THOUSANDS of people braved the warm temperatures to celebrate Eid al-Adha on Saturday.

It was the second Oxford Eid Extravaganza event of the year – and the first time organisers have put on the open-air family festival twice in one year.

Marking the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Eid al-Adha is a major holiday in the Islamic calendar.

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And on Saturday, families crowded to Cheney School, Headington, for rides, food stalls, crafts - and even a football tournament.

Organiser Shabnam Sabir, who set up the Oxford Eid Extravaganza in 2015, said they put on a second event this year after feedback from people that it was sorely wanted.

“We hadn’t had one for two years over lockdown,” she said.

“After the few years we’ve all had, now more than ever we need every opportunity we can to get people together, have a break, enjoy and celebrate.

“It’s all about bringing people together.”

She added: “It’s nice to see different communities coming together – old faces, new faces.”

The event had drawn visitors from as far afield as Birmingham, Manchester and Bedford, Ms Sabir said.

Among the stallholders on Saturday was Oxford Community Action, selling hot food – with the profits used to support its foodbank. Volunteer Fatma Kassim said: “It’s been very, very busy. Everyone’s been enjoying the food.”

East Oxford MP Anneliese Dodds was also at the event, watching on as teams from east Oxford’s Diversity Football League took each other on in a mini-football tournament on the Cheney School astro turf.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward