The weather may be changing, but that’s no reason for the festival fun to stop! In the UK, there are plentiful autumn events ranging from the hip to the downright bizarre. Here are a few options if you’re looking for ways to keep entertained in the UK this fall.
#1: Gurning World Championship
One of the world’s oldest running fairs, the Egremont Crab Fair and Sports has been entertaining visitors from far and wide in every September since 1267. There’s an apple cart parade, live music, and pipe smoking contest. However, the undoubted star of the show is the Gurning World Championship. This event invites participants to make the ugliest face possible in search of fame and glory, a skill called “gurning.” The fair celebrates its 750th anniversary this year, ensuring that they’ll pull out all the stops.
#2: Nottingham Goose Fair
Another historic festival is Nottingham’s Goose Fair, which also dates back over 700 years. It’s thought that the fair’s name derives from the hundreds of geese that used to be driven between Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Nottingham to be sold at the fair. Originally held in the city’s Old Market Square, it’s now located in the Forest Recreation Ground and takes place every October. Carnival attractions, thrill rides, and live entertainment make it a popular event for the entire family. The fair’s also famous for its mushy peas, which is a bit different from the usual funfair fare.
#3: Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia
Fans of live music won’t want to miss a trip to Liverpool in the autumn for the uber-cool Liverpool Psych Fest. This international festival of all things psychedelic fills the Baltic Triangle’s warehouses with trippy light shows, head-turning art displays, and swirly guitar music from around the world. This year’s headliners include Wolf People and the Black Angels, ensuring a festival experience with a slight twist.
#4: Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Edinburgh draws plenty of visitors every August for its famous arts festivals, but the lesser-known Scottish International Storytelling Festival is also well worth a visit. Held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in October, the festival involves workshops, panel discussions, lectures, and of course plenty of family storytelling time. October is also a great time to visit Edinburgh for Halloween fans. The city’s vintage shops offer no shortage of costume ideas, or you can order specialty children’s or plus size Halloween costumes UK online. Throw on your best fancy dress to attend the city’s Samhain festival on the night of October 31st.
#5: Black Pudding Throwing Championships
Finally, we’ll end our autumnal festival roundup with a mention of September’s Black Pudding Throwing Championships in the village of Ramsbottom. This competition hearkens back to the War of the Roses. It’s said in 1455, troops from the House of Lancaster and House of York ran out of traditional ammunition and had to throw puddings at each other instead. The House of York clearly threw Yorkshire puddings, and the House of Lancaster threw black puddings. Live music and a farmer’s market are also part of the festivities.