There’s a dazzling array of events in store as the county prepares for Christmas, says Katherine MacAlister. The difficulty is choosing which spectacle to see ...
Bigger, brighter and better than ever – a staggering effort has been put into this year’s Oxford Winterlights festival season, which kicks off tonight with an evening of spectacle to launch the Christmas season.
So forget the credit crunch, recession and the cold because this is a night to remember, from 5pm – 9pm tonight the streets will be alive with performances, some big, some loud, some bright, some musical, some visual and all exciting.
And, with the city’s galleries and museums offering a wild mix of entertainment from 6pm – 10.30pm and the new Christmas lights switch on, Oxford offers a night to remember.
Bonn Square reopens today and French band Les Grooms (The Bellboys) will perform a special musical fanfare and a madcap mélange of music, comedy and surreal improvisation there.
Bringing with them a magical light show, stilt walkersThe Wrong Size will enthral the crowd. Later an illuminated lantern procession through the city centre is planned, featuring schools groups and live musicians. When the procession arrives in Broad Street, the extraordinary outdoor arts company Walk the Plank will raise a giant mobile animated with fire and fireworks heralding the start of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Also not to be missed is the live dance stage in Bonn Square featuring almost every conceivable sort of dance from 7.30pm – 9pm.
Rose Hill has its own festive lights display. Join artists Katy Beinart and Jo Huyg for a special walking tour around Rose Hill as the lights of the Street Lights Project flicker into life next Saturday.
The rest of Oxfordshire isn’t missing out, of course.
l WITNEY: The Christmas Lights are being switched on today by MP David Cameron, and there will be a choir, town band, BBC Radio 1, bagpipers, charity stalls and a real reindeer.
l HENLEY: Today, a three-day continental market starts with lights and carols, followed by three late night Thursday shopping evenings.
l FARINGDON: Tomorrow, the Christmas lights are switched with stalls, fairground rides and carols by schoolchildren.
l WOODSTOCK: tomorrow, A Night of a Thousand Candles provides the atmosphere for a turn-on of the Christmas lights by the Mayor. There will be a candlelight procession, carols around the Christmas tree, shopping and music by the Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums.
l BURFORD: An afternoon of music, street entertainment storytelling, a ‘Teddy Trail’ children’s competition and fire juggling takes place on Sunday. Father Christmas will switch on the Christmas lights and lead a procession to the Church Green.
l BANBURY: A Christmas lights event with stalls, fairground and a dance competition is scheduled for Sunday. A Jacobean market and ice rink will be set up.
l KIDLINGTON: Shop windows are set to be transformed by artists and community groups into WinterLight installations on Tuesday.
l BOTLEY: Window art installations will be unveiled on Thursday by pupils from Matthew Arnold School.
l CHIPPING NORTON: The lights will be illuminated on Thursday.
l CHARLBURY: Christmas entertainment, including carol singing and street stalls, is planned on Thursday.
l THAME: Restaurateur Raymond Blanc has been invited to switch on the Christmas lights, next Friday.
l WITNEY: Lanterns made by community groups will be switched on next Wednesday.
l WALLINFORD: a festival of lanterns and community carols takes place next Tuesday.
* Details of all these events can be found on www.oxfordinspires.org
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