What’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this August
Hello and welcome to your invaluable guide to the best events, exhibitions and things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire throughout August 2023.
August is indeed, a wonderful time to be in Oxfordshire.
Enjoy the sun. Make time for brunch at one of the many local restaurants with outdoor seating, or grab a blanket, pack a picnic basket and find yourself a coveted spot at any of the numerous outdoor theatre events across the county.
And if you fancy venturing further afield, consider taking a cultural day trip to London’s west end on a weekend (the capital city is relatively calmer then) for a matinee in one of London’s theatres.
Need we say again that this is a curated list of things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this August. Take a look at the “What’s on” section, where you’ll find a growing array of events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire, plus unmissable ones beyond the county that would make for a great day out.
Got an event that should be on the list? List your event on The Oxford Magazine website and reach our growing audience of people who live, work or place in Oxfordshire. Once again, welcome to your invaluable guide to what’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this August.
Wilderness Festival 2023
When: 03 to 06 AugustWhere: Cornbury Park, CharlburyView event Buy ticketsWilderness festival is the multi-award winning 4-day festival combining live music, contemporary arts and an array of theatre, artisanship, late-night parties, outdoor pursuits and culinary experiences. It’s one festival where genres are redefined, identity is turned on its head, and arts from across the spectrum sit side by side.
Festival lineup includes: The Chemical Brothers / Christine and The Queens / Fatboy Slim / Sugababes / Arlo Parks / Confidence Man / Franc Moody / Joesef / GoGo Penguin / Pip Millett / Flyte / Laurent Garnier / Honey Dijon / Todd Terry / Eats Everything + more
Oxford Piano Festival 2023
When: 29 July to 06 AugustWhere: VariousView event Festival websiteThe Oxford Piano Festival was founded in 1999 by Marios Papadopoulos, renowned pianist and Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Each year, the Festival welcomes piano players and pedagogues, experts and enthusiasts, to some of Oxford’s most historic venues, such as Sir Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre, the Holywell Music Room, and Christ Church Cathedral.
Fairport Cropredy Convention 2023
When: 10 to 12 AugustWhere: Cropredy Village, BanburyView event Buy ticketsThe Fairport Cropredy Convention 2023 will be staged over the weekend of 10 to 12 August 2023. The annual festival of folk and rock music, headed by British folk-rock band Fairport Convention is held on the edge of the village of Cropredy near Babnury in Oxfordshire.
Festival lineup includes: TBC
Henley Summer Fest 2023 – The BIG Family Day Out
When: 12 AugustWhere: The Henley ShowgroundView event Buy ticketsHenley Summer Fest – The BIG Family Day Out is new for 2023 and invites families to start their summer with a bang. The festival will host multiple zones of attraction and offer families an array of activities to enjoy throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
Disciver more: Funfairs & fireworks
Rewind Festival South 2023
When: 18 to 20 AugustWhere: Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-ThamesView eventRewind Festival South is probably the biggest 80’s music festival in the world. It is a spectacular event, packed full of fun, laughter, great (and terrible!) costumes and friends. Celebrate the best decade around with all your favourite 80s icons. Get your tickets and join the biggest party of the summer. This really is going to be one of the 2023 festivals in Oxfordshire you can’t afford to miss.
Festival lineup includes: TBC
The Big Feastival 2023
When: 25 to 27 AugustWhere: Alex James’ Farm, KinghamView event Buy ticketsThe Big Feastival will be back on Alex James’ beautiful Cotswolds farm this August Bank Holiday. This family-friendly music and food festival promises to be one truly unforgettable weekend. Expect a top-drawer selection of live music acts, some of the country’s top chefs, and plenty of hands-on activities for both big and little ones. The Big Feastival is for everyone, big and small.
Festival lineup includes: TBC
Discover more: Food & Drink Events
Foodies Festival Oxford 2023
When: 26 to 28 AugustWhere: South Park, OxfordView event Buy ticketsFoodies Festival Oxford, part of the UK’s biggest food festival, will return over the Bank Holiday weekend with a mouth-watering summer festival, live music, workshops, masterclasses and of course, Top Chefs. Watch MasterChef Champions showw off their skills, learn how to make show-stopping cakes, sample new wines, champagnes and cocktails, taste new flavours, meet artisan producers, and most importantly, have fun all day.
Festival lineup includes: Scouting For Girls / Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Abingdon Balloon & Fireworks Festival 2023
When: 26 AugustWhere: Abingdon AirfieldView event Buy ticketsHead up to Abingdon Airfield with your family and friends for a breathtaking evening of air displays, hot air balloons, demonstrations, music, skydiving and world-class firework entertainment. Witness displays choreographed to music and a mind-blowing quarter-mile-wide closing display and light show.
Boundary Encounters
When: 22 July to 29 OctoberWhere: Modern Art OxfordView event Event websiteBoundary Encounters is a summer show of residencies, projects and live events at Modern Art Oxford, including new work from artists Valerie Asiimwe Amani, Julie Freeman and Harold Offeh. The exhibition features an interactive display of projects and events collaboratively selected from Modern Art Oxford’s archives, celebrating social learning experiences with creative communities living in Oxfordshire and beyond.
Discover more: Modern Art Oxford
Joana Vasconcelos: Wedding Cake tours
When: 08 June to 26 OctoberWhere: Waddesdon ManorView event Book ticketsOpening this summer, Wedding Cake is a 12-metre-tall ceramic sculptural pavilion in the form of a three-tiered cake. This major new Rothschild Foundation commission from celebrated Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos will stand within a grove of trees at Waddesdon beside the 19th-century Dairy.
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