Harlow Pride is free at Passmores Academy on Saturday 17 October and the free fireworks are on Sunday 1 November. 38 dated listings, with times and prices.

Two free events stand out in the next six weeks. Harlow Pride takes over Passmores Academy on Saturday 17 October, from 12pm to 6pm, and the council’s bonfire and fireworks night is at the Town Park Showground on Sunday 1 November, with the fireworks at 6.30pm. Between them comes October half term, which brings Frozen to the Playhouse and two free Halloween days to the Harvey Centre. Pumpkin patches and the rest of the season are on our Harlow Halloween page.

Everything below comes from the organisers’ own listings, and every entry links to the page it was read from. All of them were re-read on 5 October 2026. Harlow Playhouse prices are the ones shown on its event pages, and its booking system adds a fee on top. For places that are open whatever the month, see our guide to things to do in Harlow.

This week

  • Double Agents exhibition, open now until Sunday 1 November, at The Gallery, Parndon Mill, CM20 2HP. A cultural exchange with a gallery in Berlin that has family connections with Harlow. The gallery opens Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am to 4.30pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 4pm. (Parndon Mill)
  • Wetherspoon autumn beer festival, Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October, at The William Aylmer, Kitson Way, CM20 1DG. The chain’s 12-day real ale festival, with five beers from international brewers in China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA. (Wetherspoon)
  • The Simon & Garfunkel Story, Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £29.50 before the booking fee. The touring concert show, in Theatre 1. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Fire Fire, Thursday 8 October, 8pm, at Theatre 2, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. Pay What You Can, £3 to £13. John Webber’s 80-minute drama about a memorial in a country park and the climate protest that closes the road to it. Presented by Webber & Co. with Metal Rabbit. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • The Magic of the Bee Gees, Friday 9 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £29.20 before the booking fee. A tribute concert in Theatre 1. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Strings of the Night, Friday 9 October, 8pm, at Theatre 2, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £8 before the booking fee. A gothic musical from the Harlow company Plant Pots and Wellies. The theatre lists trigger warnings for psychological horror, violence and blood. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Church Langley Community Centre Quiz Night, Saturday 10 October, doors 7.30pm, quiz at 8pm, at Church Langley Community Centre, Church Langley Way, CM17 9TG. £5 a person plus a 50p booking fee. Tables of eight preferred; bring your own drinks and nibbles, and cash for the raffle. Ages 14 and over, and under-16s need an adult with them. (WeGotTickets)
  • Pup Up Cafe: Spook-tacular Halloween Party, Saturday 10 October, 10am to 2pm, at The Harvey Centre, CM20 1XR. Free, no booking. A Halloween party for dogs and their owners on the ground floor, with free puppuccinos and treats. (The Harvey Centre)

This weekend’s regular events are at the foot of the page: parkrun and the library film club on Saturday 10 October, junior parkrun on Sunday 11 October.

Next week

  • Abbamania, Wednesday 14 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £28.50 before the booking fee. The ABBA tribute concert that has toured since 1999, in Theatre 1. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Dear Evan Hansen, Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 October, 7.45pm, with a 3pm Saturday matinee, at Theatre 2, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £15 before the booking fee. The Thursday 15 October and Saturday 17 October evening performances are sold out; the theatre’s table shows them as FREE with a waiting list. The Harlow company HATS stages the musical in Theatre 2. The recommended age is 12 and over because the show deals with suicide, depression and grief. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Halloween in Concert, Thursday 15 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £28.20 before the booking fee. A concert of Halloween songs with a live band, in two 55-minute halves. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • The Magic of the Beatles, Friday 16 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £28 before the booking fee. A tribute concert in Theatre 1. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Lady Patricia Gibberd’s 100th birthday, Saturday 17 October, 10.30am to 2pm, at Harlow Museum, Muskham Road, CM20 2LF. Free, drop in. Lady Gibberd, whose work built much of the town’s sculpture collection, was born 100 years ago on this day. Visitors make a pop-up card inspired by sculpture, and it suits all ages. (Harlow Museum)
  • Harlow Pride 2026, Saturday 17 October, 12pm to 6pm, at Passmores Academy, Tracyes Road, CM18 6JH. Free, with free parking on site. Market and community stalls, a food court, a wellbeing zone, a family zone and live entertainment. A free shuttle bus runs from the town centre, and the organisers have still to publish its timetable and the acts. (Harlow Pride)
  • Harlow Pride After Party, Saturday 17 October, 8pm, at Harlow Social Club, Maypole Boulevard, Harlow Innovation Park, CM17 9TX. Pay What You Can, £5 to £10. The official after party, put together by the Harlow drag artists Ella Mental and Maiden China, with live vocals, drag, comedy and a DJ. It is for adults only and is not at the theatre. (Harlow Playhouse)

Later in October

  • St Clare Hospice Firewalk, Thursday 22 October, 6.30pm to 9pm, at St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, CM17 9JX. £25 a person to take part, with a £150 sponsorship target. A barefoot walk over hot embers to raise money for the hospice, with a DJ and refreshments for walkers and spectators. (St Clare Hospice)
  • The Rocket Man, a tribute to Elton John, Thursday 22 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £32 before the booking fee. A tribute concert in Theatre 1. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Harry Potter Fun, Saturday 24 October, 10.30am to 11.30am, at Harlow Library, Cross Street, CM20 1HA. Free, book with a library card. Children aged 6 to 10 are sorted into houses and play for points, and fancy dress is welcome. (Essex Libraries)
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray, a new musical, Saturday 24 October, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £26.50 to £37 before the booking fee. A new musical of Oscar Wilde’s story, with Kevin Kennedy in the cast. One night only. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Hall Yoga, Sunday 25 October, 9.30am, at Mark Hall Academy, First Avenue, CM17 9LR. Pay what you can, and free if you cannot contribute, but you still need a ticket. The indoor autumn season of Park Yoga, for adults aged 18 and over. Bring your own mat and complete the health screening form before a first session. Free parking on the academy site from First Avenue. The 4, 11 and 18 October sessions are sold out. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Playhouse “Pub” Quiz, Tuesday 27 October, doors 7pm, quiz at 8pm, at Cafe Bar, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £3 entry, cash only. The monthly quiz on the last Tuesday, hosted by Leo Shepherd, with teams of up to eight and walk-ins welcome. The theatre’s table lists a free ticket to hold your place; the £3 is paid on the night. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Spooky Craft, Wednesday 28 October, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, at Harlow Library, Cross Street, CM20 1HA. Free, no booking. Halloween crafts; children under 12 need an adult with them. (Essex Libraries)
  • Frozen, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October at 7.30pm, Saturday 31 October at 2pm and 6.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £20 to £22 before the booking fee. RARE Productions’ amateur staging of the Disney musical, in half term. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Halloween Happenings at The Harvey Centre, Friday 30 October, 10am to 3pm, and Saturday 31 October, 11am to 4pm, at The Harvey Centre, CM20 1XR. Free, no booking. Friday is a trick or treat bag decorating workshop with a Trick or Treat Door. Saturday has Halloween face painters, and children are invited to come in costume. Friday’s session is also the centre’s monthly Fun Friday. (The Harvey Centre)
  • A Cockney Ding Dong, Saturday 31 October, 2.30pm and 7pm, at Theatre 2, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £12 before the booking fee. HATS presents David Palmer’s 1940s East End parlour party for a fifth year, with music hall and wartime songs and audience participation. (Harlow Playhouse)

Essex schools break up for the week of 26 to 30 October, and some Harlow academies start a week earlier. Our October half term page has the dates school by school and more to do with children.

November

  • Harlow Ballet Autumn Gala, Sunday 1 November, 3pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £10.50 to £18.50 before the booking fee. Harlow Ballet Association’s annual gala, one performance only, with dances from Giselle and a new piece by Barbara-Anne Palmer. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Harlow bonfire and fireworks night, Sunday 1 November, bonfire lit at 6.15pm, fireworks at 6.30pm, at Town Park Showground, Fifth Avenue, CM20 1FD. Free. The council’s annual display. Fifth Avenue and parts of Park Lane and School Lane close from 5.15pm to 8.30pm. (Harlow Council) Our fireworks page has the parking and the closures in full.
  • The Comedy Network, Wednesday 4 November, 7.30pm, at Theatre 2, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £18.20 before the booking fee. The Playhouse’s stand-up night with Avalon Comedy. Glenn Moore is on November’s bill. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Talon: Busy Being Fabulous, Thursday 5 November, 7.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £30.50 before the booking fee. The seven-piece band plays the Eagles’ back catalogue. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Illusions Dance Academy: Dancing in the Street, Saturday 7 November, 2pm and 6.30pm, at Theatre 1, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £16 to £18 before the booking fee. The academy’s dancers, aged two and up, in a range of styles. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Life Drawing Class, Saturday 14 November, 2pm to 4.30pm, with an optional feedback session to 5pm, at Studio 2, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £20 to £24 before the booking fee. Essex artist Gareth Barton leads the class for beginners and experienced artists aged 18 and over; materials are provided. It runs on the second Saturday of each month. (Harlow Playhouse)
  • Paint and Sip, Saturday 14 November, 7pm, at Cafe Bar, Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, CM20 1LS. £30 before the booking fee. A painting evening with Liz from The Artful Leopard, with materials and a drink on arrival included and no experience needed. (Harlow Playhouse)

Remembrance Sunday is 8 November. The Royal British Legion’s Harlow branch had not published this year’s timings when we checked, so the service is not listed here yet. Our Remembrance Sunday page explains what happened last year. Down Hall’s ticketed fireworks night at Hatfield Heath is the same evening; it is outside Harlow, and the details are on our fireworks page.

Further ahead, we keep separate pages on the Playhouse pantomime, the Christmas market and Santa’s grottos.

Regular events

  • Harlow parkrun, every Saturday at 9am, next on Saturday 10 October, at Harlow Town Park, School Lane, CM20 2QD. Free. A timed 5k run or walk over three laps of the Town Park. It starts near the Greyhound car park on School Lane, where parking is free for two hours with a ticket. (Harlow parkrun)
  • Harlow junior parkrun, every Sunday at 9am, next on Sunday 11 October, at Harlow Town Park, School Lane, CM20 2QD. Free. A 2k run for children aged four to 14, starting near the llama enclosure at Pets’ Corner. (Harlow junior parkrun)
  • Screentime Free Film Club, Saturdays, 2pm to 4pm, next on Saturday 10 October, at Harlow Library, Cross Street, CM20 1HA. Free, no booking. A film played in full, with a discussion and refreshments. Members pick the film by lottery, and the council’s calendar lists the club until 19 December. (Harlow Council)
  • Brick Building Fun, first Sunday of the month, 11am to 2pm, next on Sunday 1 November, at The Harvey Centre, CM20 1XR. Free, no booking. Free LEGO building sessions on the ground floor for children aged five to 12, who must have an adult with them. (The Harvey Centre)
  • Frequency Machine DJ drop-in sessions, every Friday, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, next on Friday 9 October, at Hare Street Youth Club. Free, donations welcome. DJ sessions for young people aged 11 to 16. (Harlow Council)
  • Makers Market, last Saturday of the month, 11am to 4pm, next on Saturday 31 October, at The Harvey Centre, CM20 1XR. Stalls from small businesses and local craft makers on the first floor Terrace, run with Phoenix Resource Centre and Forum. The centre also lists 28 November and festive markets on 5, 12 and 19 December. (The Harvey Centre)

Two free places are open all year. Harlow Museum on Muskham Road, CM20 2LF, opens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 3.30pm, with last entry at 3pm (Harlow Museum). Pets’ Corner in the Town Park opens every day from 11am to 4pm and welcomes donations (Harlow Council).

Getting there

The Playhouse, the Harvey Centre and the library are all in the town centre, a few minutes’ walk from each other. The Town Park is a ten minute walk from Harlow Town station, according to parkrun’s directions. Our pages on parking in Harlow, train times and roadworks and travel cover the journey.

Send us your event

Running an event in Harlow or the villages around it? Email hello@harlowonline.co.uk with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free of charge, and yours will go on this page and in the diary on our What’s On section.

This page is rewritten as organisers confirm new dates. Dates and prices can change and shows can sell out, so use the links before you travel.

Sources