Free food festival in Forbury Gardens on Sunday 11 October, Diwali on Broad Street on the 24th, plus 40 dated Reading listings with times and prices.

Two free events stand out in Reading over the next six weeks. The first is a new food festival in Forbury Gardens on Sunday 11 October. The second is the Diwali procession from Town Hall Square to Broad Street on Saturday 24 October. Around them the Hexagon has its busiest comedy month of the year, the museum is running Bayeux Tapestry events for the Year of the Normans, and the libraries have a full half term.

Everything below comes from the organisers’ own listings, read on 29 September 2026, and every entry links back to its source. Prices are the organisers’ published ones. Where no price is shown, the organiser has not published one. For places that are open whatever the month, see our guide to things to do in Reading.

The next six weeks at a glance

  • To Saturday 10 October. Dracula at Reading Rep.
  • Saturday 3 October, 10am to 3pm. Fun Palace at five Reading libraries. Free.
  • Sunday 11 October, from 10.30am. Berkshire Biodiversity and Regenerative Food Festival, Forbury Gardens. Free.
  • Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October. Autumn Beer and Cider Festival at the Castle Tap. Free entry.
  • Saturday 24 October, from 4.15pm. Diwali Light It Up, Town Hall Square to Broad Street.
  • Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. Autumn Adventure Trail around the town centre. Free.
  • Tuesday 27 October. LEGO day at the Museum of English Rural Life. Free, booking required.
  • Saturday 14 November, from 2pm. Christmas lights switch-on, Broad Street.

This week

  • Dracula, nightly to Saturday 10 October, 7.30pm, with 3pm matinees on Saturdays 3 and 10 October, Reading Rep Theatre, RG1 4LY, £25.50 to £32, including a £1 booking fee. Nick Lane’s adaptation of Bram Stoker, staged with Blackeyed Theatre, for ages 12 and over. Tuesday 29 September is sold out and there is no show on Sunday 4 October. Friday 2 October is captioned. (Reading Rep)
  • Jonathan Pie, Wednesday 30 September, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £36 and £23.50. The End of the World According to Jonathan Pie, the spoof news reporter’s new live show. Advised for ages 14 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Nigel Havers: Talking Bllcks, Thursday 1 October, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £38.50. The actor’s second touring evening of stories from his career. Ages 16 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Al Murray: All You Need Is Guv, Friday 2 October, 7.30pm sharp, no support act, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £33.50, or £63.50 for the front rows. The Pub Landlord’s new tour. The venue warns that latecomers may have to wait for the interval. (What’s On Reading)
  • Leveret, Friday 2 October, 8pm, South Street Arts Centre, RG1 4QU, £22.50. The English folk trio of Andy Cutting, Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron. (What’s On Reading)
  • Reading Libraries Fun Palace, Saturday 3 October, 10am to 3pm across the branches, Reading Central Library, RG1 2LU, Free. Free drop-in crafts and trails at five libraries: Battle 10.15am to 2.45pm, Caversham 10.30am to 12.30pm, Central 12pm to 2pm (a Lego challenge for ages six and over), Palmer Park 10am to 1pm and Southcote 10am to 12pm. (Reading Libraries listing)
  • Black British Ballet, a presentation by Dr Sandie Bourne, Saturday 3 October, 11am to 12.30pm, Reading Central Library, RG1 2LU. A Black History Month talk at the new Central Library in the Civic Offices. (Reading Libraries listing)
  • Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us, Saturday 3 October, 7.30pm, Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, RG1 1QH, £26. The comedian marks 20 years in stand-up. Ages 14 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • NT Live: The Misanthrope (15), Sunday 4 October, 7pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £14.50, concessions and members £12.50. A screening of the National Theatre’s production of Martin Crimp’s version of Molière. (What’s On Reading)

One cancellation to know about: An Orchestral Tribute to Tim Burton, due at the Hexagon on Tuesday 29 September, has been called off. The venue says it is contacting ticket holders (What’s On Reading).

Next week

  • Alan Davies: Think Ahead, Monday 5 October, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £33. Stand-up from the QI regular. Ages 16 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Curator Tour: Women Artists and the Reading School of Art, 1890 to 1930, Tuesday 6 October, 12pm to 1pm, The Museum of English Rural Life, RG1 5EX, Free. Dr Hannah Lyons leads a tour of the display on women printmakers. Places are limited, so book, and meet in the café at noon. (The MERL)
  • Leon McCawley, piano, Tuesday 6 October, 7.30pm, Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, RG1 1QH, £22, £19 and £14; under 18s and students £7. A recital in the Classical Music Alive season, opening with Mozart’s Sonata in G major, K283. (What’s On Reading)
  • Chris Ramsey: Here, Man!, Wednesday 7 October, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £33.50. One of the extra autumn dates added after the spring tour sold out. (What’s On Reading)
  • Bayeux and Bubbles, Thursday 8 October, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Reading Museum, RG1 1QH, £25. An evening introduction to the museum’s full-size copy of the Bayeux Tapestry with Ben Bishop, medieval objects to handle and a glass of sparkling wine or elderflower. Adults only, booking necessary. (Reading Museum listing)
  • Winnie-the-Pooh at 100, Fridays from 9 to 30 October, storytime 3.45pm on 9 and 23 October; crafts 3.30pm on 16 October, and 11am and 2pm on 30 October, Reading Central Library, RG1 2LU, Free. Drop-in storytime and craft sessions for children aged seven and under. (Reading Libraries listing)
  • Sindhu Vee: Swanky, Friday 9 October, 7.30pm, Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, RG1 1QH, £31.50. New stand-up from the Live at the Apollo comedian. Ages 14 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Berkshire Biodiversity and Regenerative Food Festival, Sunday 11 October, from 10.30am, Forbury Gardens, RG1 3BB, Free entry. A new festival of regenerative and organic growers, bakers, makers, street food, charities and community groups. The listing gives no closing time. (What’s On Reading)

Later in October

Half term for Reading’s maintained schools is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October. Our October half term page has the school dates and more of the library sessions.

  • Dance Nation, Monday 12 to Saturday 17 October, Progress Theatre, RG1 5HL. Clare Barron’s play about a troupe of competitive young dancers, directed by Imogen Lilley. The signed performance is Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm and the relaxed one Saturday 17 October at 2.30pm. (Progress Theatre)
  • Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Brahms, Wednesday 14 October, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £30, £26 and £19; under 18s and students £6. Kristian Sallinen conducts, with Katherine Lacey on clarinet, in the Classical Music Alive season. (What’s On Reading)
  • Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana, Friday 16 October, doors 7pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £34. Standing downstairs, seated in the balcony. Under 14s must sit in the balcony with an adult. (What’s On Reading)
  • Book launch: Bayeux Tapestry, The Epic Poem, Saturday 17 October, readings at 10.15am, 11.45am and 2pm, Reading Museum, RG1 1QH, Free. Martin Kiszko reads from his retelling of the tapestry’s story, for all ages. Book online; donations are welcome. (Reading Museum listing)
  • Alison Moyet, Monday 19 October, doors 6.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £68.50, £53 and £38.50. A set drawn only from the Yazoo catalogue and her albums the minutes and Other. (What’s On Reading)
  • Nish Kumar: Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy, Wednesday 21 October, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £28.50. Political stand-up. Ages 14 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Autumn Beer and Cider Festival, Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October, Thursday 4pm to 11pm, Friday 2pm to midnight, Saturday midday to midnight, Sunday midday to 10.30pm, The Castle Tap, RG1 7RJ, Free entry. About 20 beers and 12 ciders and perries, a quiz on the Friday night and live music from Benjamin Lewes on Saturday from 2.30pm. (Castle Tap listing)
  • Bayeux Talks: Exhibiting the Bayeux Tapestry, Saturday 24 October, 11am to 12pm, Reading Museum, RG1 1QH, £15. Professor Michael Lewis, curator of the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, on the loan of the original to the UK. The first of three talks; the second is on 14 November. (Reading Museum listing)
  • Diwali Light It Up, Saturday 24 October, from 4.15pm, Town Hall Square to Broad Street. Kala The Arts’ procession of 17-foot puppets of Sita, Rama and Ganesh, lanterns, dhol drums and dancers through the town centre. No ticket: the listing says just turn up. (Kala The Arts listing)
  • Susan Calman: Tall Tales, Saturday 24 October, 7.30pm, Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, RG1 1QH, £32. Her first tour in ten years. Ages 14 and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Autumn Adventure Trail, Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, Reading town centre, Free. Spot the acorns hidden in shop windows, then enter the prize competition. Printed maps are at Central Library, Reading Museum and the Broad Street Mall customer service desk. (Reading BID listing)
  • LEGO Build the Change: Insects and Pollinators, Tuesday 27 October, two-hour sessions at 10am and 1pm, The Museum of English Rural Life, RG1 5EX, Free. Families build pollinators from LEGO bricks. Suggested age four and over. Booking is required and the museum says the link is coming soon. (The MERL)
  • The Tailor of Gloucester, Wednesday 28 October, 11.30am and 2.30pm, Reading Central Library, RG1 2LU, £7. Farnham Maltings’ new adaptation of the Beatrix Potter story, in the library. (Reading Libraries listing)
  • The Elves and the Shoemaker, Thursday 29 October, 11.30am and 2pm, South Street Arts Centre, RG1 4QU, £13, members £12. Puppetry and storytelling from Theatre of Widdershins, for ages three and over. (What’s On Reading)
  • Halloween Teddy Bear Sleepover, Thursday 29 October, 4pm to 5pm, Battle Library, RG30 1EE, Free. Make a door hanger, hear a scary story, then leave your bear overnight and collect it next morning with photos. The craft is open to all; the sleepover must be booked. (Reading Libraries listing)
  • Reading Alternative Halloween Market, Saturday 31 October, 10.30am to 4.30pm, Reading Biscuit Factory, RG1 7QE, Free entry. Stalls selling art, jewellery, taxidermy, crystals and resin work, with tarot readings. (Reading Alternative Market listing)

November

  • Lunchtime Organ Recital, Monday 2 November, 1pm, Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, RG1 1QH, £5 in advance, £7 on the door, or pay what you can. Nat Keiller plays S S Wesley, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Coleridge-Taylor on the Concert Hall organ. The venue is cashless. (What’s On Reading)
  • Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Thursday 5 November, 7.30pm, The Hexagon, RG1 7QF, £58.50, or £41 restricted view. The annual autumn tour, on bonfire night this year. (What’s On Reading)
  • Reading Christmas Light Switch On, Saturday 14 November, entertainment from 2pm, lights at around 5pm, Broad Street. The Broad Street Christmas market opens the same afternoon. No ticket is needed. Our switch-on page has the detail. (Reading BID listing)

Remembrance Sunday is 8 November. The council had not published this year’s times when we checked, so it is not listed as a dated entry here; our Remembrance Sunday page sets out last year’s pattern. Reading has no town fireworks display, as our fireworks page explains. Further ahead, see the Christmas market and pantomime pages.

Regular events

  • Reading parkrun, every Saturday, 9am, Thames Valley Park, Free. A timed 5k on gravel paths and grass. Register once and bring your barcode. (parkrun)
  • Prospect parkrun, every Saturday, 9am, Prospect Park, RG30 2ND, Free. The west Reading 5k, on the same terms. (parkrun)
  • Bayeux Tapestry Tours, every Tuesday and Thursday, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, and every Saturday, 2pm to 3pm, Reading Museum, RG1 1QH, £10 per person. A guided tour of the full-size Victorian copy. Book online or pay on the day; the museum warns that tours sell out quickly. (Reading Museum listing)
  • Tai Chi with Sport in Mind, every Wednesday, 3.30pm to 4.30pm, The Museum of English Rural Life, RG1 5EX, Free. Drop-in sessions for adults, designed to support mental health. (The MERL)

Reading Museum itself is free and open Tuesday to Saturday; our museum opening times page has the hours.

Getting there

The Hexagon, the Town Hall, the museum, Forbury Gardens and Broad Street are all within a ten minute walk of Reading station. South Street and Reading Rep are a little further east, and Progress Theatre and the Museum of English Rural Life are near the university end of Christchurch Road and Redlands Road. If you are driving, our parking in Reading page has the car parks and tariffs. Check roadworks and travel before a weekend trip, and train times if you are coming by rail.

This page is rewritten as organisers confirm new dates. Dates and times can still change, so use the links before you travel. More in our What’s On section.

Send us your event

Running something in Reading, Caversham, Tilehurst or Whitley? Email hello@readingdaily.co.uk with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free of charge, always. Yours goes on this page and in the diary on our front page and What’s On hub.

Sources