Popular event Autumn Fest will be back at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from Saturday 30th September to Sunday 1st October 2023, with a bounty of activities, workshops and speakers to engage all in nature, sustainability and community.
This year the festival is working alongside Humanimal Trust, the charity founded by Professor Noel Fitzpatrick. He will be a headline speaker, sharing more about the trust he started in 2014 with the aim of creating opportunities for collaboration between vets, doctors and researchers to benefit all living creatures.
Weave through the wicker sculpture trail and admire the eco-friendly art within the natural splendour that surrounds Blenheim Palace or get even closer to nature on a guided foraging walk and learn about edible plants in our environment.
Celebrate harvest season with the new for 2023 Harvest Emporium, brimming with seasonal produce including Blenheim Palace-grown vegetables and cut flowers while the ever-growing Michaelmas Market will feature over 50 independent Oxfordshire creators, makers and producers to explore alongside artisanal food and drink stalls to sample.
There will be a packed line up of entertainment with family friendly performances from WhatNot Theatre and Plunge Boom as well as DJs and live music.
Visitors can hear from other interesting speakers during Autumn Fest including Blenheim Palace’s conservation team, who will highlight what progress has been made on the wider Blenheim Estate promoting biodiversity and their sustainability goals. Good Food Oxfordshire and Worthy Earth will also be giving Kitchen Garden tours, mini talks and demos during the weekend of festivities.
Visitors will also be able to sample flavours at the Apple and Honey Tasting Bar and stop off at the Blenheim Orange Bar for a tipple or discover food pairings with a sensational range of English wines at the Nyetimber Bar.
For the fashion savvy, a sustainable catwalk in partnership with Bicester Village will highlight local designers and eco-conscious clothing and interior brands that are stocked at the Oxfordshire shopping destination.
Children can join in on the autumnal fun with harvest games, green ‘how to’ and natural craft workshops, and race to climb to the top of the hay bale pyramid. Discover storytelling sessions in The Orchard and listen to children’s author Christopher Lloyd in discussion about his latest book focused on sustainability It’s Up To Us. Written in collaboration with HRH King Charles III’s Sustainable Market Initiative and The Prince’s Foundation, Christopher Lloyd’s book focuses on how we can live and build sustainable communities, an ethos shared with CLW Event Design, the creators of Autumn Fest.
Autumn Fest is included in the Palace, Park and Gardens ticket or Park and Gardens ticket or Annual Pass. A full programme of the weekend’s activities will help you decide what you must see. Be sure to book in advance for selected workshops and activities.
For more information visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/autumn-fest.html
The Hidden Universe: Adventures in Biodiversity
£13.19
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