MUSIC

On 4 Oct there’s singer, songwriter, musician and all-round talented egg Samantha Fish at Birmingham Town Hall and on 5 & 6 Oct rock stalwarts Squeeze will play the Symphony Hall, followed by Adam Ant on 22 Oct, Maximo Park on 23 Oct and Iron & Wine at the Town Hall on 29 Oct.

Some blasts from the past over at Utilita Arena with Alice Cooper and Primal Scream on 16 Oct and Crowded House on 17 Oct. Likewise at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall there’s 10cc on 9 Oct and for an absolutely Bonkers night catch Dizzee Rascal on 17 Oct or Ben Howard on 31 Oct for something a little more low-key. Over in Cov at HMV Empire there’s The Libertines on 2 Oct (their Brum show has already sold out so bag tickets now if you fancy seeing them here), Scouting for Girls are playing on 17 Oct and The Vaccines on 27 Oct.

TALKS, WALKS & WORKSHOPS

It’s one of the staples of the Muddy calendar, and we’re going to put it out there and say this Autumn’s Stratford Literary Festival (8, 25-27 Oct) could be the best yet. There’s a bloody awesome line-up of talks and events that we’ve already bagged our tickets (get in quick if you haven’t got yours yet!). Here’s our pick of who we can’t wait to see.

Wrap up warm and head to Charlecote Park on 11 Oct for a guided walk around the grounds to watch the Deer at Dusk and over in Brum there’s a tour of the Birmingham Back to Backs by candlelight from 3 Oct – 14 Nov. At Wightwick Manor & Gardens on 5 Oct there’s a curator talk about the artistic relationship between William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. if getting hands on is more your thing there’s a photography workshop on 8 Oct, fused glass workshop on 15 Oct and adult beginners needle felting on 20 Oct, all at Wightwick Manor.

Never to early to start wreath making, is it…?! Get your practice in ahead of Christmas with this autumn wreath making workshop on 12 Oct at the Packington Estate. If you fancy your hand at foraging then also at the estate there’s a mushroom identification course on 13 Oct. Then you can put your skills to the test heading to one of these top foraging spots in Warks & the West Mids.

For some ‘me’ time in Warwickshire’s beautiful countryside then visit Wootton Park Wellness for a total recharge. Think yoga, breath work, relaxing walks and more at the weekend retreat on 13 & 14 Oct or Mindful Monday retreat on 14 Oct. Want to know what Muddy thought when we went along? Here’s our review.

Here’s one for the kids! There’s everything from acting workshops to family sessions in Stratford from 28 Oct – 1 Nov – and if your little one is going to tread the boards, where better than the RSC? We reckon special effects workshop on 28 Oct, family puppetry on 29 Oct and young people workshops will be super popular so book in quick. Here’s the full list of what’s on.

FOOD & DRINK

Cocktail lovers will have no doubt heard of Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, where heaps of awesome bars and restaurants across the city offer a stand-out cocktail for just £5. And while you may have missed the summer offering, grab your best jacket and boots, it’s back during winter from 24-27 Oct. Here’s our pick on where to visit first.

Over at Cobbs Farm Shop in Stratford there’s a makers market and family fun day on 26 Oct. Expect stalls, homemade food, face painting and meeting the farm animals, and if that doesn’t sound like it will tire the kids out then there’s the huge climbing frame to play on.

If you like your music with a side of curry head to Hagley Golf Club on 5 Oct for The Tom Jones Show or for German food, steins of beer and an Oompah band then you’re going to want to bag tickets for Oktoberfest at Zack’s Barn, Hilltop Farm Shop, on 4 Oct.

THEATRE

We’re spoilt for choice at the RSC (as always, lucky us) with The New Real which has seen the The Other Place theatre given a shuffle so the audience are sat either side of the stage. It’s an epic political play, and it’s on from 3 Oct – 2 Nov. At the Royal Shakespeare Theatre there’s the Bard’s classic Othello from 11 Oct – 23 Nov.

At Warwick Arts Centre there’s an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Baddies on 26 & 27 Oct, make a day of it and check out the family singing session on 27 Oct.

Birmingham Royal Ballet is holding its world premiere of Luna at the Birmingham Hippodrome from 3 – 5 Oct. It’s a two-act abstract ballet which forms the final part of Carlos Acosta’s Birmingham Trilogy (which also featured that Black Sabbath ballet – review here). It’s inspired by the pioneering and socially enterprising women of Birmingham – girl power! Also at the Hippodrome there’s Disney’s Aladdin from 9 Oct – 3 Nov and Santi & Naz on 25 & 26 Oct. Elsewhere in Brum at The Alex there’s Lord of the Dance from 30 Sept – 6 Oct and if you can give up an evening Rick Astley is on 11 Oct.

Over in Cov at Belgrade Theatre there’s some great shows on, but we’re really looking forward to Ghost The Musical from 22 – 26 Oct and Adam Kay: Undoctored on 28 Oct. And at the Wolverhampton Grand there’s Olivier Award-winning Pride and Prejudice (sort of) from 14 – 19 Oct.

If you’re in the mood for something spooky then at Macready Theatre there’s Ghost Story: Shock Horror on 28 & 29 Oct. It combines live performance, illusion, and film to bring to life children’s nightmares and being afraid of the dark. That’ll be me sleeping with the light on in future then.

COMEDY

There’s some big names in the city next week thanks to Birmingham Comedy Festival. They include Sarah Millican performing on 13 Oct at the Symphony Hall, The Mash Report’s Rachel Parris on 10 Oct at the Town Hall, Maisie Adam will be at the same venue on 8 Oct as will Milton Jones on 6 Oct. Shazia Mirza will be at The Glee Club on 11 Oct followed by Richard Blackwood on 13 Oct. At Warwick Arts Centre there’s Sandi Toksvig on 12 Oct and Rhod Gilbert on 17 & 18 Oct.

HALLOWEEN

Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Wolverton is hosting a halloween open day on 27 Oct. Meet some of the rescue sheep and pigs (make sure you take them some rich tea biscuits), do a bit of shopping at the stalls and tuck into some treats from the cake stall and bbq.

Over at Luna Springs in Brum there’s a Halloween scare maze which you can enjoy with a drink in hand – needed, I would say! There’s also funfair rides and a scare-themed bottomless brunch. In Wythall on the Warks/ West Mids border head to Muddy favourite Becketts Farm for PYO, theatre, carving, pumpkin parade and then head to the restaurant for some food. Fancy dress is positively encouraged.

Looking for a full day out? Head to Scarefest at Alton Towers, from 11 Oct to 3 Nov for a full day (and evening if you dare) of spooks and scares. Great for littlies, the Halloween shows and costumed characters are always a hit. And the bigger scares for ages 14+ should keep older teens more than happy.

At Hagley Hall there’s a Halloween Murder Mystery dining experience on 25 Oct for a whodunnit alongside a three-course meal. At Baddesley Clinton from 25 Oct – 2 Nov be led through the courtyard and across the moat by lamplight to tour the house and hear about spooky unexplained happenings there. And at Birmingham Back to Back’s there’s a performance of Bram Stoker’s The Judge’s House on 27 Oct.

Anything spookier than a ghost story in an old church? Erm, no! At St James’ Church at Packington Estate scary story Room Upstairs will be read by Claptrap Theatre on 26 Oct. If movies are more your thing then walk through the graveyard at Coventry’s London Road Cemetery to the Anglican Chapel to catch a triple bill of spooky films on 31 Oct. It will feature first ever horror film Le Manoirdu Diable from 1896 followed by psychological thriller Carnival of Souls from 1962 and silent film Haxan from 1922.

Over at Hatton Country World you’re going to want to wear your big girl pants to visit Pumpkin Hollow. Its on five nights throughout October and teens and adults (sorry kids this ones too scary!) can weave through the creepy cabins with live actors on the way to pick pumpkins in the dark. If that wasn’t terrifying enough there’s the Corn Crypt Maize Maze to work your way through and a drive in cinema too where you can watch everything from Beetlejuice to Hocus Pocus.

Spooky season! 60+ things to do in Warks & the West Mids this October

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