Oktoberfest

This five-week celebration is now in its ninth year. There’s all manner of German and Austrian beers on hand to sample, plus waitresses in dirndls and ‘Oompah’ music, too.

Last year the fest steered its way through 264,000 pints of beer, 15,000 pork schnitzels, more than 40,000 sausages and nearly 900 kilos of sauerkraut.

Entrance is free on Wednesdays and Thursdays with a £14.50 weekend fee including a stein of lager to get you going.

Time to get your drinking face on!

Until October 27. 7pm-1am, £14.50
Bavarian Beerhouse, EC1V 2QH/ EC3N 2AU  
Tube | Old Street/ Tower Hill 
bavarian-beerhouse.com

 

Pongathon

If it’s raining outside, then duck into the shelter, drink in hand, for some indoor sports.

Take the Pongbot Challenge, in which you face off against a ping pong robot, with wall-to-wall ping pong tables spread out across two floors in this east London table tennis haven.

Grab a bat, and a glass, and get crackin’.

October 2. 5pm-11pm, free
Richmix, E1 6LA 
Station | Shoreditch High Street 
richmix.org.uk

 

Adventure Film Festival

Forget the Olympics, this film festival puts the focus on extreme sports – kayaking over waterfalls, mountain biking down the sheer drops of the Himalayas, that sort of thing.

This national festie is spread over three themed nights – Endurance, High Altitude and Adrenaline – featuring the most bonkers athletes you can imagine.

October 8-Nov 1. Various times, £8
Various
adventurefest.co.uk

 

Photomonth

Two months of eye-catching photography comes to east London, bringing together the finest photographers working today and giving them a platform to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Among the exhibitions are Pages Of Hackney and Travellers’ Children, as well as a series of talks and workshops, too.

October 1-Nov 30. Various times, free
Various
photomonth.org

 

Afrovibes

This biannual festival celebrates the very best in performance from South Africa and beyond. Theatre, art, dance, music and spoken word comprise the programme, with the Township Café on hand to serve up authentic South African fare.

As well as all this, there are post-show talks, late night music and workshops, so you can get involved and pick up a few skills along the way.

October 1-20. Various times, £10-26
Various | afrovibes2012.co.uk

 

Femmes By The Thames

An evening of female comedy and cabaret headlined by Zoe Lyons, who’s played around the world, was a hit at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and has been seen on Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

Joanna Neary, Ada Campe and Bunnie Morethan provide support.

October 4. 7pm, £6
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, SE11 5HY
Tube | Vauxhall 
rvt.org.uk

 

Austique Knicker Salon

This exhibition is quite literally pants, but pants of only the most high-end designer variety.

London store Austique holds a knicker salon at its two London stores in Chelsea and Marylebone.

Go for a selection of the most luxurious and sought-after undies out there. 

October 1-30. 10am-8pm
330 Kings Road, SW3 5UR/ 40
New Cavendish Street, W1G 8UD
Tube | South Kensington/ Bond Street
austique.com

 

Photos: Simon Rawles