Summer Fun family event at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey. A fun-packed summer of activities and experiments for the whole family. Join Professor Nitrate and his team. Enjoy hands-on activities with the mad scientists. Launch a rocket, create a catapult, construct a firing cannon, watch flying saucer demonstrations and join giant bubble making classes. The venue is open from 10am to 5pm (last entry 3.30pm). For more details, visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com or ring 01992 707370.

Illusions Dance Academy presents a fun and exciting week of dancing, singing and acting workshops at the Jack Silley Pavilion, Epping (10am to 3pm), ending in a show-stopping performance. Featuring favourite musicals including High School Musical, Oliver and Hairspray. Boys and girls aged 7+ welcome. Only £70 (sibling discount applies). Book now to reserve places. Contact Stephanie or Amy on 07784 449231 / 07849 946193 or email illusionsdanceacademy@yahoo.co.uk.

First World War Event at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey. Ninety-six years on from the start of the Great War (1914-1918) re-enactors and living historians will be taking part in this year's event with a display of WWI memorabilia, drill displays and battlefield archaeology. On Sunday there will be a dogfight with Sopwith and Fokker tri-planes (weather permitting). For more information, visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com.

Loughton Farmers Market, Centric Parade, High Road, Loughton (9am-2pm). Stalls selling a wide range of food and flowers. The market is held on the first Sunday of each month. For more details, visit www.loughtonresidents.co.uk  or ring 020 8508 2932. The market is run by Hughmark. Loughton Residents Association councillors will be available to talk to residents.

Nazeing Footpaths Group meets at The Crown, Old Nazeing Road (EN10 6QT) at 10am for a five-mile guided round walk featuring the River Lea and the Nazeing gravel lakes. The going should not be hard but for walkers' own safety walking boots or similar stout footwear is recommended. Dogs are welcome but on a lead.

Nazeing Footpaths Group meets at The Crown, Old Nazeing Road (EN10 6QT) at 10am for a five-mile guided round walk featuring the River Lea and the Nazeing gravel lakes. The going should not be hard but for walkers' own safety walking boots or similar stout footwear is recommended. Dogs are welcome but on a lead.

Academy Arts Summer Workshops (Week 1) at The Bridge, 29 Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill. The workshops are held by professionals in all aspects of performing arts. Monday - musical theatre - West End performer teaches numbers from current West End shows. Tuesday - TV acting - TV and film acting technique and audition sight reading taught by an established TV actor. Wednesday - Commercial dance - a workshop including warm-up and routine taught by a professional dancer. Thursday - West End singing - audition technique and harmony work taught by a West End musical director. Friday - Drama Workshop - drama technique role play and improvisation. For more details ring 020 8539 1151 or visit www.academyarts.co.uk

The English-Speaking Union has its monthly meeting at the Murray Hall, Borders Lane, Loughton (10.15am) with a talk by Helen Leonard entitled Life in the Tower of London. Admission £4, including tea/coffee. For more details ring 01992 815840 or 01992 561470.

Community Saturday at Epping Library, St John's Road, Epping (2pm-4pm). Holistic Healing: Free ten-minute sessions of Reiki and Metamorphic Technique. Alexander Technique - free ten-minute sessions. Please book for these sessions by contacting the library.

Classic Car Show at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey. The show will provide a two-day display of classic cars along with various children's activities, plus all the regular exhibitions. For more information, ring 01992 707370 or visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com .

Academy Arts Summer Workshops (Week 2) at The Bridge, 29 Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill. Performing Arts Summer School for six to 18-year-olds. Fun dance classes and Glee Club workshops (singing, dancing and acting). For more details ring 020 8539 1151 or visit www.academyarts.co.uk

Get Active one-day programmes at the Lambourne End Centre, Manor Road, Lambourne End. Activities include ropes course over water, climbing, caving and abseiling. For more information and to book on one of the days, ring Claire on 020 8500 3047, extension 229.

Coopersale Horticultural Society's summer show, Coopersale Village Hall, Institute Road, Coopersale (2pm).

Community Saturday at Epping Library, St John's Road, Epping (2pm-4pm) with Copped Hall guides talking about events, guided tours, open days, open gardens, Apple Day and interesting facts about Copped Hall.

 English Civil War Event at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, with Rawdon’s Regiment, part of The English Civil War Society, one of the largest re-enactment organisations in the UK which will be portraying battle re-enactments, living history displays, and historical interpretations. Plus activities, traders and all of the regular exhibitions. For more information, ring 01992 707370 or visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com .

Chigwell Floral Art Group garden party, Lugano Residential Home, 3 Powell Road, off Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill (2pm-4pm). Stalls, cakes, bric-a-brac, refreshments. Tickets £6.50. For more details, ring 020 8504 3220.

A Freddy Boy special Double Elvis Nite with Lee Jackson and Mark Keeley and band Good Rocking Tonight plus Hound Dog Jimbo spinning Elvis tunes on the decks at Chingford Assembly Hall, Station Road, Chingford, E4 7EN. Dance floor, bar, parking (7.30pm to midnight). Advance £15 ticket reservations recommended. For tickets and more information, ring 07930 544312 or 020 8505 9274.

Men's Breakfast (8.45am for 9am) at Moreton Village Hall. A full English breakfast followed by a speaker from Essex Air Ambulance .Catering by the White Hart, Moreton. Reservations by August 16 to Rodney Moulds on 01277 89033 or Rev Vernon Ross on 01277 899886. There is no charge but donations towards the cost would be appreciated.

Medieval Event with Jousting at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey. An opportunity to experience the knights, horses and jousting tournaments from the medieval period 1250-1300 with this living history spectacle with the Knights of Arkley. Plus all the regular exhibitions. For more information, ring 01992 707370 or visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com .

Robin Hood Event at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey. A medieval spectacular with the Golden Eagle Archers. Throughout the day there will be chances to mingle with Robin Hood and his 'merry men' (and women). The Royal Golden Eagle Archers will also perform two shows with plenty of archery (and a few explosions) including flaming arrows darting through the sky. Visitors will have the opportunity to try archery. For more information, ring 01992 707370 or visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com.

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The English-Speaking Union has its monthly meeting at the Murray Hall, Borders Lane, Loughton (10.15am) with an illustrated talk by Timothy Bruce-Dick entitled A History of Modern Architecture. Admission £4, including tea/coffee. For more details ring 01992 815840 or 01992 561470.

Bat Walk at Epping Forest Burial Park, Kiln Road, North Weald, with Roger Harvard (6.30pm). A talk about these incredible mammals introducing visitors to some of Roger's captive bats before walkers head out with bat detectors to see what can be found in the woodland. Light refreshments will be provided. Donations are invited to the Bat Conservation Trust. Booking is essential. Ring reception on 01992 523863.

Home Front Event at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey. Experience life in a small wartime 'village' and meet the people at work on the home front with the Home Front Friends. Children’s activities include surviving an air raid, discover rationing, identify aircraft, and uncover an enemy spy! For more information, ring 01992 707370 or visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com.

Family Fun Day at Lambourne End Centre, Manor Road, Lambourne End, RM4 1NB (11am-4pm). Try the new climbing wall. A chance for all the family to get outdoors, try some new and different activities and have a great day in the countryside! Try your hand at archery, have a ride on the pony and cart and try to cross the ropes course without falling in the water! Lots of other activities too including climbing. Food and refreshments for sale. The farm shop will be open. Admission is £12 (eight-year-olds and over - under-eights £7). Free parking. For more details, ring 020 8500 3047 or visit www.lambourne-end.org.uk

Buckhurst Hill Historical Society meets at the Information Centre, Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill (7pm) for a talk by Roger Gadsden on The work of the London City Mission. Members free (visitors £2).

Epping Society meets at Pelly Court, Hemnall Street, Epping (8pm) for a talk from Catherine Cavanagh, project manager, Epping Forest, on 'The Future of our Forest'. All welcome. To join the society, or for more information, ring De Spence on 01992 577191

'Sing Immanuel', a group of singers and musicians, performing upbeat and classical music at The Church of the Holy Innocents, Church Lane, High Beach. The free concert is suitable for all ages. A light buffet will be served in the interval. Further details from Jane Begley on 020 8989 4975.

A Bridge for Beginners Course being run by Fyfield Bridge Club. An evening course (7.30pm-9.30pm) at Fyfield Village Hall. The course will follow the English Bridge Union (EBU) Beginners Programme and will be taught by a qualified and experienced EBU tutor. The course runs for 30 weeks costs £160 per delegate (£44 cheaper than Adult Education and most other providers) and can be paid in two installments of £80. Class numbers are limited to 16 to ensure adequate tutor supervision is provided. An additional bonus of joining the course is that all delegates get automatic membership to Fyfield Bridge Club and will be introduced to the club at an appropriate time in the course syllabus. This will provide delegates with the essential bridge practise in a Bridge Club environment and they will be partnered with a ‘Bridge Buddy’ who will look after them during their early club visits. For more information contact Cheryl Hadley on 01277 899840 or visit www.fyfieldbridgeclub.org.uk 

Multi-Period Re-enactment - A family weekend of activities from various re-enactment groups throughout history. There will be plenty of hands-on things to do for children, plus the ever-popular Royal Golden Eagle Archers. For more information, ring 01992 707370 or visit www.royalgunpowdermills.com

Loughton & Epping WEA course (10am-noon) at Loughton Cricket Club, The Uplands, Loughton, for ten weeks - Art in the Age of William Morris with Graham Slimming. For more details, ring Mrs. P. Dale on 020 8281 1536 or email mrspdale@googlemail.com 

Loughton & Epping WEA course (10am-noon) at Loughton Cricket Club, The Uplands, Loughton, for ten weeks - Looking at the Normans in England and Sicily with Norman Leighton. For more details, ring Mrs. P. Dale on 020 8281 1536 or email mrspdale@googlemail.com

Loughton & Epping WEA course (2pm-4pm at Epping Hall, St.John’s Road, Epping, for ten weeks - Music Inspired by Shakespeare with Carl Murray. For more details, ring Mrs. P. Dale on 020 8281 1536 or email mrspdale@googlemail.com 

Loughton & Epping WEA course (10am-noon) at Loughton Cricket Club, The Uplands, Loughton, for 20 weeks - Alfred the Great - the Kingdom Maker with Norman Leighton. For more details, ring Mrs. P. Dale on 020 8281 1536 or email mrspdale@googlemail.com 

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