Devon doesn’t do ordinary.

Where else can you watch a horror film in a cave, board a Victorian paddle steamer, bump into 250 Morris dancers taking over a city, and finish with a centuries-old pixie pageant?

Last week’s age question produced some fascinating results (see below), and I’m trying to build a better picture of what tempts you to explore. Take a second to vote in this week’s poll if you can.

Yours in Devon,

If you’re looking for something unusual to do tonight, how about watching one of the best horror movies of the 2000s?

Here’s the best bit: It’s set in a cave, and you watch it in a cave.

Showing at Kents Cavern, Torquay at 9pm tonight, Thursday 28th May, The Descent (18) is about 6 women who enter an uncharted underground system containing monstrous creatures.

Set in the US but filmed in the UK, the film was praised for its performances and direction. Tickets are £16.

If that sounds too scary for you, how about the slightly milder The Mummy (12A) at the same venue on Saturday.

Everyone’s favourite paddle steamer, PS Waverley, is operating from Ilfracombe next week.

Choose a trip to Lundy Island or along the North Devon Coast to see the wildlife and those dramatic high cliffs.

Look out for the limited Seniors Bring a Friend For Free offers on the Waverley website

The visit is part of Ilfracombe Coast Week where the town puts on a range of free and paid events: walks, guided coastal walks and ghost tours, boat trips and coastal swim coaching. More details

Budleigh Music Festival returns next month with 10 days of performances that unashamedly push classical music boundaries.

Most of the 19 concerts are at St Peter’s Church with a line-up of choral, baroque, musical theatre, film-with-live-orchestra, guitar, piano, brass, saxophone, double bass, and hot swing.

Here’s a few highlights that caught my eye:

Thursday 25th June to Sunday 4th July. Tickets from £3 to £38. View the full programme

Enter the chaotic Victorian world of The Pickwick Papers in an outdoor theatre adaptation of the Dickens classic showing at 3 Devon venues.

The Rain or Shine theatre company promise to battle on whatever the weather, taking you through a tale of confusing courtships and courtroom battles.

It’s classic open air comedy and comes with an invitation to bring your own seating, picnic and wet weather gear.

Find out more and tickets: £18

Around 250 Morris men and women take over Exeter on Saturday.

Most displays for The Exeter Morris 75th Anniversary Day of Dance will be Cathedral Green, but if you are anywhere in the town centre, they’ll be hard to miss.

The show is to celebrate the founded of Exeter Morris in 1951 and they’ve invited 16 other South West sides to join the party.

Expect plenty of bells, sticks, clogs and handkerchiefs.

10am to 4.30pm. Free

Hundreds of Ottery St Mary children dress up to re-enact an ancient legend on Saturday 20th June.

The annual Pixie Day pageant marks a tale that dates back to 1454.

As you may be aware, pixies once occupied Ottery St Mary in large numbers but were forced out by humans and the building of the church.

The pixies particularly hated the bells and tried to stop them as they believed that every time they rang a pixie died.

One midsummer's day they invaded the town, captured the bell ringers and imprisoned them in a cave by the river, still known to this day as Pixie's Parlour.

The episode became known as “The Pixies Revenge”.

As the tension builds towards the re-enactment, visitors can enjoy the fete.

From 12pm, Saturday 20th June, The Land of Canaan, Ottery St Mary. (Pixie’s Revenge at 5pm). More details

Last week’s result

What’s your “age bracket”?

FEATURED: 🌊 A Plymouth getaway including a 2-night stay for 2 at Admirals House by Maison Pierre, breakfast each morning and a 2-course dinner for 2 at Bistrot Pierre, a gin distillery tour and boat trips pass (1st June)

NEW! ♨ A 2-night stay in Bluebell with wood-fired hot tub, outdoor movies and pool table at The Secret Garden Glamping near Cullompton (30th May)

🍷 A 4-course chef's table experience for 2 with matching drinks at The View Restaurant, Exeter (30th May)

NEW! 👛 A £500 holiday voucher with Marsdens Devon Cottages (31st May)

🏨 A 1-night B & B break for 2 people at Future Inn, Plymouth (or Bristol or Cardiff) before the end of June 2026 (31st May)

💤 A cosy 2-night cottage stay for 2 and use of Compton Pool resort facilities in South Devon (31st May)

🖼 5 tickets for all 3 days of the Bovey Tracey Craft Festival 12th-14th June (2nd June)

NEW! 🐑 A 2-night stay in a shepherd's hut for 2 adults and 2 children in a choice of locations, including Devon (Purchase required). (2nd July)

🐶 A week stay for 8 in a dog-friendly cottage in Appledore (14th Jul)

Did you win something? Let me know

🌳 Fabulous food and glorious gardens

🎼 Forgotten English Music

⚓ Royal Dockyard Open Day

🎨 Exmouth Art Weekend

That’s all for this week. Thanks for being a member.

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Andy, Esme and Lara