Good morning, Wycombe!
It's the Wycombe Pulse. Your local newsletter that's donning its Dirndl in anticipation of all the Oktoberfest festivities happening around town.
Check out this week's highlights:
A brand new artisan market on the High Street 🛍️
Boozy afternoon tea in a 1940s setting 🥂
The launch of a new country music night 🤠
Plus we've got Dawn French, Aston Villa, a slew of cultural events, fun activities for the kids, parties for the grown-ups and much more
Food & Drink
Boozy Afternoon Tea at Air Raid Shelter Café and Tea Room on Saturday 21st September at 4pm - 90 minutes of afternoon tea and unlimited Prosecco 🍾
Sushi Masterclass at the Mad Squirrel on Wednesday 25th September from 6-8pm - learn the art of rolling your own sushi rolls guided by experienced sushi chefs in this hands-on workshop 🍣
Greek Food Night at the Polecat Inn on Friday 20th September from 5pm - expect three courses and a drink in this epic traditional Greek night at the Polecat in Prestwood 🇬🇷
Cooking on a Budget at Vibe Church on Saturday 21st September from 11am-1pm - FREE hands-on session, including cooking and meal planning. Kids are welcome too!
Entertainment
Dawn French is a Huge T*** at the Wycombe Swan on Friday 20th September at 7.30pm - "the telly vicar lady" is live on stage telling some of her best (read: embarrassing) stories from behind the scenes of her work life.
Ska & Reggae Night at JB's Café on Friday 20th September from 7.30pm-midnight -- it's just £7 per person for a night of old-time Ska and Reggae favourites with a drink and nibbles included.
Wycombe Wanderers vs Aston Villa at Adams Park on Tuesday 24th September -- kick-off is at 8pm for this exciting home match marking the third round tie of the Carabao Cup ⚽️
Kickin' it Country Launch Party at Trilogy on Saturday 21st September from 7pm - this super-popular country night is launching in Wycombe this Saturday with hits from all your favourite cowboy stars. Boots and hat are encouraged and there'll be a massive cowboy hat giveaway as well 🤠
Bled Fest at Bledlow Village Cricket Club on Saturday 21st September from 1-11.45pm - this one day music festival features a host of live bands alongside BBQ and a real ales and cider bar. Camping is available too 🎸
Suraiya's Social Bite Soirée at O'Neills on Friday 20th September from 8pm - Nic Bennet will be performing live at this event in aid of Social Bite, a mission with the vision to end homelessness.
Kizomba Moments DJ Party at The Front Room on Tuesday 24th September from 7.30-11pm - DJ Yannick Delasoul is on the decks for a social after a fun Kizomba class 🪩
Market Day
Vintage, Vinyl & Pre-Loved Pop-Up Boutique at The Front Room on Saturday 21st September from 10am-4pm - expect records, clothes, coffee, cakes and DJs playing all day long 👗
The Sunday Market on the High Street on Sunday 22nd September from 10am-4pm - this is the soft launch of a brand new market on Wycombe High Street. Locals have apparently been asking for a more specialist and artisan market, and there's hope that this will grow into something special. We'll definitely be checking it out! 🛍️
Flackwell Heath Market at Three Horseshoes Pub on Saturday 21st September from 9am-12pm - expect a few new stalls this month alongside luxury chocolate, farm shop favourites, fresh bread, artisan coffee and more.
Nearby Cultural Delights
Wooburn Festival in Wooburn from Monday 23rd September to Saturday 16th November - this is the 57th year of this festival celebrating music and the visual arts with a full and enriching programme based around the village to dip in and out of as you desire 🎻
HP9 Art Show at Beaconsfield Town Hall on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September 10am-4pm - the professional artists of Beaconsfield are curating a varied art exhibition this weekend, featuring paintings, crafts, ceramics, decorations, jewellery, prints and more 🎨
The Delights of Literary Marlow talk at Liston Hall on Tuesday 24th September at 6pm - the Marlow Society Local History Group are hosting this talk by Heather Adams, Mike Bryan and Diana le Clerq on the lives and works of the literary greats who lived in or near Marlow, including Mary Shelley, TS Eliot, Enid Blyton and many more 📖
West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival at St Mary the Virgin in Hambleden from Thursday 19th-Saturday 21st September - there are five different concerts across the three days on the theme of 'Enchanted'. This is a not-for-profit event so ticket prices are very reasonable considering the high calibre musicality on display, and a festival pass is also available for admission to all 5 concerts 🎼
Cliveden Literary Festival at Cliveden House on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September - a star-studded list of speakers include Salman Rushdie, William Boyd, Ian McEwan, Emily Maitlis, Dan Jones, Michael Gove and Simon Sebag Montefiore and a packed programming schedule.
"Where Olive Trees Weep" Screening at Christ Church URC Marlow on Sunday 22nd September from 6.30-9.30pm - hosted by the Marlow Palestine Society, the film focuses on the plight and resilience of the Palestinian people. All are invited and it is FREE, although a donation of £5 towards running costs would be appreciated. There will also be merchandise stalls in aid of Palestine.
For the Kids
Dream Catcher Making Class at the Walled Garden on Sunday 22nd September from 9.30-11.30am - let your child get creative as you relax and enjoy delicious coffee and snacks from the café 🌙
Tiny Talk Time at Wycombe Museum on Friday 20th September at 10am - welcoming 2-5 year olds for this session based on 'Grumpy Cat' by Britta Teckentrup 😾
Free Junior Squash Taster Session at Holmer Green Squash and Racketball Club on Saturday 21st September - a fun, FREE session for juniors to learn new skills. Equipment provided, just contact juniors@hgsrc.co.uk to book a slot.
Don't Forget the Parents...
The Mum Club Brunch Club at Browns Beaconsfield on Friday 20th September from 10am-12pm - tickets include brunch, unlimited teas and coffees, a goody bag, play area for the littles, professional photography, a sleep consultant on hand and more amongst like-minded mums. Come with a bump or a baby, with friends or alone! 👶🏻
Sweet Dreams Drop-in Clinic at JB's Café on Wednesday 25th September from 10.30am-12pm - come and see sleep nanny Melanie Hastings at the Judo Centre café if you're having problems with your child's sleep and need some advice 💤
Sausage Fest at the Jolly Cricketers in Seer Green on Sunday 22nd September from 12-3pm - if you're the paw parent of a Dachshund dog, you're cordially invited to the end of Summer party. Featuring canine competitions, a photographer and trade stands to boot 🐾
Something a little different...
The Real Life Live Drawing Event at the Front Room on Saturday 21st September from 7.30-11pm - a celebration of body positivity and acceptance in this life drawing event, featuring live models, chilled lounge beats, drinks and sharing boards, as well as supplies 🎨
Sound Healing & Gong Meditation at Penn Street Village Hall on Friday 20th September at 7.10pm - Shinrin of Sound welcomes you to a night of sound healing, lasting 1 hour and 20 minutes 🔔
Harvest Garden Party at Terriers Community Garden on Saturday 21st September from 12-2pm - featuring a preserving workshop, tours of the garden, seed swap and kids' planting activities alongside refreshments 🪴
Crochet Basket Creative Session at Cedar Barn on Tuesday 24th September at 7pm - join the Create Your Happy team in their crochet basket workshop 🧶
Empowered for the Future: Life Planning Seminar at South Bucks Hospice on Wednesday 25th September from 1-4pm - if you're concerned about what the future might look like for you and/or your family, South Bucks Hospice are offering financial, legal, spiritual and psychological advice during this event.
Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Wycombe
Rarely does an event from another country or culture manage to successfully hook the interest of us Brits but Oktoberfest is one such event.
We can probably attribute that to the vast quantities of beer on offer -- anyone for a Stein? -- alongside traditional German feasting and presumably buxom women in Dirndls. Ahoy, milkmaids.
Originating in Munich from the 1810 wedding celebrations of a local Kronprinz and Princess, its metamorphosis into a community festival has since spread all the over the world -- including to dearest Wycombe and its surrounds.
Here's where you can get your Oktoberfest fix locally this year:
Oktoberfest BBQ at The Walled Garden on Saturday 21st September from 12-6pm - they're firing up the grill and promising an array of German-style sausages perfectly paired with a selection of beers. Live music and face painting to complete the festivities.
Oktoberfest Weekend at the Old Queens Head from 19th-22nd September -- starting with an Oktoberfest-themed pub quiz on the Thursday, followed by an Open Mic Night on Friday, then live music all day on the Saturday alongside face painting, BBQ and steins. Finish it all off with a recovery day on Sunday with roasts, Bloody Marys and live jazz.
Oktoberfest at the Mad Squirrel from Friday 27th September until Sunday 6th October -- the Taproom have two limited release Mad Squirrel brews (Festbier and Wies'n), two guest beers as well as traditional Munich Oktoberfest beers to celebrate. There'll also be Bavarian-inspired food specials available.
Oktoberfest 2024 at The Crown Radnage on Saturday 5th October from 6-11.30pm - The Crown are promising Lederhosen alongside beer steins, live music and authentic German food.
Oktoberfest at the Bucks Student Union on Tuesday 1st October from 8pm-midnight -- free for students at a fully decorated The Venue, with steins, pretzels and live music from a brass band.
Where in Wycombe am I?
Whereabouts is this cosy, tucked-away campfire spot? 🤨
Last week's answer: I was standing on the bridge between Castle Street and Priory Avenue - the easiest shortcut to the museum from town. If you face the other way on the bridge, you'll be able to see the largest retaining wall in Europe, made up of 1.25 million bricks.
Weather In Wycombe
A few showers and ‘scattered thunderstorms’ predicted for the weekend. 🙃
Friday
🌤️ 21°C - 💨 13 mph - ☂️ 20% chance
Saturday
🌦️ 22°C - 💨 10 mph - ☂️ 50% chance
Sunday
🌧️ 19°C - 💨 8 mph - ☂️ 80% chance
Thanks For Reading
We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of the Pulse!
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Until next Thursday…
Steph
Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse
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