Autumn Tide Festival 2026 on Tresco and a Dark Skies Week Round Up
Tresco’s Autumn Tide Festival brings food, music and island walks to Scilly until 17 October. Plus, a round up of Scilly Dark Skies Week and how you can still visit the St Martin’s observatory.
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October is one of the best kept secrets on the Isles of Scilly. The crowds have gone, the light turns golden and the night skies are among the darkest in the UK. This month the islands are marking the season in two very different ways, with a food festival and a week of stars.
Tresco's Autumn Tide Festival runs until Saturday 17 October, so there is still time to catch it. Over on St Martin's, the community observatory has just wrapped up Scilly Dark Skies Week. Here is what's on, what happened and how you can still enjoy both before the season closes.
Key Takeaways
- The Autumn Tide Festival runs on Tresco from 10 to 17 October 2026, with food, ales, music, walks and workshops centred on the New Inn.
- Next year's festival is already set for 16 to 23 October 2027.
- Scilly Dark Skies Week ran on St Martin's from 4 to 9 October, with talks, workshops and nightly stargazing at the COSMOS observatory.
- You can still visit the observatory on Tuesday evenings and Friday afternoons until the end of October.
- Inter island boats don't run after dark, so stay on St Martin's if you want to stargaze at the observatory.
Autumn Tide Festival on Tresco
The Autumn Tide Festival is a week of food, art, music and island life on Tresco. It first ran in 2025 and returns from Saturday 10 to Saturday 17 October, according to Tresco Island. The New Inn sits at its heart, bringing together island producers, chefs, artists, musicians and makers.
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Expect a mix of eating, drinking and getting outside. Tresco says the programme includes:
- Seasonal specials and freshly caught seafood
- Guest ales and locally brewed spirits
- Creative workshops
- Guided walks through Tresco's landscape
- Sea swims and live island music
Last year's first festival featured garden tours, shipwreck talks, drawing classes, boat trips and low tide rambles. Events are led by islanders, artisans and nature lovers, so you get real local knowledge on every walk and at every tasting. You can see the full programme and book individual events on the Tresco website.
Getting there and staying over
Tresco is an easy day trip from St Mary's by open boat. October timetables are thinner than in summer, so check today's boat times on Scilly Live before heading to the quay. If you want the evening events, staying on Tresco makes life much easier. Tresco's bookings team is on 01720 422849.
Already planning for 2027?
Tresco has already announced next year's dates. The Autumn Tide Festival returns from Saturday 16 to Saturday 23 October 2027.
Scilly Dark Skies Week round up
Scilly Dark Skies Week is a celebration of grassroots astronomy, run by the Community Observatory St Martin's on Scilly, known as COSMOS. This year it ran from 4 to 9 October on St Martin's, with walks, talks and workshops each day followed by stargazing at the observatory, according to COSMOS.
What happened this year
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Sunday 4 October | Coffee morning, then a torches off dark skies walk with Carolyn Kennett FRSA and Charlie Payne |
| Monday 5 October | Talk on exoplanets and worlds beyond our solar system with Mark T Holmes |
| Tuesday 6 October | Astrophotography workshop with Chris Hankey and Mark T Holmes, then an extended stargazing session |
| Wednesday 7 October | Talk on eclipses, from ancient times to modern science, with Carolyn Kennett FRSA |
| Thursday 8 October | Talk on exploring the Moon, from Apollo to Artemis, with Mark T Holmes |
| Friday 9 October | Last night drinks and guided stargazing at Karma St Martin's |
Tickets were pay as you go, with a guide donation of £10 for adults and £6 for under 16s. The event is non profit. Every penny goes back into the week and the upkeep of the observatory, so a ticket is also a way of supporting a small island community project.
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Missed it? COSMOS opens to the public twice a week from April to October. Tuesday evening sessions run from 21:00 to 22:00 in all weathers and must be booked in advance. Friday afternoon solar viewing runs from 14:00 to 16:00 as a drop in, but only when the sky is clear enough.
Sessions left this season:
- Friday 16 October: solar viewing
- Tuesday 20 October: evening stargazing
- Friday 23 October: solar viewing
- Tuesday 27 October: evening stargazing
- Friday 30 October: solar viewing
Entry is £6, or £5 for under 16s. Dogs on leads are welcome outside but not in the domes. Wear plenty of warm layers and leave your torch behind. Only red light is allowed, so everyone's eyes stay adjusted to the dark.
Why you need to stay on St Martin's
This catches visitors out. Inter island boats don't run after dark, so you can't pop over from St Mary's for an evening session. If you aren't staying on St Martin's, the Friday solar afternoons are your best bet. For evening stargazing, book a bed on the island through our where to stay guide.
Stargazing tips for October
You don't need a telescope to enjoy Scilly's skies. Visit Isles of Scilly says October half term is great for stargazing, with skies dark by around 8pm. The best views come about an hour and a half after sunset. Try Peninnis Head or the Garrison on St Mary's, or Wingletang Down on St Agnes.
Dark Skies Week 2027
Dates for next year haven't been announced yet. The week usually takes place in the first week of October, so keep an eye on our What's on page.
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