As the darker evenings draw in and the temperatures become a little cooler, it can be all too easy to stay indoors. But there are dozens of festivals taking place around the country, celebrating all things culinary, literary, and more. So don’t hibernate just yet. Instead, make plans for an October hurrah!
World Conker Championships
Did you play conkers as a child? It’s a sport that’s easy to do with the abundance of horse chestnuts at this time of year. For any American readers, you’d know them as buckeyes. The object of the game is to use your conker to smash that of your opponent. Some swear by soaking them in vinegar first to harden them up, while others prefer to bake them or even soak in gasoline. But at the World Conkers Championships. competitors all play by the same rules, selecting three conkers provided by the judges. This year’s Championships take place in Northamptonshire on the 8th October. You might choose to compete, or you might just wander along for an afternoon of spectating fun.
Cakes and Ale
Autumn is a time for celebrating the harvest. As well as finding many church harvest festivals, there are also plenty of food festivals taking place. The Dartmouth Food Festival runs for three days over the weekend of 20th to 22nd October. You’ll find demonstrations by celebrity chefs, seminars, competitions, and plenty of delicacies to taste. With more than 100 local food vendors, you are sure to find something to whet your appetite. Best of all: the festival is free to enter. There are fees for individual workshops. Buy tickets in advance on the event website.
Meanwhile, Scottish friends can enjoy a brew or two at the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival. The festival, sponsored by CAMRA, will feature 140 cask ales, 25 or more ciders, as well as wine, soft drinks, and food. Head to Troon between 5th and 7th October to partake.
Lace up your Walking Boots
Fill a thermos, grab a map, and head for a good hearty walk. Admittedly, that is excellent advice for any time of year. A brisk ramble lets you take in the autumn colours and get the blood flowing. The Dursley Walking Festival runs (or should that be walks) from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th October. The schedule features 30 walks of different lengths through the wonderful Gloucestershire countryside. There is something for all ages and abilities. Don’t forget a raincoat.
To find other walking festivals throughout the year, check the Walking Pages.
Restock your Library
We’re all about encouraging you to get outdoors in all seasons, but October is also a good time to pick up a few good books to read on a gloomy winter’s day. Luckily, there are plenty of literary festivals taking place all around the country, giving you the perfect opportunity to learn about a new author or two. The Isle of Wight Literary Festival runs from 5th to 7th October this year. In addition to dozens of guests speakers, the festival also has cookery demonstrations, live music, and wine tastings. Speakers include the Duchess of Rutland, and actors Malcolm Sinclair, Maureen Lipman, and Sheila Hancock.
Meanwhile, Brian Cox, David Mitchell, and Tim Peake are among the guest speakers at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival, from 6th-15th October. The programme also includes an extensive series of events for kids.
Those of you in Scotland might also want to catch an event or two at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. The festival, from 13th to 29th October, is jampacked with live and online events focused on this year’s theme of human rights. Check it out!
Other October Festivals
A few other festivals worth visiting are:
- The Welsh Museums Festival. Enjoy a week of half-term activities for kids at museums throughout the country. Many of the events are free!
- The Tenterden Folk Festival. Located in the heart of the Kent countryside, Tenterden holds its 30th annual folk festival from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October. You’ll find live music, crafts, Morris dancing and more.
- The Paisley Halloween Festival. It’s time to get spooky at the end of the month and Paisley goes all out, turning the town centre into a Halloween wonderland. This year’s theme is Gothic Halloween and the free event takes place every evening from Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th October.
