Top Picks
Cornwall 365’s October Top Picks
Autumn's arrival doesn't have to mean nights in with Netflix and a takeaway - there's no shortage of things to do this month!
There’s top notch theatre, world-class dance and chances to eat, drink and be merry. Get your nose out of that book and check out the North Cornwall Book Festival, get creative at Krowji, or party at the notorious Los Flambardos with Masked Ball. There’s no need to hibernate with all this lovely stuff going on… here’s our list of 17 things to do in October in Cornwall!
1. North Cornwall Book Festival 2017
St Endellion Church, Port Isaac
Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th October
Set in beautiful St Endellion, between Polzeath’s surf mecca and picture postcard Port Isaac, North Cornwall Book Festival has something for readers of all ages – and music lovers too. Authors this year include Michael Morpurgo, Maggie O’Farrell, Yasmin Alibhai Brown and James Naughtie, and gigs from jazz diva Liane Carroll and dynamic world-folk four piece Three Daft Monkeys. From lifewriting to storytelling, from poetry to folksong, there is something for everyone here at this very special festival!
2. Richard III (A One Woman Show)
Old Bakery Studios, Truro
Friday 6th & Saturday 7th October
Pushing the boundaries on Shakespearean performance, this is a bold and engaging re-imagining of Richard III where the fourth wall is ‘utterly obliterated’. Take a seat in the Old Bakery and get involved in Richard’s party in an intimate, exciting and moving production.
3. Mad Dog Mcrea
Carnglaze Caverns
Saturday 7th October
Synonymous with a good party, quality musicianship and the odd surprise, Mad Dog Mcrea returns to Carnglaze Caverns with support from The Eskies. Set deep in Cornish woodland, Carnglaze slate caverns provide a unique backdrop for a night you’re sure to remember.
4. Fun Palace - Krowji
Krowji, Redruth
Saturday 7th October
On the first weekend of October, Fun Palaces across the UK set to erupt with free and fun activities based on the science of creativity and the creativity of science. Krowji will be taken over with workshops, demonstrations, and chances to get stuck into activities led by local artists and makers – and you’re invited!
5. Holy Grit Beach Obstacle Racing
Trevornick Holiday Park, Newquay
Saturday 7th October
This beach obstacle course does pretty much what it says on the tin… choose from a 6, 12 or 24km course on Cornwall’s leg-destroying sand dunes and sea cliffs, with over 30 ‘hell-themed’ obstacles, all on the beautiful Cornish coast! Little Gritters can get muddy too and sign up for the kids 1.5km course, and there are free hot showers, finisher t-shirts, medals and goody-bags for every runner. Make a weekend of it with camping on Friday and Saturday night, with live music and a free pint for every happy camper!
6. Simon Amstell: What Is This?
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Wednesday 11th October
Following a series of critically acclaimed, sold out international tours, Simon Amstell returns with his fifth stand up tour in the UK. What Is This? promises to be a deeply personal, funny exploration of beauty, intimacy, freedom, sex and love.
7. Falmouth Oyster Festival
Events Square, Falmouth
Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th October
Celebrate Falmouth Oyster Festival’s 21st birthday! One of Cornwall’s biggest and best-loves specialist food festivals, this Falmouth Oyster Festival marks the start of oyster dredging season with feasting, cooking demonstrations, live music, food and craft stalls.
8. Launch of the new Tate St Ives – Free Weekend
Tate St Ives
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th October
Join Tate St Ives to celebrate the launch of their new gallery space and be the first to see the exciting changes which have doubled the size of the building. Over the weekend their will be fun family activities, pop up tours, events and talks, and a firework display on Saturday evening – all free.
9. Kerry Andrew – Keld: Freshwater Songs
Launceston Town Hall
Wednesday 18th October
Described by The Observer as ‘English avant-folk at its finest’, Kerry Andrew’s latest project combines her passion for wild swimming with a love of gathering songs. This unique performance features new original songs celebrating freshwater folklore inspired by her tour locations: Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire and London.
10. Fizzy Friday - Cocktail Tasting
Cornwall Beer & Wine Centre, Redruth
Friday 20th October
#FizzFriday is a frequently used hashtag at Cornwall 365 HQ… so count us in for this sparkling wine cocktail workshop at Cornwall Beer & Wine Centre. Try sparkling wines, champagnes and proseccos (with a few Cornish favourites), and channel your inner mixologist with DIY fizz cocktails.
11. Richard Alston Dance Company
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Friday 20th & Saturday 21st October
Richard Alston Dance Company returns to Cornwall with three works – including Carnaval, a brand new piece based around Schumann’s solo piano piece of the same name which is performed live by the fantastic Jason Ridgway.
In Tangent, Martin Lawrance explores the vivid accents and attack of Tango. Four couples glide through the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Tango master Piazzolla, also played live by Jason Ridgway on piano. The final piece, Gypsy Mixture, has been newly revived for the first time in a decade. With exhilarating dancing to the infectious music of Romanian and Macedonian Gypsy bands this dance will lift your spirits and quicken your pulse.
12. Tavaziva: IZINDAVA
AMATA, Penryn
Saturday 21st October
Bawren Tavaziva’s new work Izindava is dynamic, bold and explores human fragility within our changing world. Beautiful yet haunting and provocative, Izindava unearths raw emotions that are unsettling and unforgettable.
Growing up amongst persecution, mob-justice and segregation, Bawren’s memories of freedom instilled a strength of spirit and resistance that has shaped this work. Unbridled and intricate movement synthesises ballet, contemporary and African dance styles and is performed by a cast of stunning dancers with a film-scape of street life in Harare.
13. Riding for Young Actors
Polmartin Riding Stables, Liskeard
Sunday 22nd & Sunday 29th October
Apsiring young actors are invited to join Swashbuckling Cornwall for a skills-boosting riding course at Polmartin Riding! During the workshops you will explore what is expected from an actor on set when working with horses, how to mount and dismount, stopping for the camera and more.
14. Keira Martin – Here Comes Trouble
The Poly, Falmouth
Thursday 26th October
Through a fresh fusion of Irish and contemporary dance theatre, Keira Martin invites us to share her story of a working class upbringing, generously presented with a sense of humour and irony.
Best described as Irish dance deep in thought, she shares hard hitting and heart-warming chapters of her life to courageously address stereotypes and challenge labels.
15. Wille and the Bandits
Princess Pavilion, Falmouth
Friday 27th October
Wille and the Bandits and British surf champion Alan Stokes launch their exciting new webisode series following their quest to create a new video and track for the ultimate live performance. Make sure you’re there for support from Claude Hay for the best of stomping traditional blues, hard rock and booty-shaking funk, all delivered with slide guitar chops to burn and a vocal range to match!
16. The Masked Ball Halloween
Flambards, Helston
Saturday 28th October
A Halloween show like no other, with a surreal and strange sideshow of fairground follies, rock ‘n’ roll dancing and freak show craziness. Dare to enter the immersive multi level party kingdom lavishly produced in a theme park where themed venues range from the outrageous to the downright spectacular. Expect a myriad of rooms, dance floors, dens, hidden bars, unpredictable nano-venues, eccentric humour and epic raves with a soundtrack of New York disco, primal chants, cosmic guitar licks and terrifying techno. We’ll see you out there.
17. The Coastguard's Daughter
Golant Village Hall
Sunday 29th October
A true story inspired this play about the bravery, spirit and musical soul of a community living by the push and pull of the tide.
Poetic and playful, the unique production celebrates and laments what it is to live by the laws of the sea. The roles and rhythms of both a community at war and working to the beat and sway of the changing tides.
