SEND Fest at Christmas Marsh Farm
A fun Christmas festival exclusively for children and young people with SEND and their families, with a Father Christmas Experience ticket and a Marsh Farm Only ticket to choose from.
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About this venue
Marsh Farm Animal Park in South Woodham Ferrers is a brilliant, accessible venue for our Christmas SEND Fest. Choose the Father Christmas Experience for the Christmas Village, magical shows, and meeting Father Christmas, plus full farm access - or choose Marsh Farm Only for the rides, soft play, and animals with a touch of festive magic.
Choose your ticket
Both ticket options are booked through the same Eventbrite page - simply select the one that's right for your family at checkout.
Father Christmas Experience
From £20
per child + booking fee - includes full Marsh Farm access
- Christmas Village and magical Christmas tour
- Lots of elf fun and magical shows
- Decorate a gingerbread person
- Make a Bear teddy to take home
- Meet Father Christmas
- Plus full access to all of the Marsh Farm favourites below
Marsh Farm Only
From £5
+ booking fee - excludes Xmas Village & Father Christmas
- Full access to Marsh Farm between 9:30am and 4pm
- Fairground rides, indoor soft play, and the bouncy pillow
- Upside down house, train ride, and dinosaur adventure
- Adorable animals and a sensory station
- A few festive extras for a little SEND Fest magic
Hear more from our previous event at Wyvernwood
Take a look at the magic from a past SEND Fest to see what a day with us feels like.
Everything you need to know
Date
Sunday 22 November 2026 - Day Event
Time
Marsh Farm access 9:30am - 4:00pm
Location
Marsh Farm Animal Park, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 5WP
Parking
Free on-site car park with blue badge disabled bays close to the entrance
Accessibility
Hard-standing footpaths throughout. AccessoLoo mobile changing facility on site
Quiet Spaces
Zen Den calm zone available throughout the day near the Animal Shed
Ticket 1, the Father Christmas Experience, is from £20 per child + booking fee and includes the Christmas Village, elf fun, magical shows, decorating a gingerbread person, a Make a Bear teddy, meeting Father Christmas, plus full access to all of the Marsh Farm favourites. Ticket 2, Marsh Farm Only, is from £5 + booking fee and gives full access to Marsh Farm between 9:30am and 4pm, including the fairground rides, indoor soft play, bouncy pillow, upside down house, train ride, dinosaur adventure, adorable animals, and a few festive extras - but it does not include the Christmas Village or meeting Father Christmas.
Please book directly through Eventbrite and follow the instructions on your ticket confirmation. Any timed entry details for the Father Christmas Experience will be confirmed with your booking.
Tickets go live on Eventbrite at 12 noon on Tuesday 29th September. We recommend booking early as spaces are limited.
Yes, there is a free car park on site for visitors, and an overflow car park. Blue badge disabled parking bays are clearly marked as the spaces closest to the entrance - head straight down the first aisle as you enter the main car park.
There are hard-standing footpaths in most areas. Many animals and activities on the farm are accessible for pushchairs and wheelchair users. However, due to their natural composition, some play areas are not wheelchair friendly.
Yes, Marsh Farm has accessible toilets along with a disabled changing area which includes a hoist. We will also have AccessoLoo on site - a mobile vehicle with a full ceiling track hoist system, a full-size height-adjustable changing bench, a peninsular toilet with grab bars, and a height-adjustable wash basin.
Marsh Farm is a card-only site so cash cannot be taken to purchase food, drink, or in the Gift Shop. However, some stalls on site will accept card or cash payments.
No dogs or pets are allowed on site at Marsh Farm, including in vehicles in the car park. However, registered assistance dogs are welcome and should be wearing their identification vest.
Marsh Farm Animal Park, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 5WP. Full directions and a site map will be shared with ticket holders ahead of the event.
No problem - please email us at kerry@independenceproject.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am - 4:00pm | Marsh Farm Only access | Whole Farm |
| 9:30am - 4:00pm | Children's rides, indoor soft play, bouncy pillow | Activity Field / Playbarn |
| 9:30am - 4:00pm | Upside down house, train ride, crazy golf | Middle of Farm |
| 9:30am - 4:00pm | Sensory station and adorable animals | Near Animal Shed |
| Included with Father Christmas Experience ticket | Christmas Village and magical Christmas tour | Xmas Village |
| Included with Father Christmas Experience ticket | Magical shows and elf fun | Barn Theatre |
| Included with Father Christmas Experience ticket | Decorate a gingerbread person | Craft Cabin |
| Included with Father Christmas Experience ticket | Make a Bear teddy | Xmas Village |
| Included with Father Christmas Experience ticket | Meet Father Christmas | Xmas Village |
Picnics Welcome
- You are welcome to bring your own food and drink
- Please use the benches and deck chairs on the Activities Field
- Do not eat inside the Playbarn (reserved for paying customers)
- The site is card-only at all Marsh Farm outlets
Allergen information is available on request at all catering outlets. The site is card-only — no cash accepted at Marsh Farm outlets.
This social story has been created to help prepare your child or young person for their visit to Christmas Marsh Farm. Reading through it together beforehand can help reduce anxiety and make the day more enjoyable for everyone.
We are going to Christmas SEND Fest at Marsh Farm
Christmas SEND Fest is a special festive day out just for families like ours. It takes place at Marsh Farm Animal Park in Essex. It is an exclusive event so only SEND Fest families will be there - everyone understands and everyone is welcome.
Getting there
We will travel to Marsh Farm by car. The address is Marsh Farm Animal Park, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 5WP. There is a free car park when we arrive. If I use a blue badge, the disabled spaces are right near the entrance.
Our ticket
We have booked one of two tickets. If we have the Father Christmas Experience ticket, we will visit the Christmas Village and meet Father Christmas as well as enjoying the rest of the farm. If we have the Marsh Farm Only ticket, we will enjoy the rides, soft play, and animals, but we will not visit the Christmas Village or meet Father Christmas.
What the farm looks like
Marsh Farm is a big outdoor space with paths, grass, barns, and animal areas. In November it may be cold, so we can wear warm clothes. There will be festive decorations, lights, and music in some areas. It might be noisy in some areas. We can bring ear defenders if loud sounds are hard for me.
The Zen Den - calm space
If I feel overwhelmed or need a break, we can go to the Zen Den near the Animal Shed. This is a quiet, calm space where I can rest and feel safe. Nobody will rush us. We can stay as long as we need to.
Food and drink
There are restaurants and food stalls on site. We can buy food there, or bring our own picnic. The site is card-only. We can eat outside on the Activities Field if we prefer.
The day will end
When it is time to go, we will walk back to the car park. It might feel sad to leave, but we can look at photos and talk about our favourite parts of the day. Going home is okay.
Venue map
Venue map coming soon
Check back nearer to the event date for a full site map
Event gallery
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