After the roaring success of the first Walton Arts Festival in 2024, ‘Between the Tides’ will return this September for another jam-packed weekend of live music, art, storytelling, performance, and fun for kids. This year’s festival is a celebration of coastal community and creativity across Walton-on-the-Naze and will be a welcome dose of entertainment before the season’s change.
Between the Tides: The Walton Arts Festival will now open on the evening of Thursday 17th September, and will run through to Sunday 20th September 2026, activating the beaches, promenade, Naze Tower, and community spaces into a vibrant celebration of local talent and seaside culture.
The festival will start on Thursday 17th with a free outdoor cinema, hosted by popular local eaterie East Coast Five, on the grass amphitheatre overlooking Walton Pier. Arrive for pizza and popcorn from 6.30 pm, followed by a screening of ‘The Greatest Showman’ from 7 pm.
On Friday evening there will be music and art around the town centre. Festival visitors can arrive on a specially arranged ‘Old School Disco Train’ (running from Colchester North to Walton-on-the-Naze) organised by the Essex and South Suffolk Rail Partnership. Passengers will continue their journey down The Parade to the Walton Tavern, where the Jam Project DJs will continue the party into the night. Across the road, at Bruff Bar, local blues duo Broomwagon will be playing, and Boogaloo Dudes will be performing at East Coast 5.
Walton and Frinton Yacht Club in Mill Lane will showcase the ‘Exploring Walton’s Secret Backwaters’ exhibition by local photographers inspired by the Arthur Ransome book ‘Secret Water’, and shanty singers will sing at the club at 7 pm.
Over the weekend there will be a full programme of fun family activities across Walton-on-the-Naze. Early risers are invited to meet on the beach for a sunrise swim followed by an immersive sound experience, ‘Gong with the Wind’ with Her and Her musicians. This is followed by the weekly Park Run from Walton Pier, then a Sand Castle competition and works of Sand Art on Walton Beach by visiting sand artist Gert-Jan van der Kooij.
The Naze Tower will be holding its favourite Teddy Bear Parachute jumps, where families will have the opportunity to decorate their own parachutes and launch their teddies from the top of the tower.
The Market Between the Tides returns to Market Square with artisan stalls, art workshops and a live music stage between 10 am-5.30 pm. On Saturday the music continues with a special gig in All Saints Church with local contemporary singer-songwriters Sam Eagle and Evy Frearson.
On Sunday 20th local eco-artist Jane Stewart will be leading a ‘Shoe Box Carnival’, a miniature procession for kids which meets at Bath House Meadows at lunchtime and parades to Walton Pier, where bands will be performing on the Dodgems stage. Other activities include hosting local car club Frinton Gaskets, a magnificent fancy dress dog show, African drumming workshops and a family Ceilidh.
Throughout the weekend there will be opportunities to explore local art and artists through an Art trail, with workshops and exhibitions at local shops and venues. The festival is designed to bring people together, support local artists, and shine a positive spotlight on Walton and the wider Tendring coast. Eleanor Brown from The Nose Bookshop said:
“We hope to build on the success of the last Festival, bringing together creative communities to showcase our impressive local talent and help make the town feel alive. Walton‑on‑the‑Naze has an incredible creative spirit and a coastline that inspires artists, writers, and musicians. This festival is about celebrating the town, giving local people something to be proud of, and welcoming visitors to experience Walton at its best.”
To find out more about the volunteer-run, grassroots family festival, people can go online at www.waltonartsfestival.com or follow the Walton Arts Festival Facebook page. Most events will be free or low‑cost, ensuring the festival is open to everyone in the community. People who would like to show their support for the Walton Arts Festival can do so by donating to and sharing the festival’s GoFundMe page on the festival website. Walton Arts Festival gratefully acknowledges funding from Arts Council England.
