Top 5 Events Happening in Sheffield this October

You may think that now summer has come to an end, so too has festival season. Well not here in Sheffield! October in the Steel City welcomes a festival for everyone, from a literary fare for inquisitive bookworms, or something scary for film fanatics, there certainly is something for all the family this October.

1. Out Of This World Festival: 29th

Divided into three areas; magic, sci-fi and horror, Out Of This World festival promises free fun for all the family. With magic shows, workshops, gaming and comic book displays, this festival takes over the city centre for one day only, full of mystical fun! Located across the Moor, the Winter Gardens, Barker's Pool, Tudor Square, the Peace Gardens and the Town Hall, this weird and wacky festival returns to host comic book characters, music and dancing. Famously, this is a fantastic opportunity to dress up, with recent years seeing many famous supernatural and sci-fi characters making an appearance. So grab your costumes, get creative and head down to the centre for a jam-packed day of all things superhuman this October.

2. Beer and Cider Festival: 18th- 21st

Come down to the Kelham Island Museum to partake in Sheffield's answer to Munich's Ocktoberfest! If you want a right good Yorkshire knees up then the Beer and Cider festival is the one for you. With over 200 real ales, a huge selection of ciders, perries and craft beers from brewers from far and wide, this event promises to be unmissable. With an array of live music and street food to compliment the drinks, this event is great for friends, couples and even families as children are welcome until 8pm.

3. Off The Shelf Festival: 7th-28th

Priding itself as one of the biggest, most accessible literary festivals in the UK, Off The Shelf welcomes famous authors and artists from across the globe to celebrate culture across all communities. Spread over 12 glorious days, the program is selected and organised by Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield. Past years have seen the likes of Simon Armitage, Jamie Oliver, Benjamin Zephaniah and many more literary greats. The festival is held across inspiring venues across the city; from the Octagon Theatre to the Millennium Galleries. The various talks and shows address the big questions in life such as gender stereotypes, monogamy and human rights. There are also several performances for children, making it fun for all the family. Many of the events are free, however some you have to pay for, either way book online to ensure you don't miss these fantastic opportunities: http://www.offtheshelf.org.uk/events/

4. Sensoria - 30th Sep - 8th

Sensoria is literally a festival for the senses! This October sees Sheffield come to life with music, film and digital art. Sensoria offers the ultimate visual treat, with previous years welcoming massive installations projected onto Sheffield's landmarks. This 9 day festival promises screenings, performances, exhibitions, talks and much much more! This event has a continuous thread of the Steel City running throughout it, with the famous Sheffield-born star Richard Hawley introducing a talk on iconic music. Scattered throughout the city, the events range in price, so ensure you guarantee your spot at this exceptional festival, it is sure to be a sensory sensation: http://www.sensoria.org.uk/

5. Celluloid Screams: 20th-22nd

As October is the month of Halloween, it is only right that Sheffield celebrates all things spooky - and we do - with a whole film festival dedicated to all things macabre. Taking place at the Showroom Cinema, you can enjoy a full 3 days of terrifically terrifying horror films. There are old classics such as Habit and Susperia, along with newly released short movies released in 2017. Whether its vampires or axe murderers, ghosts or ghouls, you are sure to be sufficiently spooked this October at the Celluloid Scream festival!