The town chambers and business partnerships in the Oxfordshire Town
Chambers Network are working together to boost Christmas trade - a
crucial time of year for our towns. We're aiming to avoid date clashes so residents can visit and support
events in more than one of their nearest towns.
If you are a trader and require details of these events, you can get
contact details for many of the town chambers or business partnerships
who run them from their own websites. Just click on the town you need on
the map above. If there are no local details please email .
If you have any relevant information about your town's Christmas events
that does not appear here, then please contact us at .
Town
Lights switched on
Events
Abingdon
Thursday 1st December
Saturday 26th November - Food & Drink event, 10.00am - 3. 00pm on the Market Place, a chance for Abingdon’s food & drink establishments to promote themselves to the public. Also we will be launching a "find the queen fairy" competition. 26 fairy pictures will be placed in shops around the town, challenging children to walk around town to find them.
Thursday 1st December - Christmas Extravaganza, from 5.00pm. This year’s theme is "kings & queens". Parade at 6:45pm, lights turned on at 7pm by Nicola Blackwood MP. Lots of entertainment throughout the evening and finishing with fireworks. The winners of the ‘Find a Fairy’ competition will be announced. We will also be holding a competition for children in the parade for the "best King crown" & " best Queen crown".
Friday 2nd December. Chamber of Commerce Christmas social evening. Bringing lots of Abingdon small businesses together for a big Christmas party at the Kings Head & Bell. Buffet, glass of wine & disco all for only £12.50 per person. Tickets from E & R Goff News in Bridge Street.
Saturday 3rd December. Drivers will be able to park for free in district council car parks all day.
Saturdays 17th & 24th – the Chamber of Commerce have booked the market place on all 3 dates; full details of the events will follow shortly.
Banbury
Sunday 27th November
12.00 noon – 5.30pm. The event will be a musical
extravaganza and will include spectacular performances from local bands with a special performance from one of the
country's best Abba tribute acts, an appearance not to be missed. All topped off with a firework finale.
This year’s 3 hour stage programme will include live music performances courtesy of local bands, Neva Mynd and High Jinx.
Also on stage will be a variety of music ranging from R & B, songs from the sixties and the Choir that Rocks.
The lights will this year be switched on by Jeff Hordley, Emmerdale's bad boy ‘Cain Dingle’. Jeff has been in this
popular programme for 11 years and has had some very prominent story lines over the years.
Supporting the stage programme will be a large fairground in the Market Place and new this year a Christmas Market
in Cornhill. Drop down into the town centre to see Father Christmas on his float, stilt walkers and much more.
Look out for the official programme complete with event timings within the Banbury Cake.
Bicester
Thursday 1st December
In Sheep Street from 4.30pm. There will be hot chestnuts, teacup rides, a multitude of stalls and not forgetting the special visit from Santa in his sleigh.
With snow machines ensuring a festive flurry, the mince pies and mulled wine will be much appreciated.
For the entertainment, stage acts will be performing from 5pm starting with children from local school choirs, Funky Carols from Churches Together in Bicester and also the Bicester
Rock Choir. Also on the stage, the presentation for the Best Dressed
Christmas Window Cup will be made, which sees the town’s retailers
joining in with the Christmas spirit by decorating their shop fronts
in festive style. The lights this year will be switched on by the
Mayor with a little help from the winner of her Christmas Painting
Competition.
Lights are switched on at 7pm with stage acts starting from 5pm.
Bicester Santa Run.
Sunday 4 December 2011 will see a medley of Santas running 5k through the streets of Bicester, all in the aid of charity.
The race starts at 10.30am from Pingle Field and for the first time, all finishers will receive a festive medal, a free bacon buttie, a hot drink and the chance to win one of our special ‘spot prizes’.
There will also be a special award for the first man and first lady to finish.
Burford
Sunday 27th November
Burford Advent Fayre in Burford High Street. Father Christmas arrives at 4.30pm. Church Service at Burford Parish Church at 5.00pm.
Carterton
Friday 2nd December
At 6.00pm. We are delighted to say that the event this year will again include the Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums. The road closure will be in place from 4.30 p.m., and charity and commercial 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, plenty of stalls selling mulled wine, refreshments, Christmas gifts and craft items, and many of the shops will stay open throughout the evening. If you would like to apply for a stall, or require further information, please contact the Town Hall on 01993 842156.
Chipping Norton
Friday 2nd December
5.00-900pm. Locally known as Victorian Night, the event will feature an array of craft stalls, charity stalls and food vendors. There will be a nativity parade by local schools (with prizes for the best costumes) and even a visit by some travelling camels!!
Centred around the historic Town Hall, the Victorian Night will feature an array of musical entertainment including Chipping Norton Silver Band and the ever-popular Chippy All-Stars. Stalls will be taking their normal place in Wither's Court outside Beales' and Nash’s Bakery, with further stalls in the Town Hall. The Farmer’s Market will be paying an extra visit to the town and will be set up on the Market Place in the evening. On the night will be a kids ‘Treasure Hunt’ competition, as well as competitions for the Best-Dressed Shop Windows and prizes for the best Victorian Fancy Dress.
Didcot
Thursday 24th November
4.00-9.30pm in the Broadway and Orchard Centre. Special theme this year is Fantasy. We now have a road train which will
start and finish at the Treehouse; MG Cars at Thomas Merrifields and Vintage Cars At Rex Garage; a Mad Hatters Tea Party
in the Old Market Place and Jo Thoenes of Radio Oxford to open the
yellow brick road; Santa in his Fantasy World at The Methodist Hall,
and more than 50 stalls booked for a great Grand Parade led by our
very own Pantomime Dame. It’s the best Christmas Street Fair for
miles.
Faringdon
Saturday 3rd December
2:00pm - 5:00pm.
Father Christmas will be joining the people of Faringdon to celebrate this popular annual event, organised by the Faringdon Rotary Club.
There will be lots of stalls in the Market Place to buy your Christmas gifts, fairground rides, and carols sung by local children.
The Christmas Lights will be turned on during the afternoon by Father Christmas.
Drivers will be able to park for free in district council car parks all day
on this day.
Henley-on-Thames
Friday 2nd December
From 5.30pm - 9:00pm. Events include: the opening of a window for the inaugural Living Advent Calendar event;
a Children's Torch Lit Parade; Santa in his grotto (in The Barn); Mayor's switch-on of the Christmas lights;
Punch & Judy shows; Christmas charity and commercial stalls; carol singing; children's rides and much more. 4th December - Santa run.
Kidlington
Tuesday 29th November
In the High Street, with local choir and band,
Local craft and charity stalls, music and entertainment, etc. Lights to be switched on at 7pm.
Oxford (Inspires)
Friday 2nd December
Christmas Light Night 5.00pm – 10.00pm A buzzing evening of processions, lights, dance, art, live music and performance, together with a generous helping of festive cheer! Oxford’s museums, Castle, Town Hall, theatres and galleries will throw open their doors to the public for one-off late night viewings of their exhibitions and displays enhanced by special performances. Christmas markets, festive food and drink stalls and children’s rides will also be close by to add that extra bit of seasonal sparkle to the evening’s proceedings.
The Lights will be switched on by Sir Roger Bannister as part of our countdown to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
Tuesday 20 December.
Chanukah Celebration – Festival of Lights
Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony
With Lord Mayor of Oxford Cllr. Elise Benjamin.
Fire Juggler, Doughnuts, Latkes, Hot drinks, Music. 5pm
At Broad Street, outside Balliol College. Wednesday 21 December - Tuesday, 27
December. Lighting of the Menorah,
Broad Street, 4pm.
Oxford (Retailers)
Thursday 24th November
Main Launch of Christmas Promotion:
• Appearances by Peppa Pig at locations around the city centre.
• Other events, including karaoke and a surprise!
• Free parking at the Westgate Car Park from 5.30 p.m.
• Late night shopping to 9.00 p.m. in main shopping centres and several other shops with others staying open to 7.30 p.m. or 8.00 p.m.
In addition there will be a
“Find the Golden Egg” competition tying in with the Mother Goose pantomime taking
place in the weeks leading up to Christmas at the Oxford Playhouse. This will be launched on
Thursday 24th November
and will run until Sunday 18th December. With some fantastic prizes available, the special prize draw will take place on Wednesday 21st December.
Templars Square
Saturday 3rd December
A Titanic Start To Christmas With 'Titan The Robot'! - Saturday, 3 December 2011
Ballonatic Antics - Saturday, 10 December 2011
Talent Oxford Christmas Special! - Saturday, 10 December 2011
The Giant Snow Globe - For 10 days starting Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Santa Glides In, Joined By A Couple Of Mysterious Moving Christmas Trees! -
Saturday, 17 December 2011
The Enchanting Christmas Story Tent! - For 3 days starting Thursday, 22 December 2011
Thame
Friday 2nd December
This year's event promises to be even bigger and better with an ice rink in the car park area again, and for the first time, a Ski slope will help create a winter wonderland atmosphere.
EAST ENDERS's Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), will be helping to launch Christmas in Thame this year when she officially turns on the town's Christmas lights.
As well as the usual stalls and charity stands, the French market will be in town from the day before (Thursday, December 1)until the Saturday, December 3.
Thame's twin town of Montesson will also be visiting for the weekend once again, selling French wines, conserves, cheese etc and their ever popular tasty crepes.
The stage event will include a Childrens' choir made up from all three primary schools, accompanied by the Thame Concert Band, a performance by the winner of Thame's Got Talent, Community singing, a Christmas address by Rev Paddy Harris and, one of the stars of Music in the Park, Elton John tribute band, Ultimate Elton will be performing.
The event will begin at 6pm with the Mayor, David Bretherton's Welcome and finish at around 7.30pm. The Town Crier and a surprise visitor, with the initials FC, will also be making frequent appearances throughout the evening.
The Compere for the evening will be Paddy Harris, from Cornerstones.
11am to 5pm. The shops will be open and St. Mary’s Street, St. Martin’s Street and St. Leonard’s Square
will be closed to traffic from 10am to 6pm. The Town Christmas decorations will be illuminated and our
Mayor will switch on the Christmas Tree lights at 4.30pm. Come and
meet Wishy the human postbox.
Wantage
Friday 2nd December
Dickensian Evening. From 6.00pm until 9.00pm. Santa & Reindeer, Victorian Fun Fair, Punch & Judy, Pig Roast,
Charity Stalls plus many more attractions and special offers in many of the shops.
Christmas lights switched on at 6pm by Lucy Ellis of Heart FM with the Mayor and Town Crier.
Saturday 3rd December. Drivers will be able to park for free in district council car parks all day.
Witney
Friday 25th November
The road will be closed between 3.00pm and 9.00pm. Entertainment on the stage begins at 5.30pm.
Father Christmas and his reindeer,
Amazing Ice Sculpture,
Christmas Characters,
Music and Singing from The Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums, Dirty Earth Band, Elvis and his Gospel choir, Voicebox and Witney Town Band
Vintage Vehicles
Model Club Exhibition.
Charity Stalls in the Market Square and Langdale Hall
Pig Roast.
Children’s Fairground Rides.
Woodstock
Saturday 26th November
'A Night of a Thousand Candles', 6.00pm on the Town Square. Turn on of the town's Christmas illuminations,
Woodstock Primary School Choir, and enjoy entertainments, chestnuts, hot soup, mulled wine and more, in the atmospheric candle-lit setting..
Woodstock’s individual shops and galleries always have an impressive Christmas offering and many will hold special
events throughout the day on 26th November as well as staying open late.
During the day there will be ‘Woodstock Christmas Market’ from 10 – 7.30 in the Museum Gardens with thirty stalls featuring local crafts,
gifts and foods with live music from Oxford Harmony, Banbury Unison Rock Choir, Hannah Jago and Chris Beck. Also,
Gather around the Christmas tree at the Town Hall in Woodstock on Saturday 17th December and join with the Mayor as she
leads you in joyful singing of familiar carols.
Charlbury Summertown
9th December
2nd December
Shops will be open till 8pm.
Come to the Christmas tree outside Finders
Keepers where the St Edwards Brass Band will be playing and the lights will be switched on at 5.30 pm.
Saturday 19th November to Tuesday 3rd January
At Oxfordshire Museum, OX20 1SN. Closed Mondays and Sunday mornings. The work of over 30 designer-makers at a selling exhibition. Christmas presents from £2 to several hundred pounds.
At the Old Fire Station. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The work of nearly 20 designer-makers at a selling exhibition in this exciting
new arts venue in the heart of Oxford. Christmas presents from £2 to several hundred pounds.
Wallingford