What's On in Newbury: Halloween, Fireworks, Lights on 14 Nov

Thatcham Festival starts on Friday 9 October and runs to the 18th, with the High Street closed for the Big Thatcham Fest-Off on Saturday 10th. The racecourse’s Oktoberfest weekend is 23 and 24 October, and the pumpkin patches open around Newbury from 10 October. Then comes fireworks weekend: Thatcham on Friday 6 November, the Newbury Lions at the racecourse on Saturday 7th, Remembrance Sunday on the 8th, and Newbury’s Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday 14 November.

Every listing below comes from the organiser’s own page, read between 28 September and 5 October 2026, and links back to it. Corn Exchange prices include booking fees, as the theatre prints them. For the half-term week in more detail see our October half term page, for pumpkins and scare mazes our Halloween page, and for places open all year, things to do in Newbury.

This week

Murder Before Evensong, on now to Saturday 14 November, evenings at 7.30pm with 2.30pm matinees, the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor RG20 8AE. From £20. The world premiere adaptation of Richard Coles’s village murder mystery, set in 1988. The Watermill

Thatcham Festival, Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October, venues across Thatcham. Ten days of live music, talks, guided walks, craft workshops and exhibitions from the town’s clubs and groups. Many events are free and the town council says none costs more than £7. Thatcham Town Council

4 Kingdoms Halloween Nights, from Friday 9 October, 6pm to 9pm, on 9, 10, 16, 17 and every night from 23 to 31 October, 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park, Headley RG19 8JY. £10. Scare maze, Dinos in the Dark and the pumpkin patch after dark; the daytime pumpkin patch opens on 10 October. More on our Halloween page. 4 Kingdoms

The Big Thatcham Fest-Off, Saturday 10 October, 4.30pm to 9pm, Thatcham High Street RG19 3JG. Free. The festival’s opening night, on a High Street closed to traffic. Thatcham Town Council

Ria Lina: Riabellion, Saturday 10 October, 7pm, The Old Library, RG14 5DH. £20. Stand-up, ages 16 and over. Corn Exchange

Queenz: Battle of the Divas, Saturday 10 October, 4pm and 8pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £30.75 to £40.75. Drag queens singing live, for ages 14 and over; the theatre warns that the audience gets roped in. Corn Exchange

Later in October

Play Ball, Tuesday 13 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £19.25, concessions £17.25. A 90-minute show suitable for all ages. Corn Exchange

Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous, Wednesday 14 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £37.25. Corn Exchange

Seth Lakeman, Thursday 15 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £29.75 to £31.75. The folk fiddler and singer, two hours with an interval; under-14s must come with an adult. Corn Exchange

An Audience with Richard Coles, Friday 16 October, 2.30pm, the Watermill Theatre. From £20. The author of Murder Before Evensong talks about the book the Watermill has put on stage, then signs copies. The Watermill

A Tribute to Sting and The Police: The Rozzers, Friday 16 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £28.25. Corn Exchange

Wasing Pick Your Own Pumpkins and Woodland Trail, Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October, then daily from 23 to 31 October, Wasing Estate, Aldermaston RG7 4LY. £6.50 a head on weekdays, £7.50 at weekends, ages 2 and up; under-2s free but need a ticket. Timed slots, free parking. Wasing

Thatcham Leisure and Craft Fair, Saturday 17 October, 10am to 3pm, St Mary’s Church and Broadway Green, Thatcham. Handmade gifts in the church, local clubs and groups on the green. Thatcham Town Council

Symphonic Abba, Saturday 17 October, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, St Nicolas Church, West Mills RG14 5HG. £11.55 to £27.80. Abba songs played with an orchestra. Eventbrite

The Glam Rock Show: Get It On, Saturday 17 October, 7.45pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £36.25. Corn Exchange

Comedy at the Watermill, Sunday 18 October, 8pm, the Watermill Theatre. From £30. Angela Barnes headlines, with Matt Richardson and Peter Rethinasamy, hosted by Ash Frith. Over-18s only. The Watermill

Murder She Didn’t Write, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £28. An improvised murder mystery, ages 12 and over. Corn Exchange

Newbury Glow Ride, Thursday 22 October, 6.30pm, Market Place RG14 5BD. Bring a lit-up bike for two laps of the town, 9km in all, with a briefing at about 6.45pm and a 7pm start. Run by Newbury Road Club, Newbury Velo and West Berkshire Spokes, it calls for safer streets for women who ride after dark. Newbury Road Club

Down to Chance, Thursday 22 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £16.25, concessions and under-25s £14.25. A 70-minute play about a part-time radio reporter during the 1964 Alaska earthquake, ages 12 and over. Corn Exchange

James Barr: Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum), Thursday 22 October, 7.30pm, The Old Library, RG14 5DH. £18.25. A stand-up hour about domestic abuse and emotional cruelty; ages 16 and over, and the theatre warns of distressing themes. Corn Exchange

Halloween in Concert, Friday 23 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £21.25 to £34.25. Corn Exchange

BetVictor Flat Finale with Oktoberfest (Friday), Friday 23 October, gates 12pm, first race 1.42pm, Newbury Racecourse RG14 7NZ. The racecourse’s Bavarian weekend begins: bierkeller, bratwurst, oompah bands. Under-18s go free, and parking is free too. Newbury Racecourse

BetVictor Flat Finale with Oktoberfest (Saturday), Saturday 24 October, gates 11.30am, first race 1.55pm, Newbury Racecourse. The last day of Newbury’s flat season. A two-day pass is sold at a discount. Newbury Racecourse

GreenFest West Berkshire, Saturday 24 October, St Bartholomew’s School, RG14 6JP. Stalls and talks on growing food, cutting waste and helping local wildlife, plus food and drink stalls. The organisers have not yet put times on their page. Nature and Climate Network

Copacabana Magic: The Barry Manilow Tribute, Saturday 24 October, 7.45pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £32.75. Corn Exchange

Illusion Impossible, Sunday 25 October, 7pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £33, concessions £31. A magic show for all ages. Corn Exchange

NICE! Stories and Rhymes with Michael Rosen, Monday 26 October, 2.30pm, the Watermill Theatre. £15 adults, £12.50 under-16s. The poet’s 80th birthday show: Chocolate Cake and the rest, plus poems from his new collection. The Watermill

Dinosaur World Live, Tuesday 27 October at 2pm and 4.30pm, Wednesday 28 October at 11am and 2pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £17. A 50-minute show with 15 minutes to meet the dinosaurs afterwards. Corn Exchange

Pinocchio Family Fun Day, Tuesday 27 October, 10.30am to 2pm, the Watermill Theatre. £5 a child, £2 an adult. Puppet making, silly drama games and storytelling at 10.30am or 12.30pm, best for ages 2 to 7. The Watermill

Creedence Clearwater Revived, Thursday 29 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £30. Ages 16 and over. Corn Exchange

Play in Two Days: Spooky Stories, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October, 9am to 4pm, the Watermill Theatre. £100. Ages 5 to 11 make a Halloween play and perform it for their families. The Watermill

The Nutcracker, Friday 30 October, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £26.25 to £34.25. Corn Exchange

The Rod Stewart Experience, Saturday 31 October, 7.30pm, St George’s Church Hall, Andover Road RG14 6NU. £15. The Newbury Parkinson’s branch calls it its major fundraiser of the year; there is a raffle and a bar. Parkinson’s UK Newbury branch

Rhys James: Chop Logic, Saturday 31 October, 8pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £22.25. Stand-up, ages 14 and over. Corn Exchange

November

BetVictor Jumps Season Opener, Thursday 5 November, gates 11am, first race 12.42pm, Newbury Racecourse. The first jumps meeting of the winter. Newbury Racecourse

The Zoots: The Sounds of the 60s, Thursday 5 November, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £32.25. Corn Exchange

Thatcham Fireworks at Kennet School, Friday 6 November, gates 6pm, display 7.30pm, Kennet School field, Stoney Lane RG19 4LL. Tickets are now on sale at flash-sale prices until Saturday 10 October: adult £9, child (4 to 18) £4.50, family of four £18. Under-4s are free but still need a ticket. A professional low-noise display set to music, run by Kennet School PTAC with Francis Baily PTA. Kennet School PTAC

The Mayor of Thatcham’s Fundraising Barn Dance, Friday 6 November, 7pm to 10pm, Frank Hutchings Community Hall, Bradley-Moore Square RG18 4QH. £10 with a welcome drink. Money raised goes to three local charities. Thatcham Town Council

Newbury Lions Fabulous Charity Fireworks, Saturday 7 November, gates 5pm, display around 7.30pm, Newbury Racecourse. Adults £14.98, children 5 to 16 £7.49, family £31.80, online through See Tickets; free parking. The 53rd year, with the Lions barbecue, charity stalls and games. The Lions’ own websites still show last year’s display; the 2026 details are in their listing on Visit Newbury. Our fireworks page has the Hambridge Road entrance. Visit Newbury, organiser Newbury Lions

Mercury, Saturday 7 November, 7.45pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £31.25. A Freddie Mercury and Queen tribute. Corn Exchange

Newbury Remembrance Sunday Parade, Sunday 8 November, 10.30am to 11.30am. The parade steps off from Pelican Lane to Market Place for the service, followed by wreath laying at the War Memorial and St Nicolas Church. Free. More on our Remembrance page. Visit Newbury, organiser Newbury Town Council

Remembrance Sunday parade, Thatcham, Sunday 8 November, 10.30am to 12pm. The parade leaves the Kingsland Centre car park, loops the Broadway and goes up the High Street to the War Memorial on Bath Road, RG18 3HB. Thatcham Town Council

Newbury Floral Society: Arnaud Metairie, Tuesday 10 November, 2pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £20.25. A flower arranging demonstration by the florist behind French Touch Floristry. Corn Exchange

Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby, Wednesday 11 November, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £24.25. Stand-up, ages 14 and over. Corn Exchange

Pam Ayres: Doggedly Onward, Thursday 12 November, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Newbury. £34. Ages 9 and over. Corn Exchange

Anthem For Dissatisfaction, Thursday 12 November, 7.30pm, The Old Library. £16.25, concessions and under-25s £14.25. A play with songs by Oasis, The Jam and Sam Fender about siblings growing up in Belfast in 2007; ages 14 and over. Corn Exchange

Michael Akadiri: Don’t Call Me Uncle!, Friday 13 November, 8pm, The Old Library. £19.25, concessions £17.25. Stand-up from the comedian who is also a junior doctor; ages 16 and over. Corn Exchange

Newbury Christmas Lights Switch On, Saturday 14 November, 10am to 7pm, town centre. Free. Live music, a festive market and gift fairs, and Santa in a new grotto at the Waterside Centre, with the lights switched on at 6.30pm. More on our Christmas lights page. Visit Newbury

Newbury Antique and Vintage Street Market, Sunday 15 November, 10am to 4pm, Northbrook Street. Free. The last of the year, part of the switch-on weekend. Visit Newbury

Not happening: The Crooners Christmas Special at the Corn Exchange on 14 November has been cancelled “due to unforeseen circumstances”, the theatre says; some listings still carry it.

Regular events

Newbury Charter Market, every Thursday and Saturday, Market Place. Next: Thursday 8 October, then Saturday 10 October. Newbury Town Council

Greenham Common parkrun, every Saturday at 9am, Greenham Common. Free. A single-lap 5k, almost all on hard trail. Next: Saturday 10 October, then Saturday 17 October. parkrun

Newbury Farmers’ Market, first Sunday of the month, 9am to 1pm, Market Place RG14 5BD. Next: Sunday 1 November. Thames Valley Farmers’ Markets

Newbury Artisan Market, last Sunday of the month from January to November, Northbrook Street. Next: Sunday 25 October. Renartgades

Send us your event

Running something in Newbury, Thatcham or the villages? Email hello@newburytimes.co.uk with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free. We add it to this page and to the diary on our front page.