October Unpacked is back: free tasters, farmers' markets and an Oktoberfest

October Unpacked, a month of food, drink, arts and culture events across Brighton & Hove, is back for its second year. The Argus³ reported that more than 200 events are in this year’s brochure and on the website. It is run by the Brighton and Hove Tourism Alliance and Discover Brighton¹, with the aim of giving visitors a reason to come in autumn and getting residents out to places they haven’t tried.

One strand is the Taste Trail, which runs throughout October. Selected restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars in central Brighton offer a small taster, an October Unpacked special, or something extra free when you buy. There are no tickets, wristbands or codes. You pay the venue directly, and the participating places have October Unpacked posters up.

The Sussex Peasant’s Big Autumn Markets bring Sussex farmers and seasonal food to St George’s Church in Kemptown today, Friday 9 October, from 9am to 4pm. They are at St Ann’s Well Gardens in Hove on 16 October and Preston Park on 17 October. All are free.

On Sunday 11 October, Jubilee Square hosts the free Brighton Italian Festival Street Party from noon to 9pm. The same afternoon Chef Chrissie Ranx serves a Sunday roast with a Caribbean twist and live jazz at Cases on Western Road, listed at £12.50.

At Brighton Racecourse on 15 October, waiters and bartenders race each other in the BITE Sussex Waiters Race, which supports the charity Justlife. Racegoers can bet on their favourite (more on the race). The listing gives a price of £18.

The Winkle, in the Kings Road Arches, has several nights on. A Sea-cuterie and Wine Tasting on 15 October pairs cured and smoked seafood with six wines chosen by an expert from Jascots Wine Merchants, for £49.50. Surf and Turf Night on 23 October is fillet steak and half a lobster for £45. A three-course Justlife charity supper club follows on 29 October, at £35 a head.

Nostos on Holland Road, Hove, runs unlimited Greek street food every Wednesday from 5pm to 11pm, including gyros and souvlaki, for £21.

Brighton’s Oktoberfest returns to Shelter Hall on the seafront on 23 and 24 October, with an oompah band and sittings at 6.30pm and 8.45pm. Tickets are listed at £13.70.

On 24 October, Erika Martinez of Gente de Mezcal leads a tasting of four mezcals with a five-course menu of tacos and dessert at Old School Studios. It costs £60.

The full programme also lists music, comedy, theatre, film and art, at discoverbrighton.org/october-unpacked.