Town	Lights switched on	Special Events
Abingdon		We're going for a Victorian evening this year, and the timings of the event are to be the same as previous years, leading up to the fireworks at 8:15 p.m. The parade is at 6:45 p.m., and the lights will be switched on at 7 p.m. There is to be the usual small fair for young children along with a Punch and Judy show, stilt-walker, Victorian bicycles (both in the parade and to be seen around later), a Fair organ or two and hand organs, chestnut sellers and charity and other stalls dotted around town. Local bands are being invited to take part as are drama clubs and any other community groups and clubs that would like to take part in the parade or to sing/play/act/partake in the entertaining of us all through the evening. Local schools, Scouts and Guides and local majorettes are also being invited to join the parade as are the Lions with Father Christmas. The lights are being switched on by the winners of the 'Abingdon has talent' contest and each of them will also be invited to entertain us. Shops are invited to stay open and take part in the evening, with staff in fancy dress where they wish, and Town Councillors will once again walk around looking for the best dressed shop window and the best dressed individual or group.
Banbury		... commences at 12 noon with the lights being switched on at 5.00pm. This year the stage will be re-positioned to the front of the Town Hall to accommodate the large attendance the event brings. Throughout the afternoon Banbury residents and visitors to the town will be able to browse the craft and charity stalls, have fun on the large fairground situated in the Market Place, or spend the time watching the 4 hour stage programme which will include live music performances courtesy of Richlife & The Scholars, prior to our celebrity switch on. The Switch On personality this year is Jo Joyner, (Tanya Branning of Eastenders) with the headline act being The Cheeky Girls who will be performing for 20 minutes. The Firework Finale will commence at 5.05pm followed by Jo Joyner signing autographs. Dance Competition - For the first time, Banbury Town Council and the Christmas Lights Working Party are offering you the opportunity to appear live on stage at this year's switch on. Do you have dance talents that you are proud of, then dance this way. Open to all ages and dance formats, whether it be, hip hop, tap, line dancing, salsa, can-can, all are welcome. For more information call Ann Sewell on 01295 817314. See you on stage !!
Bicester		Bicester Town have a packed evening of entertainment on the evening of the big Switch On. The lights will be switched on at 7pm by local children who have taken part in a painting competition with the theme Christmas in Bicester. There will be craft and charity stalls, hot chestnuts and a pig roast. There'll be fairground rides, music and dancers and of course a visit from Father Christmas. For the more energetic, join us on Sunday 7th December for Bicester's Santa Run. A dash through the town in full costume and the chance to raise money for local charities. To find out more about any of these events visit the Bicester Vision website here.
Burford		The 5th Burford Advent Fair will start at 12 noon. Santa Claus will arrive on his sleigh at about 4.30pm to switch on the Christmas lights on the ancient Tolsey Town Hall. He will then lead a procession to the Church Green for carols and a Christmas blessing at about 5 p.m. During the afternoon there will be a multitude of activities - Music, Street Entertainers - finishing with fire juggling, Spiced drinks, Children's Games, Storytelling, the renowned Teddy Trail children's competition, the generously stocked Tombola, and have a go on the raffle to win the Bumper Burford Hamper with contributions from many of the town's specialist shops. It is a fine opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the many hotels, pubs and teashops and do some early Christmas Shopping. Many of the shops will have special events and exhibitions - art, craft and jewellery. There will be a Free identification service of small antiques, and you can book a guided walk around the Historic Town on the day.   For further details please contact Mrs Veral Marshall, The Stone Gallery, 93 The High Street, Burford, OX18 4QA, mail@stonegallery.co.uk.
Charlbury	Thursday 4th December	There will be entertainment, street stalls, carol singing, Santa in person and late-night shopping - to name a few of the attractions! There is also late night shopping on the 18th December.
Chipping Norton	Thursday 4th December	This will be combined with a late night shopping evening in the town.
Carterton	Friday 5th December	The Mayor has arranged for a special guest to switch on the lights this year. Further details will be publicised on the Council's website - www.carterton-tc.gov.uk - at the Town Hall and in the Library. Application forms for stalls are available now from the Town Hall - tel 01993 842156. There will be a road closure in place from 4.30 p.m., and charity and retail stalls will line both sides of the Alvescot Road, selling their wares from 6.00 - 8.00 p.m. There will be a funfair in the car park behind the library, lots of stalls selling mulled wine and refreshments, and many of the shops will stay open throughout the evening. The switch on will take place at 6 o'clock at the Town Hall, and just before that there will be a special display at the newly refurbished Tower Square with its beautiful mosaic. This year we hope to have some additional attractions to delight and entertain you, as well as music from the Witney Town Band and local school children singing Christmas carols. Come along and find out more!
Didcot		Our event is from 4-9 in The Broadway and Orchard Centre Didcot. Our Theme is James Bond celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ian Fleming. Areas are being themed to different films, the Orchard Centre being Octopussy with a Circus theme, and the Methodist Church and Hall The Ice Palace from Die Another Day. We have an Opening James Bond sequence at the Cinema & Cornerstones at 5.45 with street runners, jivers, motorbike stunt team and the Aston Martin car arriving with 'James Bond'. Then our Parade starts from the Civic Hall at 7pm.
Faringdon		Father Christmas will be joining the people of Faringdon to celebrate this popular annual event. This event is organised by the Faringdon Retailers and Rotary Club. There will be lots of stalls to buy your Christmas Gifts, and fairground rides for the children. There will be carols sung by children from Faringdon Junior School and Annabel's Nursery. The Christmas Lights will be turned on during the afternoon by Father Christmas.
Headington		The start of a three-day 'Christmas Experience' in Headington.Oxford United star Luke Foster switches on the lights on Thursday evening at 7pm. A choir and bands will add to the atmosphere from 6.30pm and some of our shops and businesses stay open later.Friday morning welcomes the popular Headington Farmers' Market from 8.30am and we have a schools and churches Christmas pageant from 1-3pm. Saturday is "traders' day" with a range of in-store promotions and activities, plus on-street entertainment, marching bands, Santa in his grotto, and an 'odd-one-out' window search competition for under-14s.
Henley-on-Thames		... will launch the Henley Christmas Festival season with the lights and carols, with three entertaining late night Thursday shopping evenings on 4th, 11th and 18th December, when shops will open late with some suitable carols and street music. There is also a 3-day Continental Market.
Kidlington	Tuesday 2nd December	We are planning to have charity stalls, refreshments and small fun fair rides. There will, of course, be a visit from Santa. The winners of the schools colouring competition will help to switch the lights on. We are also planning to have a majorettes display, KAOS choir and the local brass band. The entertainment will start at 6pm with lights switch on at 7pm, but these times are to be confirmed.
North Parade Oxford	Wednesday 17th December	The North Parade Avenue Christmas Festivities will be in association with BBC Radio Oxford's 'The Big Christmas Carol' which will be part of a city wide celebration of carol singing. We plan to begin our own festivities at 6pm and join in with BBC Radio Oxford who begin their broadcast between 7.30 - 8.30pm - and hope we should still be going strong to finish off at 9pm. We also have the Rotary Club Santa Sleigh at the entrance to the Avenue, and stalls selling: roast chestnuts, chocolates, pashminas, fair trade goods, olives/olive oil, BBQ, mulled wine, mince pies and soup. There will be late night shopping - and our lights are on all year round!
Oxford		For a map, times of events, etc., download a PDF file. 8,500 people are expected to attend the main Christmas event for Oxford City Centre 2008 entitled WinterLight. The event is linked with the launch of the Christmas lights. In Broad Street, we are planning an installation and performance by the internationally known group Walk the Plank, which will include a giant mobile of lanterns in the shape of the solar system. It will hang from a crane and be animated with music and pyrotechnics. There will also be a community lantern procession from Bonn Square to Broad Street and the Mayor and a celebrity will be in attendance. Other venues participating that evening include Oxford Castle, The Ashmolean Museum, The Oxford Playhouse, OVADA, Modern Art Oxford, The Museum of the History of Science and The Museum of Oxford will take part in the celebrations, by opening their doors to the public for a mixture of events. Plus - 'We've Got Christmas Covered' - OX1's two day food fayre in Oxford's Covered Market on 19th and 20th November, featuring cookery demos/tasting and signature dishes created by restaurant chefs, all using quality Covered Market produce, and 'Three December Saturdays' (6th, 13th & 20th) - OX1's promotion of Oxford shopping for Christmas, featuring street entertainers, Christmas street ambassadors, in-store events, and a handy guide to Oxford at Christmas.
Templars Square		Father Christmas is arriving in Templars Square at 10 o'clock on the morning of Saturday 29th November, and his arrival signals the start of a day of fairground fun, and also the opening of our truly fantastic animated miniature wonderland Christmas Grotto. There will also be free 'life size' fairground rides and attractions, free face painting, and a fantastic free to enter Wizard of Oz competition for children to take part in. Leading up to Christmas Day, children can visit Father Christmas in his Grotto between 10am and 4pm every Saturday, between 11am and 3pm every Sunday (hosted by the Lions, with all proceeds going to charity), and from 10am until 4pm on Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, and Wednesday 24th December. In addition to our fantastic Christmas Grotto, there will also be free face painting, and even more free entertainment on the 6th, 13th, 20th, 22nd, and 23rd December, and on Christmas Eve, we're giving away free candy floss, pop corn, and chocolate apples! Check out www.templarssquare.com for more details.
Thame	Friday 5th December	A TOP international chef has agreed to officially turn on Thame's Christmas lights this year. Raymond Blanc, whose company owns the Eight at The Thatch restaurant in Thame, as well as Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons Hotel and restaurant at Milton Common, accepted an invitation from Thame Town Council to attend Thame's Christmas event. Programme - 6.00pm, Mayor's Welcome - 6.05pm, Children's Choir from Junior Schools accompanied by Thame Concert Band - 6.25pm, Thame Players - 6.30pm, Four in a Bar, Sax Quartet - 7.00pm, Raymond Blanc turns on the Christmas Lights - 7.10pm, Surprise Visitor/Town Crier - 7.15pm, Community Singing with Thame Concert Band - 7.30 pm, Christmas Blessing. From 2pm there will be other attractions: Stalls, Farmers Market, French Stall, Hog Roast and Fair Rides.
Wallingford	Thursday 4th December	Medieval Christmas Night starts with a parade from Kinecroft at 6pm featuring 14ft walking puppets of King Steven and Empress Matilda, a town crier, stilt walkers, the Town Guard and their followers, minstrels and jesters, Father Christmas in his carriage and donkeys galore. The ancient ceremony of hanging the glove and lighting the tree will be a centrepiece of the event. Shops will be open with gift ideas and hospitality. Market Place will host stalls of local produce, roast hog, sizzling sausages, lamb and beef burgers, mulled wine and spiced cider. For children there'll be a play lorry, roundabout, balloon artist and Punch & Judy. Visit the Oxford Inspires 'Advent Installation' in St Martin's Street. Lights, reflections and water, this promises to be something very special just for Wallingford. Across the road the Regal will host Charity stalls, Punch & Judy and a welcome cup of tea and slice of cake provided by the ladies of the Country Market. In St Leonard's Square the Town Guard, suitably attired, will re-enact ancient skills in close combat, and at Mistress Auldwinkle's camp she will show you how our ancestors lived through the long, cold dark nights!  On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December the Continental Christmas Market will be back in town. Stollen cakes, panetone, German beer and French wine. Visit the Market Place and save the cost of that shopping trip to Calais!
Wantage	Friday 5th December	For a full programme of events, click here. Wantage's Annual Dickensian Evening comes round on Friday, 5th December commencing at 6.00 p.m. Tremendous fun for both adults and children - many charity stalls - most shops, stores, tea rooms and the Museum open till 9.00 p.m. Don't miss the colour of this event with men and women stylishly dressed in Dickensian attire; the lively and seasonal music; the lights and the convivial atmosphere. As this evening can be really busy, and people don't always have the chance to look round all the shops and relax, more than 20 shopkeepers are also expected to open late on Friday 19th December, to attract Christmas shoppers.
Witney		In The Market Square, Witney from 4.30pm. We are delighted that our MP, David Cameron, will once again be performing the ceremonial Switch On - ably supported by Mark Wells, (King Edmund of the recent film, "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe") - in the Market Square at 7pm. The event will be kicking off at 4.30pm where Father Christmas's reindeer will be situated underneath the Town Hall canopy for children to pet and be ready to take children's letters to Father Christmas. In addition children's bouncy castles will be located in the Market Square and Langdale Hall to keep the little ones entertained. For the hungry there will be a huge Pig Roast from the Witney Rotary Club from 5.00pm until the last bite of crackling has disappeared! The evening's entertainment will start with the Witney Town Band playing some traditional Christmas Carols as well as a local children's choir. At the same time the Corn Exchange will play host to a Christmas Fayre where there will be various charity stalls, Father Christmas, the Winter Princess and refreshments will be served. The Langdale Hall will play host to The Witney Model and Collectors' Club display. At 7pm we then warmly welcome the Caledonian Bag Pipers to really get the night going! When the stage performances finish, events will continue in the Corn Exchange and the Market Square, and there will even be a 'Bucking Reindeer'.
Woodstock		A Night of a Thousand Candles - Coinciding with the turn on of the town's Christmas lights by the Town Mayor, an evening of candle lit streets, candlelight procession, carols around the Xmas tree, mulled wine, hot soup, late night shopping by candlelight and musical theatre and fire dancing.