Week three of the Thurrock Get Creative Festival 2026 is bursting with cultural highlights: the Words + Music Open Mic Night returns to Arts Outburst Studios, K-Pop Fever arrives at Thameside Theatre, the Estuary Outcasts exhibition opens at the Thameside Gallery, and community events continue across the borough. Whatever your passion, there is something unmissable this week.
W E E K T H R E E
ThurrockCAN: Coffee Morning — Monday 18th May
Casco Lounge, 608 The Quay, Lakeside Shopping Centre | 10:30am–12:30pm | FREE
A relaxed and social gathering for creatives, artists and cultural professionals across Thurrock. ThurrockCAN provides a space to connect, share ideas, discuss projects and develop skills. A great opportunity to network and be inspired.
Bloom & Bond: Movement with Marcia Workshop – Monday 18th May
Arts Outburst Studios AND/OR Online | 6:15pm–7:30pm | FREE | Booking required
Movement Workshop for new and expectant parents, using The Feldenkrais Method.
Join us at Arts Outburst Studios with expert Marcia Carr in a Feldenkrais movement workshop where you lie down, you let go of the effort and instead, for an hour or so, you explore and discover new strategies for expanding your movement possibilities. A process of discovery that is calming and beneficial to physical and mental health.
Zumba® Gold (Adult) + Pilates — Monday 18th May
Arts Outburst Studios | From 11am | FREE | Booking required
The regular Monday fitness sessions continue — Zumba® Gold followed by Pilates at 12pm. Open to adults of all abilities.
Make Some Noise: Dance & Drama — Tuesday 19th May
Arts Outburst Studios | 4pm–8pm | FREE | Booking required
Free weekly dance and drama classes for children and young people aged 6–21.
Zumba® – Tuesday 19th May
Chadwell Village Hall | 7:30pm | FREE | Booking required
The regular Tuesday dance-fitness sessions continue. Open to adults of all abilities.
A Little Light Music — Wednesday 20th May
Grays Town Park Café | 1pm–1:45pm | FREE | No booking required
The penultimate week of the lunchtime live music series at Grays Town Park Café.
A different artist each week, a fresh sound and a warm community atmosphere.
Make Some Noise: Music + TROUPE! — Wednesday 20th May
AOB | MSN Music 4pm–8pm (FREE, booking required) TROUPE! 6:30pm–9pm (FREE)
Free weekly music classes for young people, plus the adult TROUPE! performance group.
Creative, Cultural & Digital Careers Event — Thursday 21st May
The Old Courthouse, Grays | 10am–1pm | FREE
An exciting opportunity for anyone interested in a career in the creative, cultural or digital sectors. Come along to find out about pathways, opportunities and connect with people working in the industry across Thurrock and beyond.
Urban Motion + Thurrock Voices Choir — Thursday 21st May
Urban Motion: AOB, 4:30pm–6pm, FREE |
Thurrock Voices: AOB, 7pm–8:30pm, FREE TRIALS
Youth urban arts programme followed by the Thurrock Voices adult choir in the evening.
Make Some Noise: Drama (14+) — Thursday 21st May
Arts Outburst Studios | 6:30pm–8pm | FREE | Booking required
Free drama sessions for young people aged 14+.
Get Creative Exhibition — Thursday 21st May, LAST DAY!
Thameside Gallery, Thameside Complex, Grays | Open Mon–Sat | FREE
Today is the final day to visit the Get Creative Exhibition, showcasing incredible local artistic talent. Don’t miss your last chance to see works by Thurrock’s finest artists before the exhibition closes.
Words + Music Open Mic Night (18+) — Friday 22nd May
Arts Outburst Studios | 7pm | FREE | Booking required to perform
Register at www.artsoutburst.co.uk
Arts Outburst’s celebrated open mic evenings bring together Thurrock’s artists, musicians and writers to share their work in a beautifully lit studio with a supportive and welcoming audience. From poetry to comedy, monologues to new writing, original songs to instrumentals and a cappella — all genres and all art forms are celebrated. Whether you want to take the stage or simply enjoy the talent in the room, this is a free, unmissable evening. Please note: 18+ event.
K-Pop Fever: Ultimate K-Pop Tribute
Saturday 23rd May
Thameside Theatre | Book online or 0345 300 5264
Live vocals and high-energy performances take you on a non-stop K-Pop journey. The show brings the biggest K-Pop hits to life on the Thameside Theatre stage in Grays.
Estuary Outcasts: Thurrock’s Training Ships Exhibition OPENS — Saturday 23rd May
Thameside Gallery | FREE
A free exhibition hosted by Thurrock Museum, telling the fascinating stories of the naval training ships that once lined Thurrock’s riverside. Open from 23rd May through to 25th June.
Estuary Outcasts: Family Activities — Sunday 24th May onwards
Thameside Complex | 26th–30th May | £3.50 per child | Book via Grays Library: 01375 413976
Hands-on family activities including tying knots, signalling and learning a sea shanty — inspired by the Estuary Outcasts exhibition. A wonderful way to bring history to life for young visitors.
T100 Festival: A Campaign of Colour — Sunday 24th May
Graffiti Wall Guided Walk & Workshop with Lesley Findlay | Fields to Folk (T100 Festival) | FREE
Join Kinetika for this event as part of their 12th annual T100 Festival, ‘Seeing Thurrock Differently’. A guided walk and graffiti wall workshop exploring Thurrock’s colourful creative landscape. Follow @t100festival on Facebook and Instagram for full festival details.
Find out more at: www.t100festival.co.uk
