Annual Events

Look on in amazement as Maldon’s Promenade Park is lit up by a spectacular and colourful firework display to commemorate the gunpowder plot of 5th November 1605.

This magnificent event, organised by Maldon Rotary Club, sees thousands of residents and visitors gather from around the county to watch the array of fireworks light up the night sky against the backdrop of Maldon’s picturesque quayside.

Spectators are treated to commentary from BBC Essex’s Ray Clark and themed music that accompanies the spectacular fireworks display.  There is also a range of additional entertainment held at the Promenade Park with a children’s funfair, stalls, refreshment kiosks and local groups, such as the Essex Samba Band.

The famous Maldon Mud Race is believed to have begun around 1973 when a local man at the Queen’s Head pub was dared to don a tuxedo and serve a meal on the banks of the river.  The following year locals raced across the river to drink a pint from a waiting barrel of beer before racing back again.

The Mud Race today is a sponsored event, organised by Maldon Mud Race Ltd., which sees hundres of competitors gather from around the world to race across the River Blackwater ay low tide to raise money for charity.

The extremely popular event see thousands of people gather from all over the world to be part of the race with previous competitors travelling from Finland, Germany, New Zealand and the USA.  And in 2011 comedians Jo Brand and Sean Lock took part!

Maldon Town Regatta is an annual event organised by Maldon Little Ship Club.  Held in September at the Hythe Quay, the event sees hundreds of people gather on Maldon’s picturesque waterside to enjoy an array of family entertainment both on land and ashore.

A variety of races take place with categories for Smacks, Yachts, Cruisers and Dinghies.  There is also a wide range of entertainment on the waterside with a fishing competition, duck race, a variety of stalls, crabbing and local musical and dance groups.

A prize giving is held in the Queen’s Head Inn, as well as a Parade of Sail before the event carries on into the evening with live music from a range of local pop and rock bands.

The annual Remembrance Parade and Wreath Laying ceremony is held on the closest Sunday to the 11th November, which commemorates Armistice Day when at 11.00am on 11th November 1918 guns ceased fire on the Western Front, signalling the end of World War One.

The Maldon Remembrance Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony, which is organised by Maldon Town Council is held at the War Memorial adjacent to All Saints Church, followed by a Church Service.

The Remembrance Ceremony sees a considerable amount of Maldon residents look on as Town Councillors, ex-servicemen and woman, The British Legion, Cadet Forces, TA Units and emergency services among many more service men and woman and voluntary groups come together to join the Remembrance Parade.

Shakespeare in the park is an annual summer event held in the months of June or July, produced by mac Theatre in Maldon’s picturesque Promenade Park.

The event began in 2003, when a modern version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was held to commemorate William Shakespeare’s visit to Maldon with his company ‘The Kings Men’ in 1603.  The production proved to be such a success, that they returned the following year with a production of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. 

Shakespeare in the Park is a community event that sees local people come together to stage an open-air production of a well-known Shakespeare play.  Auditions and rehearsals commence in January each year and the production is usually held over four nights during the summer at Maldon’s Amphitheatre in the Promenade Park.