Enjoy a truly enchanting autumn...
SUMMER may be at an end but there are still a host of exciting events to enjoy across England this autumn, says
ENCHANTED FLOODLIT GARDENS, DORSET
HEAD to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens to discover a wonderland ablaze with light, colour and creepy goings-on from October 13 to 26. Walk along an enchanted route around the site as floodlights illuminate the paths, and candles light up the garden’s nooks and crannies. From October 27 to 29, children and adults can don their spookiest fancy-dress costume for the Halloween Fright Nights. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular laser rave, a scary scars workshop, a creepy-crawly bug show, meet eerie characters, and get free face-painting as the spectacular trees and plants cast their ghostly shadows.
GOOSE FAIR, NOTTINGHAM
IF YOU love a good old-fashioned funfair filled with a giant Ferris wheel, dodgems and candy-floss stalls, a visit to Nottingham’s Goose Fair between October 5 and 9 is a must. This annual travelling fair, held at the Forest Recreation Ground, dates back more than 700 years and is now one of Europe’s biggest. This family favourite offers visitors over 500 attractions, so there’s something for everyone. Be sure to sample the famous mushy peas with mint sauce – a speciality that’s as old as the fair itself.
BRISTOL COCKTAIL WEEK
COCKTAIL-lovers should make their way to Bristol for its annual Cocktail Week taking place at venues across the city from October 17 to 23. You can sample a wide variety of tasty tipples created by some of Bristol’s finest mixologists, and enjoy masterclasses taught by local, independent specialists.
With the chance to visit Bristol’s many cocktail outlets – from 1920s speakeasy-style bars to Havanainspired hangouts – this could be a week to remember… as long as you don’t overdo it, of course!
FALMOUTH OYSTER FESTIVAL, CORNWALL
CELEBRATING its 20th anniversary this year, the Falmouth Oyster Festival from October 13 to 16 is one of the county’s best-loved food festivals and a great way to gorge on the finest Cornish seafood. When you’re not spending your days feasting, you can pick up some top tips while watching demos from top chefs and experts, as well as enjoying live music and even a shucking competition.
LAKES INTERNATIONAL COMIC ART FESTIVAL, CUMBRIA
THE scenic town of Kendal will play host to the UK’s only comic art event from October 14 to 16. Visitors will be able to see works by independent publishers and artists from around the world, as well as attend a variety of interesting events and workshops including live drawings, comic trails, masterclasses, exhibitions and a free family zone.