Easter fun for the whole family in Southend – including the return of Southend Shakedown

April 17, 2025

Southend-on-Sea is set for a busy and exciting Easter weekend, with a packed programme of family activities, events on Southend Pier, and the return of the Southend Shakedown motorcycle event on Bank Holiday Monday.

The weekend marks the start of the city’s spring and summer season, and the council is ready to welcome residents and visitors for a safe and enjoyable few days.

Southend Shakedown – Monday 21st April

Southend Shakedown, organised by ACE Café London, returns to the seafront on Bank Holiday Monday (21 April) after a three-year break.

Hundreds of motorbikes are expected to line the seafront as part of this free, family-friendly event, which includes trade stands, live music and more. A team of trained marshals and volunteers from ACE will be on hand throughout the day to help ensure the event runs smoothly and safely.

To enable the event to take place, a section of Marine Parade will be closed to traffic between Three Shells and The Kursaal. Alternative access to Hartington Road and Pleasant Road will be maintained for residents, businesses and emergency services. Traffic management operatives will be stationed at closure points to assist.

Attendees are reminded not to park on pavements, block footways, or obstruct emergency access routes, and to always follow instructions from event marshals, police and civil enforcement officers.

Cllr Matt Dent, cabinet member for culture, tourism and business, said: “We are proud the city is hosting another weekend of events that residents and visitors to Southend can enjoy. Shakedown is a much-loved event, we said we’d bring it back – and we have.

“ACE Café London have worked closely with us and partners to follow all the right planning and safety steps, and we’re confident this strikes the right balance between safety and a great visitor experience.

“This is about creating experiences people want to return to. We’ll keep listening, keep learning, and do everything we can to ensure the event has a positive future.”

Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety, added: “We’re expecting a big boost to visitor numbers this Easter weekend, with all the fantastic events taking place. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome, and to enjoy everything Southend has to offer.

“Our community safety partnership, including Essex Police, Southend BID, beach welfare officers, and our own community safety officers, will be a reassuring presence across the city and along the seafront, helping things run smoothly.

“If everyone does their bit – like parking considerately, using the bins provided or taking rubbish home if they’re full, and following guidance from council and event staff – we can all enjoy a fantastic and safe weekend.”

Plenty more to enjoy across the city

There’s lots more happening across Southend throughout the Easter weekend – from live music in Priory Park, to Easter egg hunts, dinosaur encounters and crafting fun on Southend Pier, The Victoria Shopping Centre and beyond. To see the full line-up of family fun, visit: www.visitsouthend.co.uk.

Travel and parking

Drivers are advised to expect heavy traffic over the Bank Holiday weekend and plan journeys accordingly.

Visitors are encouraged to use public transport where possible. Southend is served by both c2c and Greater Anglia rail services – please check operator websites for any Easter timetable changes.

For those driving, information on car parks and charges can be found on the council website. You can also use the Mobon and RingGo cashless parking app to pay for and extend parking without returning to your car.

Frequent visitors may wish to consider the Southend Pass for more flexible parking options: www.southend.gov.uk/southendpass.