Date announced
Folk tradition · Northern Ireland
Derry Halloween
Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry
The walled city stages a huge Halloween festival with a carnival parade and fireworks.
28 October – 1 November 2026
ROUND-UP GUIDE · 11 EVENTS
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.
At a glance
- Derry Halloween 28 October – 1 November 2026 · Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry Stay nearby ↗
- Lewes Bonfire Night 5 November 2026 · Lewes, East Sussex Stay nearby ↗
- Rye Bonfire 14 November 2026 · Rye, East Sussex Stay nearby ↗
- World Stone Skimming Championships 11 September 2027 · Easdale Island, Argyll Stay nearby ↗
- Golden Spurtle World Porridge Championship 2 October 2027 · Carrbridge, Highland Stay nearby ↗
- World Conker Championships 10 October 2027 · Southwick, Northamptonshire Stay nearby ↗
- Egremont Crab Fair and Gurning World Championships Third Saturday in September · Egremont, Cumbria Stay nearby ↗
- Abbots Bromley Horn Dance Wakes Monday: the Monday after the first Sunday after 4 September · Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire Stay nearby ↗
- World Black Pudding Throwing Championships Usually the second Sunday in September, outside The Oaks pub on Bridge Street · Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester Stay nearby ↗
- Hastings Bonfire A Saturday in mid-October (Saturday 17 October in 2026) · Hastings, East Sussex Stay nearby ↗
- Bridport Hat Festival Usually the first Saturday in September · Bridport, Dorset Stay nearby ↗
Traditional date
Fire tradition · England
Lewes Bonfire Night
Lewes, East Sussex
Bonfire societies parade burning crosses, tar barrels and effigies through the county town.
5 November 2026
Traditional date
Fire tradition · England
Rye Bonfire
Rye, East Sussex
Torchlit procession through Rye ending at a bonfire on the Salts, topped with a boat.
14 November 2026
Date announced
Unusual competition · Scotland
World Stone Skimming Championships
Easdale Island, Argyll
Stone-skimming competition on a former slate-quarry island.
11 September 2027
Date announced
Unusual competition · Scotland
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 2027
Date announced
Unusual competition · England
World Conker Championships
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Championship version of the traditional conker game.
10 October 2027
Usually September
Unusual competition · England
Egremont Crab Fair and Gurning World Championships
Egremont, Cumbria
Traditional fair featuring competitive face-pulling.
Third Saturday in September
Usually September
Folk tradition · England
Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire
Traditional horn dance involving antlers.
Wakes Monday: the Monday after the first Sunday after 4 September
Usually September
Unusual competition · England
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 Street
Usually October
Fire tradition · England
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)
Usually September
Unusual competition · England
Bridport Hat Festival
Bridport, Dorset
Hats take over Bridport for competitions, street celebrations and a mass photograph.
Usually the first Saturday in September
“Stay nearby” links go to Booking.com, and each event guide also has train links. These are affiliate links — what that means.