Pennywell Pumpkin Nights, Buckfastleigh
Select evenings until Sunday 1 November
The pumpkin patch after dark, lit with twinkly lights and warmed by fire pits, is replete with wheelbarrows for picking and acoustic sets from local musicians. Tickets must be booked online in advance, as the best evenings go early. Find out more here.
Two Moors Festival, Venues across Dartmoor and Exmoor
1 – 11 October
The Daily Telegraph once likened it to 'the Wigmore Hall, with better views and cows’. Chamber music of genuinely international standard, in village churches spread across what's thought to be the largest area covered by any festival in the country. Find out more here.
Falmouth Oyster Festival, Events Square, Discovery Quay, Falmouth
8 – 11 October
Four days marking the start of the dredging season, when the native Fal oyster is still harvested by sail and oar. Free by day, with chef demonstrations and a hotly contested shucking competition, and ticketed music in the evenings. Find out more here.
Sidmouth Science Festival, Various venues, Sidmouth
9 – 18 October
Ten days of talks, walks and hands-on activities on everything from Jurassic fossils to the science of magic, much of it free. Super Science Saturday on the 10th is the one for families. Find out more here.
Ilfracombe Photography Festival, Various Venues, Ilfracombe
10 – 11 October
The town's first photography festival spreads across 15 venues, with darkroom sessions, pinhole workshops, a camera obscura and free exhibitions. Find out more here.
Tavistock Goose Fair
14 October
Its roots lie in a twelfth-century Michaelmas fair, and it still takes over the town with more than 200 stalls, rides and sideshows from 9am until 9pm. Take the park and ride rather than attempting to drive in. Find out more here.
Lowender Celtic Festival, Redruth
15 – 18 October
Back after a year off, with music, dance and language sessions drawing performers from across the Celtic nations. Plenty of it is free, and the Cornish language gatherings are warmly open to complete beginners. Find out more here.
Mevagissey Shanty Festival, Mevagissey and Pentewan
16 – 18 October
Around 20 venues ring out with sea songs, all free and nearly all within a short stroll of the harbour. Volunteer-run and properly joyous, with a free shuttle bus to Pentewan for anyone venturing further afield. Find out more here.
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, Venues across Exmoor
16 October – 1 November
The tenth edition celebrates Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserve with more than 70 events, from planetarium shows to UV rockpooling and moonlit dips. The clocks go back on the 25th, which only makes for better stargazing. Find out more here.
Dartmouth Food Festival, Dartmouth
23 – 25 October
One of the country's most respected food festivals, with a new Fire & Food Quarter this year and free Food Matters talks alongside the demonstrations. Accommodation in town books up months ahead, so arrange your stay first. Find out more here.
At A Glance:
Best For: Food festivals, local traditions, live music and autumn weekends away
Don’t Miss: Falmouth Oyster Festival, Tavistock Goose Fair and Exmoor Dark Skies Festival
For Families: Pennywell Pumpkin Nights and Sidmouth Science Festival
For Foodies: Falmouth Oyster Festival and Dartmouth Food Festival
For Culture: Two Moors Festival and Lowender Celtic Festival
For Something Properly Local: Mevagissey Shanty Festival and Tavistock Goose Fair
Good To Know: Many events are free, but book ticketed sessions and accommodation well ahead
When: Throughout October 2026, with Exmoor Dark Skies Festival continuing into 1 November
Where To Stay: If you're visiting Devon and Cornwall, the region has many fabulous holiday rentals and if you're after a little more luxury, these hotels with sea views are at the top of our list.
FAQs: Devon and Cornwall in October
What's on in Devon and Cornwall in October 2026?
October 2026 brings the Two Moors Festival (1–11 October), Falmouth Oyster Festival (8–11 October), Sidmouth Science Festival (9–18 October), Ilfracombe Photography Festival (10–11 October), Tavistock Goose Fair (14 October), Lowender Celtic Festival in Redruth (15–18 October), Mevagissey Shanty Festival (16–18 October), Exmoor Dark Skies Festival (16 October–1 November) and Dartmouth Food Festival (23–25 October).
Is October a good time to visit Devon and Cornwall?
October is one of the most rewarding months to visit. The summer crowds have gone, accommodation prices fall well below their peak, the woodland colour is at its best and the coast path is quiet. The events calendar is also strong, with food, music and heritage festivals running across both counties throughout the month.
Which food festivals take place in Devon and Cornwall in October?
Two major ones. Falmouth Oyster Festival runs from 8 to 11 October 2026 at Events Square, Falmouth, celebrating the start of the native oyster dredging season. Dartmouth Food Festival takes place from 23 to 25 October 2026 in Dartmouth, South Devon, with chef demonstrations, wine tastings and free talks.
Are there free events in Devon and Cornwall in October?
Yes. Falmouth Oyster Festival is free to attend during the day, every performance at the Mevagissey Shanty Festival is free, and Tavistock Goose Fair costs nothing to enter. Many Sidmouth Science Festival events are also free, including Super Science Saturday on 10 October 2026.
Where can I go stargazing in Devon in October?
Exmoor National Park is the best-known place, as Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserve. The Exmoor Dark Skies Festival runs from 16 October to 1 November 2026, with more than 70 events including guided stargazing, night walks and planetarium sessions. Individual events are booked directly with each organiser.
When is Tavistock Goose Fair in 2026?
Tavistock Goose Fair takes place on Wednesday 14 October 2026. It is held every year on the second Wednesday in October, with stalls trading from 9am until around 9pm across the town centre. Visitors are advised to use the park and ride service, as parking in Tavistock is very limited on fair day.
