Oxford
The festival has been taking place since 2009, and it has evolved over the years from a single evening’s event in the city centre to a full three day weekend that includes light and sound installations, a festive market, music, dance and lots of free activities in venues across the city, and more recently to light trails and events in residential areas of the city.
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace Illuminated Christmas Lights Trail 2023
18 November to 02 January
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
It’s the most wonderful time of the year when over a million lights, lasers and seasonal sounds fill the air with festive fun through the Palace’s picture-perfect gardens. Look forward to some together time with family and friends or have yourself a holly, jolly Christmas – complete with a walk under the stars with a *spiced winter warmer or *hot chocolate shared with someone special.
*separate charges apply
Henley-on-Thames
Christmas launches in Henley-on-Thames with the annual Christmas Festival that takes place on Bell Street, Duke Street, Friday Street, Hart Street and the Market Place on Friday 27 November 2022 (the last Friday in November). But this year, there will be extra activities and events over the weekend with a nutcracker trail launched on the Saturday and a Craft Market on the Sunday.
Abingdon
The Abingdon Christmas Extravaganza kicks off the festive season in Abingdon. It’s a family-focused festive event in the heart of the town where the community comes together as one. Expect, craft market, a parade through the town centre, as well as music and other entertainment from the stage on the Market Place and a performance area on Bath Street.
Bicester
This is a family-focused festive event in the heart of the town where the community comes together as one to kick off the festive season. The event will start at noon, and there will be a host of activities to enjoy and festive stalls selling arts and crafts, gifts and food. There will be lantern-making workshops during the day, followed by a lantern parade after dark. The festive lights will be switched on by the Town Mayor at around 6.00pm.
Woodstock
Residents and visitors are warmly invited to a Night of a Thousand Candles in Woodstock. Come see the Christmas lights switched on and enjoy a great family event to start the festive season. See Woodstock at its best with late shopping, great restaurants and pubs, the Woodstock Festive Fayre, live music, a short panto (oh yes, there is!), school choir, food and drink and Father Christmas.
Banbury
The Banbury Christmas Lights Switch-on kicks off the festive season in Banbury. It’s a family-focused festive event in the heart of the town where the community come together as one. Previous years have seen live stage music, song and dance marquee, market, fairground, and children’s activities, with the entertainment commencing at 1.00pm and the light switch-on at 5.00pm.
Kidlington
The Kidlington Christmas lights switch-on event will takes place on 01 December, with local school choirs, local Kidlington stalls, Santa’s grotto, funfair rides, animal petting corner, concert brass band, hot and cold refreshments and lots more. Hundreds of people turn out for the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights in the High Street and Piazza at 6.00pm, which is brought to you by the Kidlington Parish Council and The Kidlington Centre team.
Carterton
Like many events last Christmas, Carterton’s annual Christmas lights switch-on and the lantern parade were cancelled. But this year, the annual Christmas event, will go ahead on Friday 02 December from 5.00pm to 8.00pm. Expect a street fair with new stalls, crafts, gifts and refreshments, singing by the RAF Brize Norton Military Wives Choir, live music and funfair. And, of course, Father Christmas will be in his grotto.
Thame
Ring in the festive season to Thame at the popular Christmas Lights Switch-on event. Expect music by Thame Concert Band, mulled wine available from OX9ers, stilt walkers and late night shopping until 7.00pm. Santa will turn on the lights at 6.00pm alongside three children – one each from the local primary schools.
Wantage
Wantage Dickensian Evening is a Christmas festival held on the first Friday of December every year in and around Wantage Market Place. And everyone is invited to dress up in period costumes for this Christmas festival. Enjoy Christmas attractions and start your holiday shopping, including switch-on of the Christmas lights by the Mayor of Wantage, Christmas carols with Wantage Silver Band and the Parish Church Choir, childrens’ activities and much more.
Witney
The Witney Christmas lights switch-on event is a family event with live music and entertainment. Lights go on at 6.00pm. Jointly organised by the Witney Rotary Club, Witney Lions and Witney Round Table and supported by the Witney Town Council, the Christmas lights switch-on event attracts thousands of people to the Market Square.
Faringdon
Organised by Faringdon Town Council, working in partnership with White Horse Rotary Faringdon, aringdon Christmas Light Switch-on will take place on Saturday, 03 December 2022, at Faringdon Market place from 2.30pm. Expect Santa’s Grotto and stalls in The Market Place. There will also be an artistic craft fair by the Art Society in the Corn Exchange.
Didcot
Didcot Christmas Street Fair 2021 (Not taking place)
Didcot Events team are sorry to say that this year’s Didcot Christmas Street fair cannot go ahead. For various reasons, they felt they could not be responsible for a sizeable event in Didcot which they could not restrict or control when people were still cautious about gathering in large numbers.
Knowing that many people will be disappointed and that charities, clubs and groups who raise money for their good causes will miss out, they have organised a couple of smaller events. The first event will be at the Marriott at Milton Gate on Sunday 21 November and the second in Market Place and hopefully the Orchard Centre on Sunday 05 December.
