maximum convenience. We understand that flexibility is very important for this performance. Please let us know if you have any requirements that we can assist you […]
35.3 milesSat 11 Jul
8Free! (worth double-checking)Lost in Music
Embark on an electrifying journey through the sensational 70s. Our world class band and dazzling vocals are set to transport you straight to the heart of disco fever. Get ready to re-live timeless hits from icons like Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and Chic. Dress to impress in your most […]
35.3 milesSat 11 Jul
9Free! (worth double-checking)Ms Amber Guity’s Drag Bingo June 2026
From the Soho Theatre Drag Lab, self-proclaimed drag legend and Dabbers Next Top Bingo Caller semi-finalist, Ms Amber Guity, returns to the Queens Theatre Hornchurch with her sell out Drag Bingo show. Expect comedy, music, sing-a-longs, two full games of bingo and ridiculous prizes, in a drag bingo party you won’t want to miss.
35.3 milesSat 11 Jul
10Free! (worth double-checking)A Midsummer Night's Dream
Four Forty Theatre invite you into their outrageous take on Shakespeare’s most magical comedy. A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows runaway lovers, magical creatures, and a group of very determined actors who find themselves in over their heads. With quick character changes, playful invention, and a sparkle of silliness, Four Forty transform the classic into a […]
35.3 milesSat 11 Jul
More Top Picks
Keep the good ideas rolling
If this page has done the trick, there is more where that came from.
Round-upFamilies This WeekendTen family-friendly picks with proper details, decent venues, and no mystery listings that leave you guessing.Round-upRainy Day Picks This WeekendA shortlist for damp weekends: likely-indoor plans, cosy venues, and fewer reasons to pretend your coat is more waterproof than it is.All PicksBack to Top PicksSee all our curated round-ups in one place.