Fireworks Are Go 🎆

Good morning, Wycombe!

It's the Wycombe Pulse. The local newsletter that's anxiously researching "how to keep your dogs calm during Halloween and fireworks night".

Neighbours: prepare for howling.

Anyway, there's loads to get excited about this week:

• Day of the Dead BBQ at the Walled Garden 🇲🇽

• History tour around one of the area's most beautiful buildings 🏛️

• New Dads and Tots meet-up (featuring free bacon sandwiches) 👶🏻

Plus we've got a round-up of all the firework displays in and around Wycombe, the last of the half term fun, parties for the grown-ups, art exhibitions, special 'me time' events and much more.

This Week's Highlights

• Day of the Dead Inspired BBQ at the Walled Garden on Saturday 2nd November from 12-6pm - expect a Mexican-themed BBQ, live music, face painting and games for the kids. Plus sangria on tap! 🇲🇽

• Buckinghamshire Art Society Autumn Exhibition at Wendover Memorial Hall on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November from 10am-5pm - it's FREE entry to come and see paintings, drawings, sculpture and prints by local artists 🎨

• Fright Nights at the Hellfire Caves until Saturday 2nd November from 6.30-11.15pm - dive into the dark and twisted world of the Toymaker's Tunnels of Torment... an intense atmosphere complete with live actors recommended for ages 16+ 😱

• Rags to Witches Halloween Alternative Fashion Show at Wycombe Arts Centre on Saturday 2nd November from 6-9.30pm - enjoy a visual feast of upcycled, recycled and customised costumes and clothing amongst what's promised to be the best Halloween decorations in Bucks 🧙🏼

• Big Parenting Questions at King's Church on Tuesday 5th November from 7.30-10pm - exploring principles to help equip you and your child with the skills you need to navigate the leap from childhood to adolescence ❓

• Danesfield House Walking and History Tour on Wednesday 6th November from 1.30-3pm - take a tour around this beautiful building and grounds as part of the Buckinghamshire History Festival, followed by a 45-minute talk about its history as RAF Medmenham 🗝️

Fireworks and Bonfire Night 🎇

• Low-Noise Fireworks Evening at Downley School on Sunday 3rd November from 5pm - adults £8, children £6, family ticket is £25

• Holmer Green Community Fireworks at Holmer Green Sports Association on Saturday 2nd November from 5pm - adults £10, kids £7.50 (under 2s free), family tickets from £33

• Bonfire Night at the Walled Garden on Tuesday 5th November from 4pm - roaring bonfire, fresh pizza, hot drinks and community spirit. Tickets are £1 each

• Naphill Fireworks Spectacular at Naphill Village Hall on Saturday 2nd November from 4.30pm - adults £10, kids £5 (under 5s free) and family tickets for £30

• Hildreth's Fireworks Extravaganza at Hildreth's Garden Centre in Prestwood on Friday 1st November from 6pm - adults £12, kids £8 and family tickets are £30

• Flackwell Heath Village Bonfire & Fireworks in the field at the end of Chapel Road on Saturday 2nd November from 5.30pm - tickets from £9.38 (under 5s are free)

• Guy Fawkes & Diwali Fireworks Display at The Gate on Saturday 9th November from 6pm - FREE!

• Stokenchurch PTA Fireworks at Stokenchurch Primary School on Friday 1st November from 6pm - tickets £9 each

• Marlow Monster Fireworks at Marlow Sports Club on Saturday 2nd November from 6pm - adults £15, kids 5-17 £7.50 (under 5s free)

• Foxes Piece School Fireworks at Foxes Piece School on Tuesday 5th November from 5pm - adults £7, kids £3

• Marlow Bottom Fireworks at the playing fields on Saturday 2nd November from 5.30pm - adults £7, kids £5 (under 4s free), family tickets £22

• Beaconsfield Fireworks Display at Beaconsfield Cricket Club on Saturday 2nd November from 4pm - tickets £13 (under 5s are free)

Entertainment

• 'Island Movements' at High Wycombe Library on Friday 1st November from 1.30-2.30pm - The Black British Ballet are performing the epic story of Windrush, followed by a Q&A with the dancers and creators 🩰

• Ladies' Night at the Polecat Inn on Tuesday 5th November from 6pm - live jazz music, two-for-one cocktails and exclusive specials for ladies await... 🍸

• The Green Man Halloween Party on Saturday 2nd November from 8pm-12am - fancy dress is optional at the Green Man but expect themed cocktails and shots, and live music.

• Spooktacular Halloween Party at the Black Lion Naphill on Saturday 2nd November from 8.30pm - fancy dress is encouraged, and there'll be live music, creepy cocktails and spooky shots.

• Run Da Roost Halloween Party at The Snug on Friday 1st November from 8pm-2am - FREE entry all night!

• Halloween Quiz at O'Neill's on tonight, Thursday 31st October at 8pm 🎃

Time for You

• Craft & Cake Fayre at West Wycombe Village Hall on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November from 11am-3pm - 26 local crafters will be displaying their handmade goods, alongside refreshments including handmade cakes and scones. FREE entry and dogs are welcome too 🛍️

• Christmas Art Fair at Holy Trinity Bledlow from Friday 1st November to Sunday 3rd November from 10am-4pm - a unique art fair where you're sure to find beautiful Christmas gifts, alongside wine tastings and China teas, all in support of various charities.

• High Wycombe Hand Crafted Christmas Market at Prestwood Village Hall on Saturday 2nd November from 3-7pm - it's FREE entry and free parking for this market promising the best in handmade, locally crafted and unique gifts and treats. Tea and cake also available!

• Christmas Candle Making Workshop at the Walled Garden on Friday 1st November from 10am-12.30pm - you'll be making various scented candles and wax melts with all equipment and materials provided 🕯️

For the Kids this Week

• Dads and Tots Group at St Andrew's Church on Saturday 2nd November from 9-10.30am - a new relaxed and welcoming group event for Dads and their little ones on the first Saturday of every month. Spend time together and meet others from the local community, all while enjoying free tea, coffee and bacon butties, and a short 5-minute thought for the day. FREE and no need to book in advance.

• Mother Goose Storytime and Panto Workshop at High Wycombe Library on Saturday 2nd November at 11.30-12pm - the Masque Players of West Wycombe are running this Mother Goose themed workshop in honour of their upcoming panto. FREE to attend 🪿

• Magical Creature Dream Catcher Workshop at The Walled Garden on Friday 1st November form 9.30-11.30am - join Easely Does It to make a dream catcher, all materials provided 💤

• Rebel Rangers conservation session on Friday 1st November from 9.45am to 3pm - join the Chiltern Rangers in this FREE conservation session for 11-16 year olds.

• Preschool Puzzles and Games Meetup at Tabletop Republic on Tuesday 5th November between 2.30-4.30pm - play with Tabletop's collection of Orchard Toys board games and puzzles with other preschoolers and their families 🧩

• Spooktacular Halloween Party at Wrights Meadow Centre on Saturday 2nd November from 12-3pm - spooky fun for 4-11 year olds.

• Spooky Walk and Slightly Frights at the Hellfire Caves until 2nd November - get into the spooky spirit with these family-friendly events in the caves for all ages.

• Halloween Workshop at Wycombe Library on today, Thursday 31st October from 11am-12pm - Wycombe Tutorial Centre are hosting this workshop featuring puzzles and mask making, designed for kids aged 7+.

• Halloween Breakfast Party at Spindle & Thread on Saturday 2nd November from 10am to 12pm - expect a monsters' buffet breakfast, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, monster puzzles and a Halloween disco.

• Poetry Workshop at High Wycombe Library on Saturday 2nd November from 10.30-11.30am - Arka Learning will spark your child's creativity through the power of poetry.

• Kids Halloween Party at The Squirrel Pub on today Thursday 31st October from 4.30-6.30pm - the perfect pre-trick or treat stop to grab your own Halloween bucket, enjoy the food and spooky games, all while dressed in your best costume.

• The Black Lion Wizard School at the Black Lion Naphill on today Thursday 31st October from 10.30am - kids can learn how to become a wizard through a packed programme of potion making, cauldron designing and more - not forgetting a pizza buffet!

Half Term Trails

• Aesop's Fables Half Term Trail and Storytelling at Hughenden until Sunday 3rd November - an interactive trail based on Aesop's Fables. There's storytelling and crafts available through the day too.

• Mischief Makers Trail at Roald Dahl Museum until Sunday 3rd November - explore the museum to find tricks and disguises from the world of Roald Dahl, FREE with museum entry.

• Pumpkin Hunt Trail at Wycombe Museum until Sunday 3rd November - pumpkins have been hidden around the museum and gardens for you to find. Just £3 per child with a sweet treat prize 🎃

• Hedgehog Animal Trail at Cliveden until Sunday 3rd November - Cliveden is hosting an Autumn animal trail around the gardens to help find Spike the hedgehog. Join in the drop-in crafting sessions while you're there 🦔

• Hughenden Halloween Trail until Sunday 3rd November - you can purchase a trail map for £3 from Hughenden Village Store (bring your own pencil!) and there'll be a sweet treat prize on return of your answer sheet at the end.

• Scarecrow Festival in Marlow Bottom until Sunday 3rd November - a map is £3 and can be bought from a few local businesses in Marlow Bottom.

Sports and Activities

• Wycombe Wanderers vs York City at home on Saturday 2nd November at 3pm - the Emirates FA Cup Round 1 fixture. Gates and bars are open from midday, tickets start at just £5 for kids and £17 for adults ⚽️

• Wycombe Wanderers Women vs Oxford City at Burnham FC on Sunday 3rd November - kick-off is at 3pm.

• Parkrun (5k) near the Lido, Wycombe Rye on Saturday 2nd November at 9am and Junior Parkrun (2k) near Pann Mill, Wycombe Rye on Sunday 3rd November at 9am 🏃🏻‍♂️

• Marlow Half Marathon, The Frankenstein (10km) and Marlow 7 on Sunday 3rd November at 9.30am - 3 races with beautiful courses through the Chiltern Hills, Hambledon Valley and, of course, Marlow itself. The Frankenstein is intended to be a more challenging, mixed terrain course, while the other 2 are via mainly traffic-free country lanes.

Do you run a sports team/fitness activity and are looking for players/new joiners/spectators for upcoming fixtures or practices? Please email me at [email protected] with the details if you'd like to be featured.

Community Notes

• Halloween at Highfield and Hangingcroft Wood on Thursday 31st October - all ages and abilities are invited to this Chiltern Rangers session of conservation activities to ensure the woodland remains a haven for wildlife 🌳

• Official Opening of Refresh The Marketplace at Refresh (Unit 9, Chilterns Shopping Centre) on Saturday 2nd November from 10am-4pm (ribbon cutting at 11am) - Refresh, a scrap store encouraging the principles of 'reduce, reuse, recycle and create', are officially opening their doors to their new store. Expect special offers, refreshments, prizes, workshops, demonstrations and their wonderful Christmas shop.

• Strictly Dance Event for Scannappeal at Bourne End Community Centre on Friday 1st November from 7.30-11pm - always popular and now in its 31st iteration is this Strictly Dance event with Elaine and Alan Ford hosting, and Andrew Varley on organ, raising money for local charity Scannappeal 💃🏻

Health

Crendon Dental Centre are offering FREE oral cancer screenings this November in support of Mouth Cancer Action Month.

Call 01494 528153 to book your slot (spaces are limited).

Date for your Diary

High Wycombe's Christmas Light Switch-On event is scheduled for Saturday 16th November. The switch-on will be at 6.30pm on Frogmoor, but there's a whole day of festivities planned from 12pm.

There will be plenty going on, with 2 stages of entertainment in both the High Street and Frogmoor, appearances from Bluey and Bingo, gift and craft stalls, food trucks, fairground rides, and maybe even a chance to meet Father Christmas himself.

Expect road closures in the centre of town and also FREE PARKING in the council car parks (notably Easton Street, Wycombe Swan and Dovecot) all day.

Where in Wycombe am I?

Hint: It's one of the town's most treasured buildings...

Last week's answer: Old Mill Cottage can be found on Bassetsbury Lane and was the summer home of the infamous Mitford sisters during their childhood. There were 6 sisters: Nancy, prolific author including of The Pursuit of Love; Pam, who had a colourful love life that included John Betjeman amongst her suitors; Diana, who eventually married fascist Oswald Mosley and went to prison with him; Unity, friend of Hitler; Jessica, a communist; and Deborah, who married the later Duke of Devonshire and transformed Chatsworth House.

Weather in Wycombe

It's looking very promising for fireworks this weekend...

Friday

🌤️ 14°C - 💨 5 mph - ☂️ 0% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 14°C - 💨 6 mph - ☂️ 0% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 13°C - 💨 6 mph - ☂️ 0% chance

We hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of the Pulse!

Have a brilliant weekend, but first...

• Do you know somebody who would enjoy this email? Please share it ❤️

• Were you forwarded this email? Please subscribe here so you don’t miss the next edition.

• We are active throughout the week on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X. Follow us and say hi!

• Do you have an event or local news story that our readers would love? Drop us an email!

Until next Thursday...

Steph

Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse