🎇 Hello Devon Lovers,

As the nights close in it’s time to think of Halloween, ghosts, witches, bonfires and candlelit concerts.

And George Monbiot. He’s not seasonal, obviously, but provides variety.

Just a normal November evening in East Devon...

No, it's not a war zone. Just a pagan celebration in Ottery St Mary where locals carry burning barrels through the streets for fun.

Seriously.

You can experience this bonkers tradition (video) up close and personal on Saturday 4th November.

Get there early, as up to 10,000 people attend.

No one knows if the purpose of messing with so much fire is to ward off evil spirits or to celebrate the harvest.

But it's been popular since the 1600s and other than those who have to pay the insurance premiums, everyone has a good time.

Only people born in Ottery have the honour of carrying a barrel, but if you’re standing nearby you might want to wear something flame-proof.

Ottery St Mary, near Exeter. 4pm to 11.30pm. Website.

Catch some outdoor Hocus Pocus with this favourite Halloween movie

It’s Friday 13th so why not dress up and watch a spooky film outdoors in the dark?

Hocus Pocus is about a teenage boy named Max and his little sister who move to Salem. He struggles to fit in before awakening a three witches that were executed.

Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy, Hocus Pocus is a 1993 comedy horror that’s become a classic.

For a different cinema experience dress up in your favourite Halloween garb, grab your blankets and broomsticks and fly along on Friday 13th October.

Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7XS. 6.30pm and 9.30pm screenings. Tickets from £9.76

“Desert Island Discs” with environmentalist George Monbiot and live music

Environmental activist, author and journalist George Monbiot will be in Totnes to talk about his life and choose favourite songs performed by local musicians and singers.

In an adaptation of the popular Radio 4 biography and music show he’ll be interviewed in front of the audience, interspersed with performances by a local singer and a jamming band, among others.

George Monbiot’s books tackle climate change, rewilding, world farming and crisis politics and he’s also co-written a concept music album.

Watch one of this viral videos (44 million views) How Wolves Change Rivers.

Saturday 14th October. 7.30pm. Totnes Civic Hall, Market Square, Totnes TQ9 5SF Tickets. £12

Fancy making a scary Halloween wreath? (Can you spot the spider?)

[PARTNER] Join in with the spirit of Halloween at a fun workshop, and make a spooky spider or bat wreath for your door.

All materials are provided, plus mulled wine, pumpkin pie and tea/coffee at a relaxing friendly workshop run by Emma’s Flowers in Plymouth.

Come along with a work colleague, bring your Mum or relative, or ask that friend that you've been meaning to catch up with. Spend a fun evening together!

Friday 27th October 6.30pm | Woolwell Centre, Plymouth PL6 7TR | Tickets £45.

Watch a dramatic film exploration of the effects of climate change

See the North Devon premiere of Paddling the Margins, an adventure and sustainability film shot in the Pacific Northwest by a film-maker from Barnstaple.

Jack Hampton (video) learnt to paddle as part of Bideford Canoe Club.

The North Devon coast played a central role in his team’s training before they completed an unsupported kayak expedition down the west coast of Canada.

They conducted interviews with local people about how climate change has affected lives, and the 1 hour film aims to identify solutions relevant to UK coastal communities.

Thursday 12th October. 7.30pm. Scott Cinemas, 77 Boutport Street, Barnstaple EX31 1SR. Tickets £10.

Hear opera by candlelight in a 1,000 year old Norman cathedral

Call it opera for beginners.

More than half the audience for this popular alternative to a full blown opera are first time classical music goers.

The London Concertante popularises this sometimes highbrow art form by getting its audience laughing at jokes and wowed by the virtuoso string playing.

It all happens in the atmospheric, candle-lit setting of the 1,000 year old Exeter Cathedral with examples of the finest opera arias and overtures (video).

If you don’t know your Mozart from your Beethoven you’ll still recognise the excepts from famous operas.

The programme includes Nessun Dorma from Turandot, Flower Duet from Lakme, Overtures from The Marriage of Figaro and Barber of Seville and Habanera from Carmen.

Thursday 12th October. 7:30pm. Exeter Cathedral EX1 1HS. Tickets from £21.29

🌟 Win Devon Prizes

Feeling lucky? We find prize competitions so you don’t have to search for them.

Closing dates are in brackets.

You could win:

🥓 This beautiful Devon house worth £2m (30 Sep)

🛏 A free dinner, bed and breakfast in this top Torquay hotel (30 Sep)

🍛 A tasty meal for 2 at this new organic restaurant (30 Sep)

🖊A £500 holiday voucher by completing a survey (30 Sep)

🌊 A stay at this new Plymouth hotel + stand-up paddleboarding (3 Oct)

☕️ A tasty full English breakfast for 4 people worth £60 (20 Oct)

🏖 A fabulous short break in Torquay (31 Oct)

⭐️ A “Golden” ticket to Devon attractions worth £1,500 (1 Dec)

Terms and conditions apply. See individual websites.

Good luck!

Got a competition? Let us know.

Listings

🌊 North Devon

SEPTEMBER

Fri 29th

MUSIC | 🎙️ The Ultimate Queen Tribute Band celebrates the 50th anniversary of Queen’s debut album | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £23.50

Fri 29th to Sat 30th

FESTIVAL | ⛺️ Woodpecker Weekender | An eco-friendly festival with live music and workshops on sustainable living | The Woodpecker Bar and Kitchen, Ilfracombe EX34 8NU | Day tickets £33.22, weekend tickets £60.29

OCTOBER

Sat 7th to Mon 30th

OUTDOOR FUN | 🌳 How many scarecrows can you spot whilst on Arlington Court’s scarecrow trail? | Arlington Court, Arlington EX31 4LP | Free

Tue 10th

LITERATURE | 📖 Waterstones Barnstaple Book Club | Talk through and analyse Claire Ratinon’s novel ‘Unearthed’ | A book about her journey from city to countryside | 42 High Street, Barnstaple EX31 1BZ | Free

Fri 13th

CLASSICAL MUSIC | 🎶 Proust’s Salon: Le Concert Retrouve | Plus high tea and opportunity to explore beautiful gardens | Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh, Barnstaple EX32 0RQ | Tickets £95

Fri 13th to Sun 29th

ASTRONOMY | ⭐️ Exmoor Dark Skies Festival | A two week celebration of the night sky, with dusk wildlife safaris, planetarium and astrophysics lectures | Multiple events on Exmoor | Details and prices here

Sun 15th

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES | 🧗 Mission Unbreakable commando challenge | Do you have what it takes to complete a 10km obstacle course? | North Molton Sports Ground EX36 3HG | Registration £45

Wed 18th

BALLET | 🩰 Adaptation of the classic Wizard of Oz story | Queens Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £22

Sat 21st

SCIENCE | 🌳 Apple Day | Sciencedipity hosts interactive experiments to learn about Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity | Suitable for children age 4-7 | Barnstable Library, Tuly Street, Barnstaple EX31 1EL | £5 per ticket 

Sat 21st to Tuesday 31st 

HALLOWEEN | 🎃 Be a student at the School for Witches and Wizards | Learn to cast spells, brew potions and take halloween rides | The Milky Way Adventure Park, Bideford EX39 5RY | Tickets £16.95 for children 3 years and up

Sun 22nd

CRAFT FAIR | 🎨 Clovelly Apple Day | Apple ciders, see an apple press in action and join in apple-themed craft and activities | Visitor Centre, Clovelly, Bideford EX39 5TA

Tue 24th

MUSIC | 🎙️ ABBAMANIA | Europe’s best ABBA tribute band comes to Barnstaple | Dance, sing and celebrate the bands iconic tunes | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £31.50

NOVEMBER

Sat 4th

BONFIRE NIGHT | 🎆 Woolacombe Bonfire and Fireworks Night | An evening of fireworks, drinks and delicious food | The Meadow, South Street, Woolacombe EX34 7BB | Adult tickets from £6.60, U16s £5.50

Sun 5th

RUNNING CHALLENGE | 🏃‍♀️ Bideford 10 mile 2023 | Run along the beautiful estuary whilst helping to raise money for North Devon Hospice | Riverbank Car Park, Bideford EX39 2QS | Registration

Sat 11th

WILDLIFE | 🦉 Take part in a guided walk around Appledore and learn all about North Devon’s winter birds | Appledore Bridge, Appledore, Bideford EX39 1NL | Free

🐬 South Devon

SEPTEMBER

Sat 23rd to Sat 30th

HIKING | 🥾 English Riviera Walking Festival | Take part in guided hikes around the region including along the scenic South West Coastal Path | Details and prices here

Wed 27th to Sat 30th

THEATRE | 🎭 Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by candlelight | Exeter Cathedral, Exeter EX1 1HS | Tickets from £10

Sat 30th

FESTIVAL | 🐟 Goodrington Seafest | Live theatre, music, mermaids and water sports | Goodrington, Paignton TQ4 6BU | Free to attend, pre book water sport tasters here

MURDER MYSTERY | ❓Immerse yourself in a 1920s themed murder mystery, with three course meal and drinks | The Old Pottery, Pottery Road, Newton Abbot TQ13 9DS | Tickets £50

OCTOBER

Sun 1st

MUSIC & DINING | 🎷 Sunday roast with a twist! | A 3-course meal with live jazz music | The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock PL19 8BB | Adults £34, children £28 | Call or book a table online

Tue 3rd to Fri 6th

TALK | 🎙️ Sir Geoffrey Boycott visits three South Devon venues, recalling his career as a Test cricketer | 3rd Oct - Exeter Corn Exchange, Exeter EX1 1BW £24 | 4th Oct - Quad Theatre, Marjons University, Plymouth PL6 8BH £27.50 | 6th Oct - Palace Theatre, Paignton TQ3 3HF £26.95

Sat 7th

DANCING | 🕺 The Legendary Hennock Barn Dance | A night of dancing, ceilidh music and enjoyment for all the family | Beechleigh Farm, Furzeleigh Lane, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9LU | Adult tickets £10, Youth (12-17) £4, U11s Free

Sat 7th to Sun 8th

FOOD FESTIVAL | 🌯 Powderham Food Festival presents Devon’s finest food and drink sellers | Entertainment, chilli competitions and live workshops | Powderham Estate, Exeter EX6 8JQ | Free, car park £8

GAMING | 🕹️ Exeter Comic Con and Gaming Festival | Meet a Dalek and experience virtual reality | Westpoint Arena, Exeter EX5 1DJ | Adult tickets £12.89, U14s £8.02

Sat 7th to Sun 15th

HALLOWEEN | 🎃 Pumpkin picking | Pick out your own pumpkin to carve | Terawhiti Farm, South Milton, Kingsbridge TQ7 3JT | Pumpkins from 50p

Sun 8th

CYCLE CHALLENGE | 🚴 Tour of the Moor around Dartmoor for all abilities in aid of St Luke’s Hospice | Harrowbeer Airfield, Yelverton PL20 6BU | Register

Wed 11th

FAIR | 🎢 The annual Tavistock Goosey Fair is back! | Enjoy fairground rides, street food and craft stalls | Tavistock Town Centre PL19 0AU

Sun 15th

HIKING CHALLENGE | 🥾 Warrior Women Walk | A 10km walk around the beautiful Burrator reservoir and surrounding area in aid of the charity Trevi | Dogs permitted on leads | Registration £20, U10s £10

Fri 27th

CRAFT | 🌸 Create a beautiful and spooktacular Halloween wreath to decorate your front door for trick or treaters with Emma’s Flowers | The Woolwell Centre, Plymouth PL6 7TR | Tickets £45

NOVEMBER

Sat 4th and Sun 5th

COMICS | 🕹️ Plymouth Comic Con and Gaming Festival | Meet a Dalek and experience virtual reality | Plymouth Active, Life Centre, Plymouth PL2 3DG | Adult tickets £11.44, U14s £7.54

Sun 5th

BONFIRE NIGHT | 🎆 Celebrate Guy Fawkes at Plymouth Hoe’s Bonfire Night 2023 | Fireworks, food and fairground | The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2PA | Free

Hey, can we ask a favour?

We’ll keep finding the exciting, surprising, interesting and cool things to do.

You tell your friends about us. Deal?

With love, cream and jam (in that order).

😎 Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team

P.S. If you don't want this newsletter anymore, just unsubscribe below at any time. Seriously, no hard feelings.