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What's On

What's On in Ilford

Things to do in and around Ilford: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.

Top story Halloween in Ilford: Day of the Dead Parade 30 October, 5pm Halloween in Ilford 2026: a free Day of the Dead light-up parade from the Central Library at 5pm on 30 October, a £10 Hainault Forest trail and Owls parties. · 6 min read

Dates for the diary

  1. Tue 6 Oct FAB Club 4.30pm · Fullwell Cross Library · Free
  2. Wed 7 Oct Redbridge Family History group 10am · Fullwell Cross Library
  3. Wed 7 Oct Adapted water sports for children with disabilities 4.30pm · Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre · From £10
  4. Thu 8 Oct Wordsmiths creative writing group 6.30pm · Wanstead Library
  5. Sat 10 Oct Valentines parkrun 9am · Valentines Park · Free
  6. Sat 10 Oct Elmhurst Gardens action day 11am · Elmhurst Gardens
  7. Sat 10 Oct Homework Help Club 12pm · Fullwell Cross Library · Free
  8. 10 to 11 Oct Jukebox Jive Redbridge Drama Centre, Lovegrove Theatre · From £19.50
  9. Wed 14 Oct King of Hearts 1.30pm · Fullwell Cross Library · From £1
  10. Thu 15 Oct Grief Café 6.30pm · Wanstead Library
  11. Sat 17 Oct The Indians Are Coming 6.45pm · Redbridge Drama Centre, Lovegrove Theatre · From £21.50
  12. Sat 17 Oct COBO: Comedy Shutdown, Black History Month Special 8.45pm · Redbridge Drama Centre, Lovegrove Theatre · From £21.50

More stories

Events What's On in Ilford: Day of the Dead Parade and Fireworks Ilford's free Day of the Dead parade leaves the Central Library at 5pm on 30 October, then three bonfire displays on 6 and 7 November. 46 dated listings. · 11 min read Remembrance Ilford Remembrance Sunday 2026: 8 November, 10.50am Service Remembrance Sunday is 8 November. The borough service at Ilford War Memorial has started at 10.50am two years running, with gates closing at 10.40am. · 4 min read Christmas Santa's Grotto Ilford 2026: Santa Workshop 19 to 24 December Redbridge's Santa's Christmas Workshop runs 19 to 24 December after Elf Jr at Redbridge Drama Centre, £26.50 a child. Switch-ons start on 20 November. · 5 min read Valentines Mansion Valentines Mansion at Christmas: Free, Sundays and Mondays Valentines Mansion is free and open Sundays and Mondays, 11am to 3pm from November. Its lights switch-on is Sunday 22 November, 4pm to 6pm, also free. · 4 min read Christmas Ilford Christmas Market 2026: 100 Stalls, 20 to 22 November Ilford's Christmas market has 100 stalls on the High Road from 20 to 22 November, free. Hainault Forest and Wanstead hold smaller markets later in the season. · 4 min read Hainault Hainault Fire Station Open Day 2026 (Past): 12 September Hainault fire station opens to the public on Saturday 12 September, 11am to 4pm, with a fire engine to see, safety advice, a bouncy castle and face painting. · 3 min read Ilford Ilford Christmas Lights Switch-On: 21 November, 5.30pm Ilford switches on its Christmas lights at 5.30pm on Saturday 21 November, with fireworks to 6.30pm, a snow fall and 100 market stalls. Free, no ticket needed. · 5 min read Ilford Ilford Fireworks: 6 and 7 Nov, 1 Woodford Family Ticket Left Woodford Rugby Club fires on Friday 6 November and has 1 family ticket left; Wanstead RFC and Woodford Wells go on the 7th. Times, prices, parking. · 6 min read Ilford Ilford Panto 2026: Jack and the Beanstalk in the KMT Foyer Redbridge's pop-up panto plays the Redbridge Drama Centre on 28 and 29 November and the Kenneth More Theatre foyer on 12 and 13 December. Tickets are £15. · 4 min read Wanstead Wanstead Festival 2026 (Past): 13 September, Christchurch Green Wanstead Festival returns to Christchurch Green on Sunday 13 September 2026, 11am to 6pm, free entry, inside a Fringe that runs until Saturday 26 September. · 3 min read