Derry Halloween
Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry
The walled city stages a huge Halloween festival with a carnival parade and fireworks.
28 October – 1 November 2026Date announced
Autumn oddities
Autumn serves up both focused competitions and sprawling town celebrations. Easdale has stone skimming, Egremont has gurning and Carrbridge judges porridge. Conkers, pudding throwing and horn dancing sit alongside Halloween and bonfire season.
Decide whether you’d like to watch a contest at one venue or find your way through a busy procession across town. Check each date individually, because not every autumn event lands near Halloween. Entry arrangements and travel restrictions vary, and a usual month isn’t a date to book against. For bonfires especially, read the organiser’s latest visitor advice before you head out.
11 events in this guide
In date order
- 28OctDerry HalloweenDerry~Londonderry, County Londonderry28 October – 1 November 2026 — date announcedStay nearby
- 5NovLewes Bonfire NightLewes, East Sussex5 November 2026 — traditional dateStay nearby
- 14NovRye BonfireRye, East Sussex14 November 2026 — traditional dateStay nearby
- 11SepWorld Stone Skimming ChampionshipsEasdale Island, Argyll11 September 2027 — date announcedStay nearby
- 2OctGolden Spurtle World Porridge ChampionshipCarrbridge, Highland2 October 2027 — date announcedStay nearby
- 10OctWorld Conker ChampionshipsSouthwick, Northamptonshire10 October 2027 — date announcedStay nearby
- SepusuallyEgremont Crab Fair and Gurning World ChampionshipsEgremont, CumbriaThird Saturday in SeptemberStay nearby
- SepusuallyAbbots Bromley Horn DanceAbbots Bromley, StaffordshireWakes Monday: the Monday after the first Sunday after 4 SeptemberStay nearby
- SepusuallyWorld Black Pudding Throwing ChampionshipsRamsbottom, Greater ManchesterUsually the second Sunday in September, outside The Oaks pub on Bridge StreetStay nearby
- OctusuallyHastings BonfireHastings, East SussexA Saturday in mid-October (Saturday 17 October in 2026)Stay nearby
- SepusuallyBridport Hat FestivalBridport, DorsetUsually the first Saturday in SeptemberStay nearby
The events
Lewes Bonfire Night
Lewes, East Sussex
Bonfire societies parade burning crosses, tar barrels and effigies through the county town.
5 November 2026Traditional date
Rye Bonfire
Rye, East Sussex
Torchlit procession through Rye ending at a bonfire on the Salts, topped with a boat.
14 November 2026Traditional date
World Stone Skimming Championships
Easdale Island, Argyll
Stone-skimming competition on a former slate-quarry island.
11 September 2027Date announcedHave a go
Golden Spurtle World Porridge Championship
Carrbridge, Highland
Cooks from around the world compete in a Highland village hall to make the perfect porridge.
2 October 2027Date announced
World Conker Championships
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Championship version of the traditional conker game.
10 October 2027Date announcedHave a go
Egremont Crab Fair and Gurning World Championships
Egremont, Cumbria
Traditional fair featuring competitive face-pulling.
Third Saturday in SeptemberHave a go
Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire
Traditional horn dance involving antlers.
Wakes Monday: the Monday after the first Sunday after 4 September
World Black Pudding Throwing Championships
Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester
Throwers hurl black puddings at a stack of Yorkshire puddings on a tall plinth.
Usually the second Sunday in September, outside The Oaks pub on Bridge StreetHave a go
Hastings Bonfire
Hastings, East Sussex
Hastings Borough Bonfire Society’s torchlit Old Town procession and bonfire on the beach.
A Saturday in mid-October (Saturday 17 October in 2026)
Bridport Hat Festival
Bridport, Dorset
Hats take over Bridport for competitions, street celebrations and a mass photograph.
Usually the first Saturday in SeptemberHave a go
“Stay nearby” links go to Booking.com, and each event guide also has train links. These are affiliate links. What that means.