Brilliant things to do in and around Oxford this weekend (30 October to 01 November)

Ghost Fest: Potion Making at Oxford Castle & Prison invites families to uncover magical ingredients, solve clues and create drinkable potions with Merlin’s apprentice. You can also craft a wand, enjoy magical demonstrations and explore an interactive experience inside a real medieval crypt.

Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky’s acclaimed political drama brings to life the tensions that shaped a generation of politics. This sharp, provocative and richly entertaining event is political theatre at its most gripping.

Oxford Castle & Prison’s annual spooktacular Ghost Fest is back with Spooky Tours! Do you dare visit for one of their evening Spooky Tours? Hear the haunting stories of their 1,000-year past and let their gruesome history come to life! It won’t be too long before their ghosts reveal themselves!

A Very Expensive Poison by Lucy Prebble tells Alexander Litvinenko’s story in a darkly comic drama exploring truth, justice and Kremlin schemes and ruthless politicking.

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Scream as the iconic horror classic returns to the big screen, bringing suspense, mystery and Ghostface’s terrifying games.

Join the Minions in Minions & Monsters, a hilarious new animated adventure from Illumination featuring Hollywood chaos, mischievous monsters and global mayhem.

Discover Wicker, an unconventional romantic fantasy about a lonely fisherwoman whose wicker husband sparks jealousy, outrage and chaos in a seaside village.

Primetime is a psychological thriller film that dramatises the production of the reality television series To Catch a Predator as host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.

Discover Wildwood, a magical animated adventure from the makers of Coraline, following a young girl’s daring journey into an enchanted forest to save her brother.

Ghosts: The Possession of Button House brings the award-winning BBC comedy to the big screen this Halloween for a hilarious feature-length family adventure.

Folk-punks Ferocious Dog hit the road for the final time with their ‘Ferocious UK Farewell Tour 2026 Finale’.

Edinburgh Comedy Awards nominee Catherine Bohart returns with Borrowing Trouble, a brand-new stand-up show tackling her birthright and generational worry with sharp wit and hilarious observations.

Get ready for the ultimate night out – Vegas: After Hours brings five Strictly dance legends together for a spectacular new show Think neon lights and electric nights, roulette tables spinning, glamorous showgirls, dazzling casinos, desert sunsets, lavish pool parties, whirlwind weddings, iconic hotels, and world-class entertainment. Vegas: After Hours captures it all in one unforgettable evening.

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro’s haunting dark fantasy set in post–Civil War Spain, where reality and magic collide.

I Love Boosters is a bold comedy about a group of shoplifters challenging the fashion elite by stealing designer clothes and selling them at affordable prices.

Oxford Ceramics Fair 2026 returns to St Edward’s School this autumn, showcasing the work of more than 60 talented ceramic artists and potters from across the UK. Explore exceptional contemporary ceramics, meet the makers and enjoy inspiring talks and demonstrations at one of the UK’s most respected ceramics fairs.

Brian returns to the stage with his latest book, How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside. Get ready for an evening of comedy and laughter, as he takes us through the hows, whys and whats of reading, writing and enjoying poetry every day.

Experience BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ on the big screen, broadcasting from São Paulo, Brazil, with electrifying performances and unforgettable stadium energy.

The Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir joins Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir for Arches and Spires, combining traditional Welsh favourites and contemporary songs in performances by each choir and a spectacular combined ensemble.

St John’s International Piano Series welcomes Japanese pianist Yuko Sano for a captivating recital featuring Mozart, Chopin, Schubert, Scarlatti, Schumann and Bach. The programme also includes the UK premiere of Jacques Allen’s A Plum’s Haiku, winner of the Oxford-Japan Prize for Composition 2026.

After a sensational 2025 that saw over 60,000 Tina Turner fans across the UK singing, dancing, and having the time of their lives, What’s Love Got To Do With It? is back and bigger than ever for 2026! This electrifying tribute show celebrates the music and unparalleled career of the one and only Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner.

The Halloween Red Light Boiler is an adult-oriented indoor Halloween club night featuring techno and garage music.

Oxford Coffee Concerts, held since 1986 at the historic Holywell Music Room, offer superb Sunday morning chamber music. This week features Haydn’s String Quartet in C major, op 74 no 1, Hob III:72 and Nielsen: String Quartet no 1 in G Minor, op 13, with pre-concert coffee nearby.

The Proclaimers bring their tour featuring songs that are timeless, capturing a gamut of human emotions, written with poignancy, emotional honesty, political fire and wit.

Out of the Deep is a family-friendly specimen handling and exploration of the underwater world of marine reptiles.

Join Family-Friendly Sundays for free sessions including nature-themed activities, creative crafts, family-friendly trails and more, all provided by the museum’s volunteers.

Science Oxford Centre Family Days offer hands-on science experiences for all ages, with interactive indoor exhibits, outdoor nature exploration, and sensory-friendly sessions designed to support accessibility and inclusion.

Join Science Saturdays to investigate real natural history specimens including insects, fossils, skeletons and microscopes with scientists.

The Midnight Moon Halloween Adventure at High Lodge Farm invites families to explore a spooky woodland trail, solve a magical mystery, pick pumpkins, enjoy crafts and games, ride the ghost train and discover plenty of autumn fun.

Rectory Farm is delighted to bring back The Pumpkin Patch for 2026. Families can wander through the pumpkin field to pick their own farm-grown pumpkins and squashes in a rainbow of colours, perfect for Halloween. Tickets are priced at £8.50 per person. Children under 2 go free and require no ticket for entry.

IF Oxford returns in 2026 with events from 17 to 31 October. It is a thought-provoking and interactive science and ideas festival that creates an opportunity to bring together hundreds of researchers with thousands of people every year – with science, ideas and creative activities for everyone to explore.

Explore On Paradise, an exhibition by Oxford artist Saad Qureshi featuring sculptural works inspired by hope, memory and visions of paradise, describing what paradise represents or looks like, and translating hopes and dreams into sculptural mindscapes. 

The Bodleian Libraries’ Wonder of Birds exhibition explores art, science and culture through the lens of avian life. Featuring rare archives, manuscripts and immersive sound, it invites visitors to reflect on both the beauty of birds and their decline.

Discover a major new exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum that invites you to step into the world of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire – later worshipped by the Romans as Venus, featuring more than 200 remarkable objects – from sculpture and bronzes to gems and terracottas from Cyprus, Greece, and Italy, dating from 1400 BCE to the 21st century.

This major new exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History examines the 34 raw materials considered essential to the UK’s future, revealing the global supply chains, ethical challenges and scientific innovations behind the minerals that underpin everyday technology — from smartphones and batteries to medical equipment and jet engines.