Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival is back with an exciting line-up of events, street parades, lanterns, a breakfast with Santa, Victorian Market, Leys in Light, Diwali procession and Christmas Light Bus, running throughout Oxford and its communities as it illuminates the city.
Running over the weekend of November 14-16 hand-made lanterns, light parades, LED displays, glow in the dark drawings, twinkling fairy lights and more will be shining in our neighbourhoods with plenty of light themed activities to get involved in both in person or online, and most events are completely free.
Start at Rose Hill with Film Oxford as Rose Hill Junior Youth Club and Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon celebrate our local eco system with giant moth creations and insect inspired lanterns – culminating in a fantastic street parade.
The North Wall joins Cutteslowe Primary School, North Oxford Association and Dancin’ Oxford at Cutteslowe Park from 3pm-7pm to host a dazzling light trail with special activities along the way. Admire a magical lantern display, watch a shadow theatre performance, listen to live music, get crafty, dance your socks off in the Pavilion and take a ride on the miniature railway! Free to attend.
Creative Arts students from the Leys College are making large scale lanterns to be displayed in their windows while OVADA celebrates Diwali with a diya procession led by traditional dhol players, followed by arts installations, food and refreshments at the gallery. Join the procession at 5pm at Westgate Shopping Centre in Leiden Square as its makes its way to the OVADA Warehouse.
Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford is holding a day of events for children and families with puppet making workshops, an interactive adventure to find missing stars and an exhibition exploring the nature of rainbows and drawing with light.
The traditional Victorian Market will be open all weekend in Broad Street with decorated stalls selling unique crafts, gifts, seasonal foods and delicious refreshments.
To get into the spirit of the festive spirit, visit Oxford’s Covered Market on Saturday November 15 for a special visit from Father Christmas at Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy breakfast at the market’s cafés and food businesses before meeting Father Christmas from 10am who is helping children write their Christmas letters, which can then be posted in his special North Pole post box. No booking required — just come along and enjoy a magical start to the season!
Finally, the Christmas Light Bus with its playful elves will visiting various locations within the city ring road from Friday November 14-15.
But if you are able to join in in person, online projects include Light It Up! from the Museum of Oxford, a downloadable template to make an historic gas lamp either at home or at the in-person crafting sessions at the museum during the Christmas holiday.
IF Oxford presents Glow Your Own, the very popular series of online classes to make a programmable LED display. There are also resources on the festival website to create different kinds of lights for home display, from jam jar lanterns to stained glass pictures to place in windows and take part in the light trail within your local community.
Councillor Alex Hollingsworth says: “The Oxford Christmas Light Festival is one of the highlights of Oxford’s Christmas calendar, and this year will be another fantastic festival. With a range of events and activities to take part in at home, or in the community, there’s something for everyone. Visit the festival website to explore the full programme.”
Held annually since 2009, what started as a one-day event has grown into a whole weekend involving more than 25 local cultural partners, and 27,000 participants in local communities.
Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival takes place from November 14-16. Full details at www.oxlightfest.com
