There's a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to turn – and as harvest season arrives, Gloucestershire has a bumper crop of fun things to see and do.
From picking pumpkins and enjoying a fang-tastic Halloween half term, to soaking up some culture at one of the county's festivals, SoGlos rounds up the most unmissable things to do in Gloucestershire this autumn.
Soak up autumn colour across Gloucestershire
It may seem hard to believe, but Gloucestershire gets even more beautiful as the leaves start to turn from green to gold, orange and red during autumn – with the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean being two of the very best places to visit during this time of year.
From the vibrant red acers of Batsford Arboretum, Mallards Pike's deep golden brown beech trees, to Westonbirt Arboretum's multicoloured canopy, best viewed from its treetop walkway, Gloucestershire leaf peepers are spoiled for choice!
Check out SoGlos's pick of the best places to see autumn colour for more autumnal inspiration.
See stunning Wolf Hall costumes at Berkeley Castle
Get up-close to some of the most extravagant costumes ever to grace the small screen when the Wolf Hall costume exhibition returns to Berkeley Castle this September 2026.
See six of the costumes worn on-screen by the likes of Mark Rylance, Damien Lewis and Clare Foy within the walls of this historic castle, which served as a filming location for both seasons of the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's bestselling novels.
To find out how to get tickets, see Step into the world of BBC drama Wolf Hall at Berkeley Castle.
Watch Tweedy's Massive Summer Solo Show at the Everyman Theatre
Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gloucestershire's favourite clown, Tweedy, is heading to the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham with his Massive Summer Solo Show.
Watch Tweedy wrestle with his unruly props as he tries to put on his one-man show, with this back-to-school treat promising to have families in stitches this September 2026.
For more information, including how to get tickets, see Tweedy the Clown goes solo at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre.
Spend a day at Cheltenham Literature Festival
The annual Cheltenham Literature Festival is one of the highlights of the whole year in Gloucestershire, with world-famous authors, poets, broadcasters, journalists and entertainers descening on the Regency town for a brilliantly book-filled week.
From attending ticketed events with the biggest names, wandering the festival village soaking in the atmosphere and seeing which free events you can catch, to shopping for this season's bestsellers, the festival makes for an unmissable autumn day out.
See Cheltenham Literature Festival reveals 2026 lineup to see who's coming to town this year.
Go pumpkin picking in Gloucestershire
If there's a more wholesome Halloween activity than pumpkin picking in the Gloucestershire countryside, we're yet to find it!
There are ripe orange pumpkins ready for picking all over the county this autumn, just waiting to be turned into pumpkin pies, Jack O' Lanterns and lots more.
See some of the best places to find these glorious gourds with SoGlos's pick of the best pumpkin patches in Gloucestershire.
Visit one of Gloucestershire's most haunted places
Go ghost hunting in Gloucestershire while the veil is thin this Samhain.
The county is home to a variety of spooky spaces, some of which have even inspired some of the scariest horror stories in literature, including The Woman in Black!
Check out SoGlos's round-up of the most haunted places in Gloucestershire... if you dare!
Have a spook-tacular Halloween half term in Gloucestershire
Raid the dress-up box and put on your scariest face paints ready for a week full of family fun this October half term 2026.
From seeking out the Tudor ghosts at Sudeley Castle to enjoying an energetic day out in the fresh autumn air at Over Farm's Spookyard, there's lots for little ghouls and goblins to enjoy while school is out.
For more ideas of what to do with the kids this October half term, SoGlos's Gloucestershire Halloween guide is bursting with fang-tastic family fun.
Delve into the past at a Gloucestershire history festival
With two fascinating festivals happening in the county this autumn, there's never been a better time to be a history fan in Gloucestershire!
Gloucester History Festival returns to the iconic Blackfriars Priory from Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 September 2026, with a host of famous names like Time Team's Tony Robinson, Men Behaving Badly star Caroline Quentin, celebrity traitor David Olusoga, Radiohead drummer Philip Selway and Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley on the lineup.
While from Friday 23 October until Sunday 1 November 2026, Cirencester History Festival takes over the Roman capital of the Cotswolds with its own star-studded lineup, which includes Cirencester's own local celebrity Charlie Cooper, as well as Mary Portas, Sir Max Hastings, Martin Sixsmith, and Ben Miller.
Take part in Sue Ryder's Starlight Hike through Cheltenham
National charity Sue Ryder invites people to join its joyful Starlight Hike this October 2026, walking 10k under the stars to raise vital funds for its palliative, end-of-life care and bereavement services.
Walkers are encouraged to grab the glowsticks, take part in a fun Zumba warm-up, then follow the family-friendly route through Cheltenham, taking in the softly lit grounds of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and spending a moment remembeing late loved ones along the way.
See Walk under the stars to light up Cheltenham for Sue Ryder to find out how to sign up.
Be dazzled by a Gloucestershire fireworks display
This November 2026, fireworks are set to light up the skies above Gloucestershire once again in celebration of Bonfire Night.
Bundle up and head out to a dazzling local display to watch the rockets soar and the fountains sparkle – with a steaming cup of hot chocolate or a pumkin spice latte to keep you warm.
See SoGlos's round up of the best fireworks displays in Gloucestershire to find out where you can ooh and aah this Bonfire Night.
Feel the thrill as Gloucestershire's new sports season starts
Some of the county's top-performing teams are getting back on the pitch – and the track – for the 2026/27 season this autumn.
Gloucester Rugby's Gallagher PREM and PREM Cup ambitions get underway, while Gloucester-Hartpury's shot at a historic fourth consecutive PWR title and the JAECOO Next Gen Cup start this September 2026.
And the home of jump racing's new season gets started this autumn, too, with the William Hill Showcase roaring into Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026.
Show your Pride in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire's annual Pride celebration is back this September 2026, with a Pride March taking place through Gloucester city centre and a festival-style event in Gloucester Park to celebrate the county's LGBTQIA+ community.
Former Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle headlines the live music lineup, with The Cheeky Girls, Big Brovaz & Booty Luv, and loads more also performing across two stages, with a funfair and friendly community zones to visit, too.
Pride in Gloucestershire takes place on Saturday 12 September 2026, with tickets costing from £8.75 for adults and from £5.75 for children under 16. Little Pride-goers under the age of two get in free.
Celebrate Gloucestershire's rural traditions at a country fair
The Moreton Show returns this Saturday 5 September 2026, celebrating the Cotswolds' proud agricultural tradition with a day of eclectic outdoor entertainment, from Shetland pony racing and showjumping, to livestock parades, falconry, sheepdog demonstrations, rural crafts, and vintage tractor displays.
If you're feeling brave enough, embrace one of the county's wackiest pastimes at the El-ver Eating World Championships in Frampton-on-Severn on Sunday 13 September 2026, seeing how many el-vers you can stomach for a shot at the title.
Or hop just over the border for the Malvern Autumn Show from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September 2026 to see Guinness World Record-breaking giant veg in all their glory!
