What's On in Wells is brought to you by the Wells Festival of Literature — celebrating words, ideas and the art of storytelling this October.

Wells is putting on a show of contrasts this week — Shakespearean intrigue, cathedral-lit installations and memory sewn into fabric. Whether you're heading to the theatre, museum or an art-splashed aisle of the cathedral, there's plenty to see, ponder and gently applaud.

And if you've got an event in Wells that isn't listed here, don't panic – you can nub your event for free right here.

The Wells Festival of Literature begins on Friday, 17 October at Cedars Hall, with opening night featuring Sebastian Faulks and Tim Spector already sold out. The festival runs through 25 October and includes talks, poetry, panels and interactive sessions across Wells and the surrounding area. Weekend highlights include:

• Saturday: Sophy Roberts opens with a tale about an elephant training school, followed by Horatio Clare on the small boats crisis. Gina Rippon examines how science overlooked autism in women, and Sumit Paul‑Choudhury offers views on optimism.
• Sunday: Nick Trend speaks on passion and art, then Howard Jacobson discusses love in later life in the Book Group event. In the evening, Rowan Williams and Lamorna Ash talk faith and younger generations. The day may end with the Wells Literary Quiz for enthusiastic readers.

Later in the week, visitors can hear from Carol Klein, Prue Leith, Charlie Taylor (BBC Somerset) paired with Simon Kuper in a football discussion, and Stuart Maconie recounts behind‑the‑scenes stories from The Beatles.

Also on Friday (17 Oct), ElfinTouch live concert and Samhain ceremony takes over Glastonbury Assembly Rooms with spiritual drumming from Tatanka Drums and a ceremony led by spirit medium Pia Morgan. Doors open 7.30 pm. Meanwhile, the Glastonbury Pagan Moot – "Bobby: A Garden of Bones – Animistic Techniques for Working with Animal Allies" gathers at Becket's Inn for a workshop on animistic techniques, working with animal effigies and spirit-feeding rituals — not your usual pub night out.

Saturday brings the Glastonbury Repair Café to St Benedict's Scout Hut (10 am to noon) — bring your broken bits and bobs for a fix, plus donations for tea and community projects. Over in Wells, it's Shakespeare with a twist as Tangle Theatre – Julius Caesar lands at Croscombe Village Hall (7.30 pm, tickets £14). And Shepton Mallet goes full harmony at the Harmony Singing Weekend at the Ammerdown Centre, where Clara Atkins leads global songs and chapel acoustics.

Sunday (19 Oct) is your last chance to catch Memories through Stitch at Wells Museum, a free textile-art exhibition exploring personal memory (10 am–4 pm). If you're more into weddings than woven memories, The Big Southwest Wedding Fair continues at Bath & West Showground with 80+ suppliers and catwalk shows. Elsewhere, spiritual seekers can join day two of the Harmony Singing Weekend or simply stroll through the Glastonbury monthly town-wide market, where Tor Collective, Abbey Mews and Charter Market all come together for crafts, food and produce.

Tuesday means Glastonbury Charter Market day (9 am–3 pm), with artisan goods and fair-trade finds at Market Cross and St Dunstan's car park. That evening, Motown and Soul Night with Eleazar King brings a two-course dinner and velvet vocals to The Loft (tickets £30, 9 pm–11 pm).

Next Wednesday, Wells Art Contemporary international art exhibition continues at Wells Cathedral, running until 1 November. There's still time to catch the 93 shortlisted pieces and 22 installations responding to the cathedral's architecture and the theme "Flowing Light".

Got an exhibition, show or delightfully niche talk coming up in Wells? You can nub your event here and let the locals in on it.