It's officially Autumn this week which means its time for one thing: Blenheim Palace's Autumn Festival.

We don't need an excuse to embrace all things seasonal but with Michaelmas-inspired wacky races and a 22ft dragon in the Malborough maze, how can we resist?

The Autumn Festival is back this weekend (September 24 and 25) and the- following weekend (October 2 and 3).

The festival has a jam packed programme all in the stunning setting of the palace's wall garden.

The event is open to the entire family by offering a little something for everyone.

Some of the games included are coconut boules, pumpkin bowling and potato take-down.

From live music and theatre to a Fairie Orchard Cider bar and vegan market.

You can keep the kids busy with family yoga or try out a new hobby in the jewellry making classes. 

Or even lose yourself in a guided walk around the palace's grounds and gardens.

Oxford Mail: Blenheim Palace's Autumn Festival is back this weekend. Credit: Blenheim PalaceBlenheim Palace's Autumn Festival is back this weekend. Credit: Blenheim Palace

What's on this week at Blenheim Palace?

Activities at Blenheim Palace will be split across three areas: Workshops Tipi, Talks Tipi and the Little Dragons Tipi. 

Some activities require you to book a place in advance and pay a small fee to participate.

Friday September 24

Oxford Mail: Activities at Blenheim Place on Friday 24th September. Credit: Blenheim PalaceActivities at Blenheim Place on Friday 24th September. Credit: Blenheim Palace

Workshops Tipi

10.45-11.15

Plant, Relax and Grow

£8 a place - book in advance

12.15-13.45

Introduction to Home Composting

FREE - limited space - book in advance

14.15-15.15

Make macrame feathers

£8 a place - book in advance

15.45-17.15

Introduction to Home Composting

FREE - limited space - book in advance

Talks Tipi

11.15-11.45

10 Tea 'Facts' that will change your life

12.00-12.30

Community Over Competition: Supporting Independent Businesses with Independent Oxford

12.45-13.15

Beekeeping with local business Neve's bees

13.30-14.00

Let's reconnect: Getting back to nature with Annabelle Padwick of Life at No.27

14.15-14.45

Community Over Competition: Supporting Independent Businesses with Independent Oxford

15.00-15.45

Natural beauty and Wellbeing demo with Life at No.27

£5 a place - book in advance

16.00-16.30

Seasonal good food demo with Good Food Oxford

Little Dragons Tipi

11.30-12.30

Dragons Den Art Workshop

£8 a place - book in advance

14.00-15.00

Dragons Den Art Workshop

£8 a place - book in advance

16.00- 17.15

Fire-breathing Dragon Blowers! Art workshop

£8 a place - book in advance

Saturday September 25

Oxford Mail: Staurday 25th September line up at Blenheim Place. Credit: Blenheim PalaceStaurday 25th September line up at Blenheim Place. Credit: Blenheim Palace

Workshops Tipi

11.00-12.15

Self-care creativity for mothers
£8 a place - book in advance

12.15-13.45

Learn, Design and Grow

£8 a place - book in advance

14.15-15.30

Self-care creativity for mothers

£8 a place - book in advance

16.00-17.15

Precious metal clay jewellery taster

£8 a place - book in advance

Talks Tipi

11.15-11.45

Growing for wellbeing with Annabelle Padwick of Life at No.27

Foraging talk with Anelya Segizbayeva of Jericho Kitchen

14.45-15.12

Foraging talk with Anelya Segizbayeva of Jericho Kitchen

15.45-16.30

Natural beauty and Wellbeing demo with Life at No.27

£5 a place - book in advance

Little Dragons Tipi

11.30-12.45

Harvest Headbands Art Workshop

£8 a place - book in advance

14.00-15.15

Autumn Lantern Jars Art Workshop

£8 a place - book in advance

16.00-17.15

Harvest Headbands Art Workshop

£8 a place - book in advance

Walks

09.00-11.30

The Big Walk

12.45-13.45

Wild Mushroom foraging walk with Anelya Segizbayeva of Jericho Kitchen

£8 a place - book in advance

15.30-16.30

Wild Mushroom foraging walk with Anelya Segizbayeva of Jericho Kitchen

£8 a place - book in advance

On Sunday, there will also be other activities available including live music and performances. 

Music

11.30-11.50

Oxford Shakespeare Folk

12.00-12.45

Odette Michel

13.00-13.45

Owl Light Trio

14.00-14.20

Oxford Shakespeare Folk

14.45-15.30

Odette Michel

15.45-16.30

Owl Light Trio

Performances

11.30-12.15

Flotsam and Jetsam’s Voyage to the Trash Vortex

13.15-14.00

Flotsam and Jetsam’s Voyage to the Trash Vortex

15.30-16.15

Flotsam and Jetsam’s Voyage to the Trash Vortex

How to buy tickets for Blenheim Palace's Autumn Festival

Oxford Mail: There will be live music and theatre throughout the Autumn Festival. Credit: Blenheim PalaceThere will be live music and theatre throughout the Autumn Festival. Credit: Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace's Autumn festival will open this Saturday at 9am. 

The festival's opening hours are 9am-5pm across the weekend and no dogs are allowed.

Your ticket covers all the entertainment or you can get in for free with an Annual Pass.

Some of the activites shown above require pre-booking and coem at an additional cost.

Ticket prices vary with adults' tickets starting at £18.50 for the park and gardens and £29.50 to include the palace.

While childrens' tickets are available from £9.00. 

A family of four (two adults and two children) can attend the festival from just £50.00. 

For a full breakdown of prices, visit the Blenheim Palace website.

How to get to Blenheim Palace

By Car

The Palace is within easy reach of central London and Birmingham with roughly just one and a hour journeys by car.

Free car parking is available on-site, but Blenheim Palace recommend that you make use of the sustainable public transport options available if you can.

Park and Ride

During our busy weekends we will be operating a Park & Ride system into the Palace.

Follow the signs for parking as you arrive near the Palace and they will take you to the Park & Ride, where they will be running free and frequent buses. 

Oxford Mail: There is a Malborough maze with a 22ft dragon for the kids. Credit: Blenheim PalaceThere is a Malborough maze with a 22ft dragon for the kids. Credit: Blenheim Palace

Bus

There are three bus routes from Oxford City Centre to Woodstock.

Buses stop outside the main entrance, from where it’s a 10-minute stroll through the park to the Palace.

For bus times and journey planner, Blenheim Palace recommend that you visit their Good Journey Page or Stagecoach or Oxford Bus Company.

The Palace are offering 30% off Palace, Park & Garden tickets for visitors arriving by bus on our website, if you use the code GREEN30 at our online checkout.

Train

There are regular train services to the nearby train stations of Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Hanborough.

Travel from London Marylebone by Chiltern Trains to Oxford Parkway (then connect to Blenheim by Buses 7 and 500). This is the quickest route from London to Blenheim.

You can connect to get to Blenheim from many other cities by changing at Reading, Didcot Parkway or Birmingham New Street.

For train times and journey planner visit their Good Journey Page or National Rail.