Hey Neighbour!
Hope the week's treated you well. No ramble today - just straight into October's good stuff so your future self can plan ahead. And as always, my inbox is open if you want to say hey.
In the meantime…
Plan Your Weekend:
My North London Top Events
Black Marketplace Popup | 📍St Michael's Church, NW1 | 27 Sept | Free with ticket
Over 50 Black-owned businesses selling African and Caribbean fashion, handmade crafts, art, beauty products, jewellery, books, and street food from 12-7pm. Live music and entertainment throughout the day at St Michael's Church on Camden Road. Free entry but you need to reserve a ticket as spaces are limited.
The Classic Car Boot Sale | 📍King's Cross, N1C | 27-28 Sept | (£)
The UK's biggest vintage event is back for its 10th year. Classic cars, vintage fashion stalls, street food from a Routemaster bus, and DJs spinning vinyl. There's also pinball machines from BBC's Repair Shop, a mini-Ferris wheel, and you can design your own t-shirt. Two days of vintage everything across multiple squares at King's Cross.
Autumn Makers Fair | 📍St James Square, N10 | 27 Sept | Free
Local makers selling handmade jewellery, bags, prints, ceramics and homewares in St James Square from 10:30am-5pm. It's right outside Planet Organic and Everyman Cinema in the heart of Muswell Hill.
Source: Coals Drop Yard, Kings Cross
Tufnell Park Yard Sale | 📍Tufnell Park streets, N19 | 28 Sept | Free
14th annual community yard sale with around 80 houses selling from their doorsteps from 2-5pm. The usual mix of books, clothes, toys, and household bits, plus some people do homemade cakes. Covers the streets between Holloway Road and Tufnell Park Road. Some raise money for charity, others just clear out their stuff.
Crossroads Music Festival | 📍Multiple venues, Cricklewood NW2 | 26-28 Sept | Free
Final weekend of the world music festival celebrating Cricklewood's cultural diversity. Two confirmed Irish music events: Conor MacMahon (Uilleann pipes and Irish flute) leads an open session at The Crown Hotel on Friday 26th at 5pm - all musicians welcome to join. Saturday 27th brings Paul Murray with violinist Antonia Pagulatos at Lucky 7 Irish Bar from 12-2pm, mixing folk, indie, blues and rock. Both events free entry. Check festival listings for full programme.
Time Travel Is Dangerous: Film & Fayre | 📍Alexandra Palace Theatre, N22 | 27 Sept | (£)
All-day festival celebrating local Muswell Hill sci-fi comedy film from 1pm. Two screenings (3pm and 7:30pm) with cast and filmmaker Q&As, plus stalls from local sellers, live music including The Horne Section, props and costumes from the film. The mock-documentary follows Ruth and Megan who run vintage shop ChaChaCha in Muswell Hill and find a time machine.
Ethical Matters: The Migration Question | 📍Conway Hall, WC1R | 28 Sept | (£)
Academic talk on migration with researchers Leila Simona Talani and Dr Matilde Rosina from 3-4:30pm. They're looking at who migrants actually are, whether they affect jobs, and if there are ways to help people in their home countries instead. Doors open 2:30pm at Conway Hall if you want to hear what the research shows on this topic.
Torriano Poetry | 📍99 Torriano Avenue, Kentish Town NW5 | 28 Sept | (£)
Poetry reading with three poets from 7:30-9:30pm. Open mic for anyone who wants to read their own work too. Pay what you can afford between £5-£6.
🎇 Your Guide to North London Fireworks
Enfield Town Park Fireworks | 📍Town Park, Enfield | 8 November | (£)
"A Night at the Movies" themed fireworks at Town Park from 4-8pm. One of Enfield's most popular events attracting thousands each year. Family-friendly display starts around 6:30pm with last entry at 6pm. Food stalls and entertainment throughout.
Alexandra Palace Fireworks | 📍Alexandra Palace, N22 | 31 Oct & 1 Nov | (£)
Ally Pally's famous fireworks return for two nights with a Halloween twist. The display combines fireworks with drone ghosts, vampires, and witches against the London skyline backdrop.
Totteridge Fireworks Night | 📍Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club, N20 | 7 Nov | (£)
Long fireworks night at Totteridge cricket club starting 5:30pm with food stalls and kids' rides. Bonfire at 6:30pm, fireworks at 7:45pm, then bars, live bands and fire pits until 1am.
Southgate Fireworks | 📍The Walker Ground, N14 | 8 Nov | (£)
Fireworks display at The Walker Ground sports complex from 5pm with rides, inflatables, and food stalls. Adults £12, children £8, family tickets £36. Various food available from burgers and jerk chicken to doughnuts and toffee apples.
Harrow and Ruislip Fireworks | 📍Byron Park, HA3 | 8 Nov | Free until 3pm, then (£)
First time Harrow and Ruislip have combined their fireworks events. Free entry 12-3pm with fun fair, inflatable park, world food stalls, and bar. Need tickets after 3pm for the fireworks around 7:45pm.
Bounds Green Fireworks | 📍Scout Park, N11 | 8 Nov | Details TBC
Explorer Scouts in Bounds Green run their own fireworks display - the young people organise the whole thing themselves as part of their scouting. It's their 14th year doing it but they haven't released details yet.
Hendon Fireworks | 📍StoneX Stadium, NW4 | 8 Nov | (£)
Fireworks at the Saracens rugby stadium in Hendon from 4:30pm, display starts 6:30pm. Music, performers, mascots and refreshments throughout the evening. Adults £12, under 16s £6.
🎃October Picks
Plan ahead for September. Here are a few picks, events marked with (£) require a ticket in advance.
1– 5 OCT
Hampstead Heath Conker Championships | 📍Parliament Hill Bandstand, NW5 | 5 Oct | Donation
The world famous conker championships return to Parliament Hill from 12:30-4pm. Age categories for under 8s, 8-12s, 13-17s and adults, with finals in the "squared conker circle" in front of crowds. No experience needed - the Grand Conker Meister explains rules and adjudicates.
Cashblack Market | 📍Hawley Wharf, Camden Market NW1 | 4 Oct | Free
Market showcasing 50+ Black-owned businesses from 12-6pm at Camden Market. Fashion, beauty, arts & crafts, toys, and food stalls plus you can meet the makers behind the brands. Cashblack is launching their "Brick and Mortar" service where you earn cashback shopping at physical Black-owned businesses using Open Banking technology.
Tottenham Film Festival | 📍The Beehive Pub, N17 | 4 Oct | (£)
Film Tottenham's second festival at The Beehive– 29 short films on a big screen in the function room behind the bar. Runs 1:30pm-10pm with different sessions for comedy, drama, international films, and horror. You can buy tickets for individual sessions or stay all day and vote for your favourite film.
Harvest Festival | 📍Community Plant Nursery, Tufnell Park N7 | 4 Oct | Free
Harvest celebration at the Community Plant Nursery from 12-4pm. Composting workshops, live music, bird box making, and food preservation sessions. Plus refreshments from the nursery's own harvest.
Black British Folk Takeover | 📍Cecil Sharp House, NW1 | 4 Oct | (£)
All-day festival from 1:25pm-10pm celebrating Black British folk music at Cecil Sharp House. Guest curator Angeline Morrison brings together traditional folk sounds and modern music inspired by folk traditions, plus conversations about African diasporic relationships with British folk.
6–12 OCT
Knit + Stitch | 📍Alexandra Palace, N22 | 9-12 October | (£)
Big textile craft show at Ally Pally with exhibitors selling yarn, fabric, sewing machines and craft supplies. Workshops, demonstrations, and galleries showing textile art. Used to be called The Knitting and Stitching Show.
Día de la Raza Party | 📍Our Yard, Clitterhouse Farm, NW2 | 11 Oct | (£)
Latin American celebration at Clitterhouse Farm from 6:30-10pm with dancing, music, and food. £10 includes welcome drink, plus there's nibbles and a lively atmosphere. They're celebrating Hispanic heritage and inviting everyone to celebrate their own roots too.
Source: Knit + Stitch London
Beyond Expectations: Black British Communities Exhibition | 📍Swiss Cottage Gallery, NW3 | 9 October-11 December | Free
Photo exhibition exploring Black British communities in Camden during the 1960s and 1970s. Features photographs from the Neil Kenlock Archive showing leadership, activism and cultural expression during this pivotal era.
Afternoon Poems: The Romance of the Railways | 📍Keats House, NW3 | 12 Oct | Free
Free poetry reading celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first passenger railway journey from Darlington to Stockton. Railway poems from the 1880s-1930s read by Keats House Poetry Ambassadors from 2:15-3:15pm.
13–19 OCT
Frieze London | 📍Regent's Park, NW1 | 15-19 Oct | (£)
One of the world's biggest contemporary art fairs sets up in Regent's Park with galleries showing work by living artists. Attracts over 60,000 visitors each year.
Halloween at Kenwood | 📍Kenwood House, NW3 | 17 Oct | (£)
Illuminated Halloween trail through Kenwood's grounds after dark with spider tunnel, slime web, laser garden, and interactive selfie stocks. Food stalls selling hot dogs, burgers, between the scares.
Apple Day | 📍Gillespie Park, N5 | 19 Oct | Free
Community apple pressing day at Gillespie Park with live music and free kids activities. You can help make and taste fresh apple juice from hundreds of apples, get your bike fixed by Dr Bike.
Enfield Poets Literary Festival | 📍Forty Hall, EN2 | 18-19 October | Free + (£)
Two-day literary festival celebrating 25 years of Enfield Poets with workshops, readings, and open mic sessions. Highlights include Poet Laureate Simon Armitage reading on Sunday, plus workshops on creative writing, autobiography, and wellbeing. Mix of free events (open mics, talks) and ticketed workshops (£5-£15).
Islington Sinfonia play Beethoven 5 | 📍St Mary's Islington, N1 | 18 Oct | (£)
Local orchestra performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 alongside two French pieces - Poulenc's Aubade with pianist Edward Warner and Ibert's Cello Concerto with Nok Him Chan. The famous Beethoven symphony with its "da da da dum" opening takes up the second half. 7-9pm at St Mary's Church.
20th - 27th Oct
Pumpkin Time | 📍GROW Farm, Totteridge Academy N22 | 25 Oct | Free
A chance to pick your own pumpkins at an actual working farm in North London. GROW Farm has nine varieties including ones with mad names like Turks Turban and Hungarian Blues. Homemade soup around a fire, farm tours, kids activities, and you can buy seasonal veg to take home.
Secret Maps | 📍British Library, NW1 | 24 October-18 January | (£)
British Library exhibition showing maps you were never meant to see - from the 14th century to today. Maps created by governments and groups to hide information, protect secrets, or deliberately mislead.
Halloween in the Gardens | 📍Stephens House & Gardens, N3 | 26 Oct | (£)
Halloween event at Stephens House & Gardens from 5-7:30pm with spine-chilling cellars, spooky garden hunt, and fire artist performance. You need to bring a torch and pen for the hunt.
Stampex International | 📍Business Design Centre, N1 | 22-25 October | Free
Stamp collectors and traders from around the world gathering at the Business Design Centre. The Philatelic Traders Society has been running this since 1956 - businesses, societies, exhibitors and hobbyists trading collectibles.
Boxpark Oktoberfest | 📍Boxpark Camden, NW1 | 25 October | (£)
Oktoberfest celebration at Boxpark Camden from 2-6pm with Oompah bands, DJs, stein holding contests, and pretzel eating competitions. Staropramen beers, Bavarian food, costume contest, and plenty of photo ops with alpine backdrops.
28 - 31st Oct
Drumsheds Halloween | 📍Drumsheds, N18 | 31 Oct | (£)
Halloween night at Drumsheds from 7pm-3am with grime, house, UK garage and bass music. Eight hours of electronic music at the former IKEA warehouse venue in North London. It's their Halloween event so expect themed decorations and costumes.
The Big Draw Festival: Drawing with Light | 📍Camden Market Hawley Wharf, NW1 | 30 Oct | Free
Light and dance performance at dusk starting on pedestrianised Camden High Street and moving to Hawley Wharf canalside. Choreographed by David Blake with dancers using lighting technologies that follow their movements.
Little Shop of Horrors | 📍The Bull Theatre, EN5 | 29 Oct -1 Nov | (£)
Local theatre group SMP presents the cult horror-comedy musical about Seymour, a flower shop assistant who discovers a bloodthirsty plant during a total eclipse.
Highgate Watercolour Group Annual Exhibition | 📍Lauderdale House, N6 | 29 Oct - 24 Nov | Free
Twenty artists from Highgate Watercolour Group showing over 200 watercolour works at Lauderdale House.
Ooook that's all I got for ya! Did I miss anything?
THANKS FOR READING!
Share this with someone who's still asking 'what's happening in October'
— Maryam
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