Autumn Fest set to take place in October in Oxfordshire

Embrace the autumn season at Blenheim Palace's Autumn Fest taking place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of October. Visitors can celebrate the harvest at artisan and food markets with workshops, demonstrations and a packed programme of talks and guided activities taking place. There'll also be live music, family fun, theatre and circus entertainment plus much more, with a late opening until 7.30 pm on Saturday.

Devised by acclaimed creative designers CLW Event Design, the event is a reimagining of the traditional Harvest and Michaelmas Festivals, with a decidedly modern green twist. There's also the chance to find out more about Blenheim's initiatives to support declining bee and insect populations, woodland renewal and clean waterways as part of its wider sustainability goals.

Visit the Harvest Sports Arena, the Sculpture Trail from Oxford Sculptor Group, pop-ups from WhatNot Theatre with a new show based on The Garden Jungle by guest speaker David Goulson as well as Plunge Boom Theatre's fantastic Vegetable Nannies. There's an excellent live music line-up and a stunning performance from the extraordinary Chivaree Circus at dusk on Saturday with their giant bird puppet, plus Scarecrow Competitions, Wish Bugs, Sunningwell Art Tent and activity pop-up from Blenheim's partner Nicholson's who recently planted 230,000 new oak trees on the estate.

Don't miss the fantastic autumnal food offering from Jericho Kitchen created using produce fresh from the Blenheim garden and the Blenheim Orange Bar serving the county's best beverages, together with nature, photography and foraging trails.

The Michaelmas Market features 50 independent Oxfordshire traders alongside artisanal food stalls celebrating the new 'no-dig' regenerative farming plot created by Worthy Earth in the Walled Garden alongside tastings from Rowse Honey and Hotel Chocolat. Social enterprise brewery Tap Social will be running the bar with a focus on unusual non-alcoholic beverages as well as delicious local beers, ciders and the Blenheim gin created by local distillery Sky Wave and supporting delicious offerings from Animalltea, Proudfoot & Co and Tiddly Pommes who will also be pressing apples on site and offering tastings.

There will be many additional events and activities taking place over the weekend including talks by award-winning authors, foraging and photographic walks, workshops and demonstrations all of which can be booked in advance.

Harvest Fest: Saturday, 1st October (9.30am - 7.30pm) and Sunday, 2nd October (9.30am – 5pm). Included with Palace, Park & Gardens or Park & Gardens tickets or an Annual Pass. Additional cost for some activities. Accessibility Mobiloo available on Sunday, 2nd October.

For details and to book visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/autumn-fest.html