Leaping Hare Convention

Annual pagan convention in Colchester, Essex which raises funds for local charities and good causes.

The convention is organised by volunteers from the Pagan Federation (and is their annual regional conference) with a great deal of help from members of the Colchester Pagan Network.

Next year's Leaping Hare will be held on Saturday 23rd March 2024 at Highwoods Community Centre, Colchester, Essex. 

If you would like to book a stall (please note they tend to sell out many months in advance) contact stalls, offer your skills as a speaker/performer for the 2024 event, or purchase a ticket then please email the address below. Due to changing demands from our insurers, stallholders will need to have their own Market Traders insurance. If you do not have this, talk to us and we can explain what to do.

This site was last updated on 29th January 2024

Tickets are available from Philippa on 07564 288238 or via pnewbury@btinternet.com (£7.50 in advance or on the door). Disabled people bringing non-pagan carers can request a free ticket for one carer. 

This is the website for the annual Leaping Hare convention, which is held every spring in Colchester, Essex, Britain. We will update this site with information about each forthcoming convention, as well as featuring reviews of previous years. 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION...

Public transport Travel Details on the big day * Please CHECK these for yourself, as this is only a guide. **PLANNED RAIL ENGINEERING WORK** will affect your train travel on 25th March 2023 - please check your details here: https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/service-alterations trains, coaches & buses. We suggest that it's generally easier to get to LH via Colchester (the mainline station -also known as 'Colchester North). Exit the station from platform 4 (exit beside WH Smith shop), bearing left down to the road. Once you are at the roadside, turn right, walk to the SECOND bus stop, and you can get the no 8 or 65 bus marked 'Highwoods Tesco', 'Tesco Highwoods' or 'Highwoods Square' ? (all the same place by different names!) Get the bus to this destination, as it is the turnaround for buses and the Venue for Leaping Hare is also there, on your left or behind you as you exit the bus. To return to the rail station, cross the square from the venue and get a no 8 or 65 bus ? ask for Colchester North / Colchester railway station ? the bus stops on the opposite side of the road to the station (outside 'Wickes' building supplies). From Colchester Town railway station ? from the station, turn right and then left at Osborne St. (coaches stop here too near the bus 'station') walk up the town to 'Head Street' 10- 15 min walk. Turn right at Head St. The nos 8 and 65 buses destination marked 'Highwoods Tesco', 'Tesco Highwoods' or 'Highwoods Square' ? (all the same place by different names!) go from stand 'Ec' outside the Odeon Cinema. Get the bus to that destination, as it is the turnaround for buses and the Venue for Leaping Hare is also there, on your left or behind you as you exit the bus. On your return from LH, cross the square from the venue and get a no 8 or 65 bus. nos 8 stops at stand Ja on Queen Street, walk downhill and bear left for Colchester Town rail station. 65 stops at the bottom of Osborne street, stand Ac beside the multi storey car park / bingo. Turn left as you exit the bus, the rail station is just off St Botolphs roundabout on your right at the end of the street. For Coaches turn right as you exit the bus. Coaches ? National Express Coaches into Colchester generally stop at the top of East Hill. Walk uphill, past the town hall, turn left onto Head Street, the nos 8 and 65 buses marked 'Highwoods Tesco', 'Tesco Highwoods' or 'Highwoods Square' ? (all the same place by different names!) go from stand 'Ec' outside the Odeon Cinema. Get the bus to this destination, as it is the turnaround for buses and the Venue for Leaping Hare is also there, on your left or behind you as you exit the bus. On your return from LH, cross the square from the venue, and get a no 8 or 65 bus. Get off in the High Street, do NOT cross over. Walk downhill Your coach departs on the opposite side of the road to where you got off your coach. **IMPORTANT** Please CHECK the destination on the bus ? as the nos 8 & 65 go in 2 directions from the town centre ? you don't want to end up travelling the wrong direction away from the venue.