Bucks &amp; Oxon

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMEDY: Various comedians, The Oxford Playhouse, Oxford, 15-17 Oct</h2>



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It&#8217;s a giggle-packed weekend at The Oxford Playhouse this week, so you know where to go if you’re angling for a laugh. The set begins with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/jonathan-pie-fake-news-corona-remix" target="_blank">Jonathan Pie</a>&nbsp;(the stage character of Tom Walker) on&nbsp;15 Oct,&nbsp;followed by <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/simon-amstell-spiritual-hole" target="_blank">Simon Amstell</a>&nbsp;on 16 Oct, and&nbsp;ends with panel show favourite <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/an-evening-out-with-andy-hamilton" target="_blank">Andy Hamilton</a>&nbsp;(17 Oct).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EVENT: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/late-night-consumed" target="_blank">Late Night: Consumed</a>, the&nbsp;Oxford Natural History Museum, Oxford, 15 Oct</h2>



This fascinating night at the museum offers a tasting menu of food-themed fun (talks, activities, demos), whilst exploring how our meat consumption affects the health of our planet. (Don’t worry, there’s plenty of tasting along with all that pondering).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FESTIVAL:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://if-oxford.com/" target="_blank">IF Oxford</a>, various locations and online, 9-26 Oct</h2>



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The&nbsp;Oxford Science and Ideas Festival continues to get brows furrowing and hands stroking chins. With a mix of over 100 in-person and digital events for all ages, there’s plenty to pick from. We like the sound of the modern adventure through unusual galleries and modern technology, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Alice’s Adventures Beyond the Canal (opens in a new tab)" href="https://if-oxford.com/event/alices-adventures-beyond-the-canal/" target="_blank">Alice’s Adventures Beyond the Canal</a> (online, 7.30pm, 15 Oct), comedian Rosie Wilby’s talk on&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://if-oxford.com/event/the-breakup-monologues/" target="_blank">the science of heartbreak</a>&nbsp;(Somerville College Chapel, 7pm, 15 Oct), and the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Beautiful brains: science meets art (opens in a new tab)" href="https://if-oxford.com/event/beautiful-brains-science-meets-art/" target="_blank">Beautiful brains: science meets art</a> workshop on neuroscience and art (online, 5pm, 16 Oct). Have a flick through&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://if-oxford.com/events/" target="_blank">the full events list</a>; you can sort by age group, theme, and type. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SPOOKY EVENT: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/ghost-fest/" target="_blank">Ghost Fest 2021</a>, The Oxford Castle and Prison, 16-17 Oct</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/ghost-fest-oxford-castle-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-97177" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/ghost-fest-oxford-castle-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/ghost-fest-oxford-castle--150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/ghost-fest-oxford-castle--300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/ghost-fest-oxford-castle--720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Expect shrieks and wails at this year&#8217;s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/ghost-fest/" target="_blank">Ghost Fest 2021</a>, which offers spooky tours through 1000 years of history and features the resident wizard Merlin (would love to see that job application). Bring a torch and get ready to wander through the dark.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KIDS: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/events/medieval-combat-fun-day" target="_blank">Medieval Combat Day</a>, Wycombe Museum, 17 Oct </h2>



Muster your little knights and have a go at archery, medieval dancing, authentic food demonstrations, and watch some spectacular demonstrations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PICK YOUR OWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="668" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/pumpkin-picking.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-121355" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/pumpkin-picking.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/pumpkin-picking-360x240.jpeg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/pumpkin-picking-720x481.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/pumpkin-picking-150x100.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/pumpkin-picking-786x525.jpeg 786w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



It’s prime pumpkin-picking time, so head to Peterley Manor Farm,&nbsp;Great Missenden, for their&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.peterleymanorfarm.co.uk/october-half-term-on-the-farm/" target="_blank">pumpkin picking session</a>&nbsp;this weekend (16-17 Oct), as well as the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://milletsfarmcentre.com/halloween-spook-tacular.html" target="_blank">PYO at&nbsp;</a><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://milletsfarmcentre.com/halloween-spook-tacular" target="_blank">Mille</a>t<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://milletsfarmcentre.com/halloween-spook-tacular" target="_blank">s Farm</a>&nbsp;near&nbsp;Abingdon, available from now up&nbsp;until 31 Oct



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KIDS: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk/event/waterperry-spooky-scarecrow-trail/" target="_blank">Scarecrow Trail</a>, Waterperry Gardens, near Oxford,&nbsp;16-31 Oct </h2>



Time for some spooky family fun. On this trail, kids have to find 10 themed Halloween scarecrows hidden throughout the gardens and collect a prize. (There’s also a garden centre, café, gift shop and art gallery, for bored mums).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KIDS: <a href="https://www.thegapfestival.org/film-festival.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Children’s Film Festival competition (opens in a new tab)">Children’s Film Festival competition</a>, until 10 Dec</h2>



For the budding film-makers of Oxfordshire, we’ve got the perfect boredom-busting activity. The Goring &amp; Streatley GAP Festival has launched a brand new Children’s Film Festival; entries of short films made by Oxon (and Berks) kids of any school age are being accepted from now&nbsp;until 10 Dec. After being judged, the winning videos will be shown at a special red carpet premier event on the last night of the main GAP Festival on Sunday 12 June. Swanky! Get those future Spielbergs to work now…



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXHIBITIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="662" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/1058_-_A_Dressing_Room_at_Drury_L.2e16d0ba.fill-1200x630-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-122336" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/1058_-_A_Dressing_Room_at_Drury_L.2e16d0ba.fill-1200x630-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/1058_-_A_Dressing_Room_at_Drury_L.2e16d0ba.fill-1200x630-1-360x238.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/1058_-_A_Dressing_Room_at_Drury_L.2e16d0ba.fill-1200x630-1-720x477.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/1058_-_A_Dressing_Room_at_Drury_L.2e16d0ba.fill-1200x630-1-150x99.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/1058_-_A_Dressing_Room_at_Drury_L.2e16d0ba.fill-1200x630-1-793x525.jpg 793w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Plenty to get your culture fix in Bucks and Oxon this weekend. From&nbsp;9 Oct – 20 Feb 2022&nbsp;there’s a big new exhibition on at the&nbsp;MK Gallery:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mkgallery.org/whats-on/laura-knight-panoramic-view/" target="_blank">Laura Knight, A Panoramic View</a>. Exploring one of the most popular English artists of the twentieth century, this charts the long, unconventional, and ground-breaking career of the female painter Laura Knight. There will be displays of rare works, as well as her more iconic pieces.



Elsewhere, at Henley’s&nbsp;River &amp; Rowing Museum&nbsp;you can see new&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.rrm.co.uk/whats-on/skyscape-the-limitless-art-of-the-sky-2/" target="_blank">Skyscape: The Limitless Art of the Sky</a>&nbsp;(until 16 Jan). Curated by the Ashmolean, the exhibit features works by the art world’s top dogs – Rembrandt, Dürer, Turner, Palmer, Piper, Nash – with a focus on aerial landscapes and the sky.



Moving from paints to film, the&nbsp;Banbury Museum&nbsp;is hosting this year’s&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.banburymuseum.org/events/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year/" target="_blank">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</a>&nbsp;display from&nbsp;16 Oct – 23 Jan 2022. A chance to see some truly phenomenal natural photography, this is the most prestigious photography event of its kind — the pictures were first debuted at the Natural History Museum in London no less.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/sound.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-121361" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/sound.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/sound-360x240.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/sound-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/sound-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/sound-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Over at the Muddy Award winning&nbsp;Darl-e and the Bear,&nbsp;there&#8217;s an exhibition called&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.darleandthebear.co.uk/the-sounds-that-paintings-make-2021.asp" target="_blank">The Sounds That Paintings Make</a>&nbsp;on display from&nbsp;9-31 October. This explores the works of abstract visual artist, Sandra Beccarelli: particularly her pieces that draw from the idea of sound and rhythm.



More? Head to Waddesdon Manor&nbsp;to see its amazing range of precious historic objects in the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/a-rothschild-treasury/" target="_blank">A Rothschild Treasury</a> exhibition, available&nbsp;until 31 Oct.



Or, over at the&nbsp;Ashmolean Museum, you can see a vibrant (and free!) exhibition exploring one of that trickiest of art subjects: hands.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.ashmolean.org/event/in-praise-of-hands" target="_blank">In Praise of Hands: Woodcuts</a>&nbsp;is on&nbsp;until 15 Mar 2022.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="722" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/185522429_1989630011193186_8886912826449304200_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-116786" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/185522429_1989630011193186_8886912826449304200_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/185522429_1989630011193186_8886912826449304200_n-360x260.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/185522429_1989630011193186_8886912826449304200_n-693x500.jpg 693w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/185522429_1989630011193186_8886912826449304200_n-150x108.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/185522429_1989630011193186_8886912826449304200_n-727x525.jpg 727w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Another ongoing exhibition is the&nbsp;Oxford Natural History Museum’s&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/meat-the-future" target="_blank">‘Meat The Future’ exhibit</a>. Running&nbsp;until 16 Jan 2022, it presents cutting edge research on the environmental and health impacts of eating meat, and (spoiler) it isn’t good news for the fry-up.

Your weekend sorted! 20 things to do locally

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