Literature Festivals Round-up
There might be book festivals all year round, but October is as overrun as streets with leaves and conkers. Cheltenham Literature Festival (to 16 Oct) is the behemoth of them all, with more than 500 events, including creative writing workshops by the likes of Lucy English and Toby Litt and author events with Caitlin Moran, Jim Al-Khalili, Diana Athill, Ed Balls, Marina Warner, Julian Fellowes, Anne Rice and Will Self. Self also pops up at Sheffield's Off The Shelf (to 29 Oct), which has major names such as Claire Tomalin, Jon Ronson and Wendy Cope amid an aptly eclectic programme. Angela Saini discusses the growth of India as a global science superpower, Colin Grant unravels the mysticism and politics behind reggae legends the Wailers, Geoff Nicholson uses Sheffield as the basis for the recreation of a walk through Hollywood and Simon Armitage appears with his chosen winners of The Poetry Business competition. Likewise at Birmingham Book Festival (to 16 Oct), where fringe events, a small press book fair and a sound installation frame talks by Stuart Maconie, Alan Hollinghurst, Ian Rankin and Cuban poet Victor Rodríguez Núñez, among others. Manchester Literature Festival (Mon to 23 Oct) is a truly global gathering with writers from Norway to China, and events including a debate about the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and an Anthony Burgess tour.
Katrina Dixon
Belfast Festival
Music, dance, classic films, literature, theatre and the visual arts are all part of this family friendly festival. Offering seemingly a year's culture in two weeks, the event has music from Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, KT Tunstall and Eliza Carthy, as well as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Audiences of all ages can enjoy the spookiness of The Enchanted Garden. Carlos Acosta heads an impressive dance lineup, Claire Tomalin talks about her Dickens biography, and Michael Moore discusses being a professional troublemaker.
Various venues, Fri to 30 Oct
Iain Aitch
Out & about
Cowal Walking & Arts Festival, Cowal Peninsula, Sat to 16 Oct
More than 70 walks, tours, theatre, food, art and wildlife events, plus horse riding, all around the Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Forest Park.
Various venues, Argyll
Nour Festival Of Arts, London, Sat to 30 Nov
Nour means light in various languages, and this festival illuminates the best art, literature, fashion, music and film from across the Middle East and north Africa.
Leighton House Museum, W14
Festival Of Food, Across Kendal, Sat to 29 Oct
Celebrate Cumberland sausages, enjoy a beer and curry party, sample local produce at the Field To Fork day and generally tour, taste and cook your way across the county through the month.
Various venues
Honey Show, London, Mon
It's free to attend the debut Honey Show, with talks, stalls, demos, a display of hives, honey-themed cocktails and raffle in aid of a bee charity.
Lancaster London Hotel, W2
