Welcome to WinterFest
Since it began in 2015, WinterFest has been helping fight depression by raising spirits and developing a sense of community during the darkest time of the year. It’s a serious subject, but we have a lot of fun with a host of music, arts and other events taking place in February.
Following feedback from the local community, we’ve set up the WinterFest Wellbeing Fund to fund grants of up to £200 to help Brightlingsea residents undertake activities to improve their mental, physical or social wellbeing –such as tickets for a family day out, music lessons, sports lessons etc.
Three-quarters of the money raised at our 2019 events (after costs have been accounted for) will go into the new fund, with the remainder going to Mid and North Essex Mind. Details of eligibility and how to apply to the fund will be confirmed in time for our 2019 events.
To date, WinterFest has raised over :
Welcome
to
WinterFest
Since it began in 2015, WinterFest has been helping fight depression by raising spirits and developing a sense of community during the darkest time of the year. It’s a serious subject, but we have a lot of fun with a host of music, arts and other events taking place throughout February.
The festival has raised thousands of pounds for Mid & North Essex Mind, which offers support and advice to anyone suffering a mental health issue, and has helped to boost trade for local businesses too.
In 2019 we’re launching the WinterFest Community Fund to help individuals and projects in Brightlingsea.
To date, WinterFest has raised over :
Our aims




town
venues
events
how it all began…
In 2014, following the suicide of a well-
The first WinterFest took place in 2015 – a four-day music and arts festival run by volunteers at at different venues around Brightlingsea. It raised over £2,000 for Mind UK and has since gone on to raise thousands more for Mid and North East Essex Mind, a self-
From those early beginnings, WinterFest has grown to become a major town event, featuring something for everyone to enjoy with lots of opportunities to get involved.
Come along and banish the winter blues with us!
In 2014, following the suicide of a well-
The first WinterFest took place in 2015 – a four-day music and arts festival run by volunteers at at different venues around Brightlingsea. It raised over £2,000 for Mind UK and has since gone on to raise thousands more for Mid and North East Essex Mind, a self-
From those early beginnings, WinterFest has grown to become a major town event, featuring something for everyone to enjoy with lots of opportunities to get involved.
Come along and banish the winter blues with us!
WinterFest works…
WinterFest
Works…
Events for 2019
2019 Events
We've got some great events planned for WinterFest 2019. Most are free to attend and there'll be plenty of opportunities to donate to WinterFest and buy some great WinterFest merchandise.
The list below shows confirmed events but please keep an eye on our Facebook page for the latest news or any last-minute changes. More details coming soon!
Wednesday, February 20 | 11.00am | Brightlingsea Library, New Street
Storytellers Carl Merry and Jan Williams, who travel Essex telling their enchanting stories, come to Brightlingsea Library.
A heart-warming entertainment for a chilly winter half term!
This is a free event, suitable for all ages, but contact the library on 0345 603 7628 in advance to book a place.
Friday, February 22 | 7.30pm | Studio Music, East End Green
Featuring Oo La Quartet - see them in action here.
Drinks and nibbles available, doors open 7.30pm.
Tickets - £15 each available from the WinterFest Box Office or Spirals in Victoria Place.
Saturday, February 23 | 7.00pm | Community Centre, Lower Park Road
Settle down with a bag of popcorn and watch the critically-acclaimed documentary, Searching for Sugarman, the fascinating story of two South Africans who set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock'n'roller, Rodriguez.
Saturday, February 23 | 6.30pm - 9.30pm | The Rosebud, Hurst Green
Wivenhoe Funny Farm comes to WinterFest
The well-established comedy club makes a welcome visit to Brightlingsea.
This will be a great evening, with a line-up that includes experienced and award winning comedians:
- Ali Bell
- Alex Freimuller
- Ali Warwood
- Jo Fletcher-Cross
- Carl Denham
- Kerry Souter
- Josh James
Suggested donation on the door £5
Sunday, February 24 | 10.00am - 4.00pm | Brightlingsea Sailing Club, Oyster Tank Rd
Enjoy a fun, relaxing and enjoyable day of creative activity, with a wide choice of media to play with, in workshops guided by local friendly artists. A list of the workshops available is shown below and more detailed information can be viewed and downloaded here. You can also download a flyer listing all the activities here.
• Participants need no previous experience or ability, just a willingness to have a go!
• Children are welcome but are required to have adult support for workshops
• Arts & Crafts from participating artists will also be on display & for sale
• All welcome to drop by, there will be a pop-up café at the Sailing Club, offering savoury and sweet delights, run by volunteers, open all day! All proceeds from the café will go to the WinterFest Wellbeing Fund.
• Brightlingsea Beach School activities available for younger children ( confident walking -8yrs ) parents to accompany. Please wear wellies ( adults and children) and waterproofs for children, wrap up warm! Times : 10-11am and 1130–1230, booking preferred but not essential contact Juliette Heppell 07977477556 Juliette@heppell.net
Disabled access and toilet available, easy parking at the venue – please let us know in advance of extra support needed.
PLEASE NOTE : To avoid disappointment, booking is advisable to take part in all art and craft workshops.
To secure your place, please contact: Nicky Sheales tel 01206 306324
We have endeavoured to keep costs as low as possible just to cover the materials you will use in each workshop. Artists are kindly donating their time.
AM Workshops
11am -1pm Papermaking from plants
10.30-12.30 Monotype printing
10.30-12.00 Mixed Medium Postcards
10.00- 11.15 & 11.30-12.45 Animals pottery workshop (air dry clay)
10.00am-1200pm Nautical Ropework (dragonfly key ring or coaster, 30 min slots)
10.30-12.30 Experiment with Texture and Paints
PM Workshops
1.00-2.00 Ropework Nautical Ropework (dragonfly key ring or coaster, 30 min slots)
2-4pm Making Faces in Clay
2-4pm Experiment with Colour
Sunday, February 24 | 2.30pm | Railway Tavern, Station Road
The well-known poet, songwriter and raconteur comes to WinterFest.
It's sure to be a popular event, so arrive early to avoid disappointment!
Suggested donation of £5 on the door.
Your chance to win some fantastic prizes in the WinterFest Raffle
Much of the money raised at WinterFest comes from sales of our raffle tickets. There's some great prizes on offer this year thanks to some very generous donors. Most of our events are free to enter - so please support the Festival, buy a raffle ticket and help support wellbeing in your community.
This year's prizes include:
- A Bungee Jump courtesy of Red Letter Days
- Peake Fitness Resort Spa Day for 2 at Stoke by Nayland
- Buffet B10 Clarinet & music books – donated by Colleen Williams
- Family Admission Voucher at Marks Hall Arboretum
- T-London products from founder Jayne Kethro (@tlondonuk)
- Signed Original Lino Print by local artist Julie Taylor-Lange
- Original Oil Painting by local artist Christine Storey
- Voucher for Exhale Beauty Salon in Brightlingsea
- Fruit basket from Bumbles in Brightlingsea
- Flower bouquet from Jenny Elizabeth Flowers in Brightlingsea
- Signed copy of a Bridget Jones' Baby film poster
- Room Diffuser from Baylis and Harding
- David Lloyd Free Family Pass for 14 Days
- £50 Boden clothing voucher
Our fundraising does this...
Pays for a session with a Support, Time & Recovery worker to help with debt & finance issues or the search for work.
Covers the cost of a group session to offer support and friendship to people who find it hard to get out and about.
Pays for six counselling sessions for someone with mild to moderate depression or anxiety to help them cope.
Pays for eight sessions of therapeutic support for a young person having a tough time at school or at home.
Donate to WinterFest
If you'd like to donate to Brightlingsea WinterFest, please click here.
WinterFest Donations
Donate to Brightlingsea WinterFest and you’ll be supporting Mid and North East Essex Mind and the WinterFest Wellbeing Fund. Thank you!
Note that payments are collected by our web host, Big Red Web Hosting.
Get involved...

Help
• Set up events
• Sell raffle tickets
• Run events
• Make cakes
• Whatever!

Perform

Support us
WinterFest Video Vault
WinterFest
Video Vault
Ropework Workshop
Claire Simone and Adrian Nation (YouTube)
Crazy Train
Terry & Colin Blues (YouTube)
Cindery (YouTube)
Clay Face workshop with Nicky Sheales
Contact WinterFest
Contact
WinterFest
Our sponsors and supporters...
Without the help of our sponsors and supporters, WinterFest couldn't happen. Thanks to them all.