There’s plenty happening in and around Calne this weekend, with live music, Halloween adventures and family activities on offer as the October half-term gets underway.
From a pumpkin trail at Bowood and a spooky mystery to solve in Marlborough to live bands in Calne and Chippenham, there are plenty of ways to get out and about. We’ve rounded up the events taking place from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th October, along with regular community activities happening across the town.
Live Music at The Ruze
Chippenham venue The Ruze has a busy weekend ahead, with a Nirvana tribute night on Friday 23rd October, followed by Monthly Metal Night on Sunday 25th October, featuring a different line-up of heavy music acts. The venue also hosts Midnight Mixtape, an indie night featuring original music from The Pavillion, Slak and Flump, on Thursday 22nd October. Tickets and further details are available from The Ruze website.
Bowood Halloween Adventures
Families can enjoy a Halloween-themed day out at Bowood House & Gardens during October half-term, from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November. The Pumpkin Trail takes visitors through the Arboretum, where a trail booklet can be collected on arrival, while the Gardeners’ Bothy will host arts and crafts activities daily from noon to 3pm. Visitors can also enjoy the autumn colours and, on selected dates, falconry displays, with details still to be confirmed. The trail may be muddy, so walking boots or wellies are recommended. For further information, visit Bowood’s website.
Photo from Bowood.
White Label Live at The Wheatsheaf
Live music is on the menu at The Wheatsheaf Inn in Calne on Saturday 24th October, as White Label take to the stage from 8.30pm. Head along to the Curzon Street pub for an evening of live music and a chance to enjoy a local band in action.
Spooky Tours at The Merchant’s House
Families can become cat detectives this half-term at The Merchant’s House in Marlborough, where ten mischievous black cats are hiding throughout the historic 17th-century building. The self-guided adventure challenges visitors to find the cats, solve ten clues and discover the magic word that leads to the mysterious Witch’s Cat. Along the way, there are curious objects, strange superstitions and Halloween mysteries to explore. The event runs from Saturday 24th to Saturday 31st October, with opening hours of 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and last entry at 3pm. Tickets cost £11 for adults, while under-18s go free. For details and booking, visit The Merchant’s House website.
Autumn in the Park, Devizes
Hillworth Park in Devizes will host an autumn-themed family event on Saturday 24th October, from 11am to 3pm. Activities include farm animals, a letter hunt, face painting and displays of tractors and parks vehicles. Children can also enter the Halloween fancy dress competition, with the Mayor of Devizes judging entries outside the café at 1.30pm. The café will be open throughout the event, which welcomes all ages, with activities aimed at children aged six and over. Entry details are available from Devizes Town Council.
Photography Exhibition At Lacock
Visitors to Lacock can see a photography exhibition featuring images taken by renowned British photographer Martin Parr in the village during spring and summer 2025. The exhibition offers a portrait of contemporary Britain through photographs of Lacock and its community.
Ancient Pathways Art Exhibition At Avebury
Avebury’s 2026 artist in residence, Georgie Weedon, has created a new body of work inspired by the ancient stone circle, the surrounding landscape and Avebury Manor and Garden. The Ancient Pathways exhibition opened on Thursday 15th October and continues until Sunday 1st November.
1776: Secrets, Spies and the American Revolution – Bowood House
A new exhibition at Bowood House explores the connections between Lord Shelburne, Benjamin Franklin and the American Revolution, ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Lord Shelburne played a significant role in negotiating peace between Britain and America through the Treaty of Paris in 1783, but his friendship with Franklin also led to suspicions that the two men remained in secret contact during the war. Visitors can discover how spies on both sides used ingenious techniques to conceal messages, including invisible ink and hidden notes, before exploring the treaty's impact on Shelburne's career. The exhibition is available to view inside Bowood House, which opens from 11am to 4.30pm, with last entry at 4pm.
A number of regular community events are also taking place across the town throughout the week.
These include:
Rhyme Time at Calne Library
Pins & Needles knitting group
Toy and Brick Making sessions for toddlers
Board not Bored games sessions
Calne Library Brick Creators’ Club
Saturday Toddler Time
Calne Junior Parkrun
Table Tennis for Everyone
Feel Better With A Book
Calne Youth Club
FULL DETAILS OF ALL THE ABOVE EVENTS CAN BE FOUND IN OUR EVENTS CALENDAR HERE.
More events including car boot sales and full details of the above listings can be found on the Calne News events calendar here.
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