Bicester festive lights trail to return for third year

For the third year running, Garth Park will be lit transformed into a sea of sparkling festive lights, complete with a Santa’s grotto.

Garth Park's Christmas lights trail 2022 (Image: Eddy Xi Gong)

Free family printed pictures will be available, along with refreshments from cafe savoir and some local vendors serving hot churros and waffles, loaded fries, German sausage, burgers and jacket potatoes.

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Visitors can see Garth’s house lit with a festive light show and then continue to walk the trail and view the lights as festive music is played throughout.

The event is fully accessible to buggies, wheelchairs and scooters.

A spokesperson for Bicester Town Council said: “The grotto tickets are to be purchased on the day of your visit, due to last year’s super cold weather and the fact that families are not timed in the grotto.

“But there is also a potential waiting time of one-and-a-half-hours, so we want to allow visitors to decide on the day if they are able to or willing to wait.

“We do not give time slots as some families may be bigger than others, so we are giving visitors the choice.”

Dogs are allowed on site, but the council asks that visitors please ensure they are on a lead at all times.

Visitors are asked to arrive at their allocated time only, and children and adults are asked not to walk on the grass areas and stick to the paths for health and safety. Security may ask visitors to leave if seen.

Tickets can be exchanged if requested prior to the day. Accompanying adults will not be charged for the grotto, and grotto tickets can be purchased using the barcode at the grotto entrance.

There is no parking on site.

Tickets for children aged between six and 16 will cost £2.50, infants up to the age of five will cost £1.50.

Tickets are available here: https://shorturl.at/blmJY.

There are a number of other Christmas events coming up in Bicester over the next few weeks.

A Santa’s grotto will be stationed at Bicester Garden Centre between Friday, December 8 and Christmas eve. Visitors are asked to arrive 10 minutes before their booked time.

There will also be a dodgeball Christmas event being held at EWhitelands Farm Sports Ground.

Guests of all abilities are welcome to join in the ‘tinsel tag’ and then “wrap presents while dodging projectiles during the main game of double circular dodgeball.”

People who want to take part can book online here: https://joinrabble.com/locations/bicester-sarah-plater/#listings.

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1