Hello! It's a weekend for apples, squash and science, with a farm open day on the edge of the city, Comic Con at Westpoint, and free days out in Sidmouth and Torquay if you fancy a drive.
This Weekend's Pick
Squash Day at Shillingford Organics
Shillingford Organics opens the farm gates on Sunday for Squash Day, which the farm calls its most popular event of the year, and it's one day only.
There's a trail out to the pumpkin patch, tractor-trailer rides, apple pressing and pumpkin juice making, and you can pick your own apples, pumpkins and squash while you're there.
Lunch is the farm's squash and kale curry with bread from Sidwell's Bakehouse, plus coffee, tea and bakes, all at extra cost.
You can turn up whenever suits, but the farm suggests arriving close to 10am to fit everything in. Tickets are through Eventbrite and they're non-refundable.
| When | Sunday 11 October, 10:00-15:00 |
| Where | Shillingford Organics, Barton Lane, Exeter (~15 min from the city centre) |
| Cost | Adults (over 16) £6.13, children (5-16) £3.41, under-5s free, booking fees included. |
More Good Stuff
Exeter Comic Con and Gaming Festival
Comic Con fills Westpoint on Saturday and Sunday, and there's a lot more for primary-age kids than the name suggests.
Pokémon characters, Mario, Luigi and Hello Kitty are all making appearances, and there's a new Lego zone, a Beyblade area with a tournament, a dinosaur display and a baby dragon wandering through the crowds, plus retro gaming, VR and film cars including the Bat Car.
It's all indoors, which is handy if the weather turns, with street food outside and a cafe with seating in the hall. Parking is free, and anyone 13 or under needs an adult with them.
| When | Saturday 10 October, 09:30-17:30, and Sunday 11 October, 10:00-16:30 |
| Where | Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary (~15 min from Exeter) |
| Cost | Day tickets £16.30 (14 and over), £11.07 (ages 6-13), under-6s free. A family day ticket for two aged 14 and over plus two aged 6-13 is £41.96, and weekend tickets are £21.54 and £13.15. Booking fees included. |
Super Science Saturday in Sidmouth
Sidmouth Science Festival's free family day is on Saturday, spread across half a dozen venues in the town centre with nothing to book.
There are science shows, a planetary lab and make-and-take projects, with plenty to get hands on with, from kites and bubbles to motors and projectiles. The University of Plymouth is bringing live invertebrates to meet, and the Methodist Church has fossils and geology all day.
The Information Hub in the marketplace is the place to start, and there's a quiet space upstairs in Kennaway House if anyone needs time out.
| When | Saturday 10 October, 10:30-16:30 |
| Where | Sidmouth town centre (~35 min from Exeter) |
| Cost | Free, no booking. |
Cockington Apple Day
Cockington Court's Apple Day is back on Sunday, and it's free.
Orchard Drinks will be pressing apples through the day with juice to try, Lakeland Alpacas are in the Old Stable, and Elfic the Juggling Jester is doing the rounds alongside live music and plenty of food stalls.
While you're there, the free sculpture trail has more than 30 movie-themed sculptures around the manor house and grounds, and it runs until 1 November.
Parking at Cockington is limited, so the venue suggests the number 62 bus, sharing a car or walking in.
| When | Sunday 11 October, 11:00-16:00 |
| Where | Cockington Court, Torquay (~35 min from Exeter) |
| Cost | Free |
That's the lot. If you end up at any of these, a quick reply with a photo is always welcome, it comes straight to the inbox. Have a good weekend, and hope the weather plays along.
Details change. Check each venue's website before setting off, especially for timed entry or one-off events.
