💡 Welcome Devoted Devonians,

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The Salcombe Field of Light switch on: 6.24pm on Saturday

20,000 lights have been installed in 3 fields to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI and the spectacular switch on is on Saturday.

The beautiful display will be visible from Salcombe from dusk until 10pm, but don’t worry if you can’t be there on Saturday. The show runs on right through until 10th January 2025.

Salcombe born artist Bruce Munro (see a short video of his work here) got inspiration from the 146,000 lives the RNLI has saved in its history.

The weekend coincides with the Salcombe Live music festival with bands playing in pubs and hotels across the town from tomorrow until Sunday.

An evening of films about the enduring lure of the ocean

The last few tickets are available in Exeter and Ilfracombe for six short ocean-themed films.

The Ocean Film Festival Tour features documentaries about surfers, paddlers, divers and scientists dedicated to answering the call of the ocean.

In Ice Maiden, adventurer Lisa Blair is aiming to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica.

The Whale Song features humpback whales and their remarkable ability to communicate through song, and in The Call of the Cold, 3 athletes have a multi-sport adventure in Iceland.

7pm Saturday 5th October. The Landmark, Ilfracombe. Tickets from £16.50

7.30pm Tuesday 19th November. Exeter Corn Exchange. Tickets from £18.

“The best tribute to Amy” according to her Dad

This authentic and respectful tribute is the only show to be endorsed by both of Amy's parents, Janis and Mitch Winehouse.

With songs from the multi-platinum selling albums Frank Back To Black and Lioness, artist Laura Jane Butler recreates the distinctive sound of the jazz and soul powerhouse.

You’ll hear all the hits including Valerie, Tears Dry On Their Own, Rehab, Love Is A Losing Game, You Know I'm No Good and Back to Black.

Amy’s Dad Mitch said Laura is “the best tribute to Amy”.

7pm, Saturday 9th November. Tickets (scroll down) £15

The River Plym as you’ve never seen it before

Experience the Plym in a novel and immersive way with a 360˚ film created by film-makers Kayla Parker and Stuart Moore.

The film provides an all-encompassing view of the River Plym and its estuary, captured from kayaks. Watch a trailer (video).

Flow + Cadence features scenes from the Tory Brook upstream from Marsh Mills, the upper estuary known as the Laira, and the Cattewater where it flows into Plymouth Sound.

The film-makers will introduce their film, share insights from their kayaking adventures, and discuss their ongoing research on the River Plym and its estuary

5.30pm and 7pm, Monday 14th October. Immersive Vision Theatre, University of Plymouth.

Tickets: £6, £4 concessions, students free.

A Fairytale of New York comes to Torquay

The 1987 Pogues song has became such a Christmas favourite that someone decided to turn it into a full blown musical.

A definite feel-good experience, the show celebrates Irish culture and the joy of the season with singing, dancing and laughing.

You’ll probably be joining in with the greatest Irish sing-a-longs including The Galway Girl, The Irish Rover, Dirty Old Town and The Black Velvet Band.

Watch the trailer here (video).

21st November. Princess Theatre, Torquay. Tickets from £29.45

Devon Curiosities #27: Warren House Inn

Drive between Princetown and Moretonhampstead and you pass what is probably the most famous pub on Dartmoor.

The Warren House Inn is the highest in southern England and said to be the loneliest, being surrounded open moor and farmland.

Needless to say it enjoys breathtaking views.

Built for the tin mining community that disappeared in the 1930s the pub survives today on passing trade and tourism.

It’s a cosy refuge or a relaxing finale to a chill autumn or winter walk on Dartmoor, not least from the fire which is said to have been burning continuously since 1845, when the place was built.

Read the full history.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊 North Devon

OCTOBER

Fri 4th and Sat 5th

CULTURE | 🍺 Oktoberfest 2024 | The Thatched Inn, Ilfracombe EX34 9PG | Free entry

Sat 5th and Sun 6th

HARVEST | 🌽 Festival of Flavours at RHS Rosemoor | RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | General admission required for entry - Adult tickets £15.85, child £7.95

Wed 9th

CRAFT | 🧺 Willow Basket Weaving Workshop | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton EX36 3RD | Tickets £40

Thu 10th

CHARITY | 🔥 Fire Walk for Amber | Ashley Court, Chawleigh EX18 7EX | Single entry £33.22, Team entry (up to 5 people) £136.14

Thu 24th

TALK | 🎙️ An Evening with Jimmy Tarbuck | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £33.50

Wed 30th

CONNECT | 🌳 Guided Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) at Courage Copse | Alternative dates available - sessions held every Wednesday | Warkleigh, Umberleigh EX37 9DD | Tickets £6

NOVEMBER

Fri 1st

MUSIC | 🎵 A Celebration of Young Bands | The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington EX38 8HQ | Tickets £7

Sun 10th

REFLECTION | 🎖️ Remembrance Day | Victoria Park, Bideford EX39 2QQ | Free

Sun 17th

TRADITION | 🐟 Clovelly Herring Festival | Clovelly Harbour, Bideford EX39 5TF

Thu 28th

FESTIVITIES | 🎄 Barnstaple Christmas Light Switch On | The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN | Free

🐬 South Devon

OCTOBER

Thu 3rd to Sun 3rd Nov

AUTUMN | 🍁 Pennywell Farm’s Pumpkin Festival | Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0LT | Adult entry £21.95, U15s £17.95, U3s Free

Sat 5th and Sun 6th

FOOD | 🧀 Powderham Food Festival 2024 | Powderham Estate, Exeter EX6 8JQ | Adult tickets £5, U16s Free

Wed 9th

TRADITION | 🪿 Tavistock Goose Fair | Bedford Square, Tavistock PL19 0AE | Free

Sun 13th

MUSIC | 🎻 The Chamber Ensemble of London - 2-hour medley of chamber orchestra classics | Stoke Damerel Church, Plymouth PL1 5QL | Adult tickets £20, U18s £5

Sat 19th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎙️ Jane McDonald - With All My Love Tour | Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth PL1 3LF | Tickets from £51.90

Sun 20th

HISTORY | 🗡️ Trafalgar Day Service | Exeter Cathedral, Exeter EX1 1HS | Free

Fri 25th

TALK | 🎤 An Evening with Jimmy Tarbuck | Northcott Theatre, Exeter EX4 4QB | Tickets £32.50

Fri 25th and Sat 26th

HALLOWEEN | 👻 BOO at the Zoo 2024 | Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth PL7 5DG | Adult tickets £18.50, U16s £16.35

Sat 26th

CULTURE | 🍻 Oktoberfest Plymouth 2024 | Central Park, Plymouth PL2 3DG | Tickets from £17.95

NOVEMBER

Sun 10th

REFLECTION | 🎖️ Remembrance Sunday | Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2PJ | Free

🏆️ Win Devon prizes

We find Devon prize giveaway competitions so you don’t have to.

Closing dates in brackets. Terms and conditions apply, see individual websites for details.

You could win:

NEW!  🍸️ A Devon Rum cocktail bundle worth £200 (6th Oct)

🛏️ An overnight stay for two at Cary Arms & Spa, Torquay including breakfast (8th Oct)

🍸️ A bottle of vodka and vodka liqueur set of blueberry, raspberry, caramel and elderflower (8th Oct)

🏇 A fabulous West Country weekend bundle including 2 tickets to Exeter and Wincanton Racecourses, a hotel stay for 2, a spa package, £100 restaurant voucher, and afternoon tea for 2 (11th Oct)

🪙 A £500 voucher for a South Devon holiday park holiday (17th Oct)

🏨 A 2-night stay at the Mercure Hotel, Paignton, with breakfast, dinner and wine on both nights (18th Oct)

🏡 A £2m dream house in Exmouth, £250,000 cash and 2 Porsche cars worth £170,000 (27th Oct)

NEW!  ⛵️ A two night stay in a Dartmouth apartment, 6 bottles of low or no alcohol wine, and a South West explorer pack. (29 Oct)

NEW!  🐕️ A beach villa break at a dog-friendly spot in Saunton (31 Oct)

🧺 A package of Devon food and drink including vodka, liquers, charcuterie and a 3-course meal for 2. (31st Oct)

⛱️ A 3-night break at a Brixham Holiday Park in 2025 (31 Oct)

NEW!  10 pilates classes in Exeter worth £195 (3rd Nov)

🏨 2-night’s accommodation in the Agatha Christie Suite at the Grand Hotel, Torquay, including a classic afternoon tea and spa treatment (24th Dec)

👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 A 2-night stay for up to 16 family and friends at a Devon farmhouse (31st Jan 2025)

That’s all for this week, but…

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team