Released on 12 November 2009

Oxford is looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year and the season starts with the switch on of the Christmas Lights on 27 November as part of Christmas Light Night.

Between 6.15pm and 6.45pm the streets will echo to the sound of musical bands heralding a procession of over 200 local children from schools across the city who will illuminate the Christmas Lights street by street as they pass by with lanterns.

There will be two processions – one starting from the Pitt Rivers in Parks Road and the second at Modern Art Oxford in Pembroke Street.

The groups will meet in Broad Street and switch on Oxford’s Christmas Tree which has been kindly supported by Blenheim Palace, Champion Recruitment and Jewsons.

As the sky-line in Broad Street is illuminated with fire dancing, the combined procession will move along Cornmarket into Queen Street and head to the historic Castle mound where the lanterns will light up the mound and more fire dancing will begin.

Along the procession route visitors can enjoy a range of activities. There will be performances of fire dancing outside Balliol College in Broad Street as the parade passes. There will also be a market selling festive treats, food and drink which opens from 6pm until 9pm. 

The lanterns are being made with the help of local community artists co-ordinated by Fusion Arts and Brighton-based community arts group Same Sky. They will be themed on Christmas in Oxford and you’ll be able to recognise some of the lanterns as historic beautiful buildings from around Oxford.

At The Castle there will be a Winter Wonderland in the Market Square from 4pm onwards as well as ice carving from 6pm until 7pm and magical lights, twilight tours and mulled wine to enjoy.

At the O3 Gallery in the castle complex you can enjoy a special evening view of Oxford Printmakers Cooperative Christmas show from intricate wood engravings, lino and woodcut, to screen printing, etching and monoprint. The event runs until 10pm.

There will also be dancing in the streets from 15 of Oxfordshire’s talented dance groups at the Westgate Centre from 5.30pm until 6.15pm and then at Broad Street from 6.45pm to 8.15pm.

In Bonn Square the Leiden Band from our twin city of Leiden will be performing from 6.45pm, and there will be the opportunity to purchase mulled wine and other treats.

As part of Christmas Light Night Oxford’s galleries, theatres, museums and open spaces will be hosting a late night evening of art, music, dance and performance, providing a unique opportunity to enjoy the best the city has to offer.

The Museum of Oxford will be hosting traditional children’s games, family arts and crafts and you’ll be able to find out from our staff dressed in period costume what made Christmas special in the Middle Ages. The Museum will be open from 5pm until 8pm.

Modern Art Oxford will be open from 5pm until 10.30pm. Here you will be able to enjoy the Karla Black and Cova Macías exhibitions. There will also be tours in the galleries (including one especially for families); cake decorating and art activities in the café. You’ll also be able to do some Christmas shopping with Christmas cards, jewellery and other unique gifts to buy from the Gallery Shop. There will be live music in the Yard including a street band workshop co-ordinated by Oxford Contemporary Music and refreshments to buy including mulled wine and hot cider from the Royal Blenheim pub; waffles and hot chocolate provided by G&D’s.

At the University of Oxford Museum of Natural History there will be jazz to enjoy, while the Pitt Rivers Museum in Parks Road will be hosting world music.  The event runs from 6pm until 9pm. There will also be activities and surprises, plus the chance to do some unusual late night Christmas shopping.

At the Ashmolean you will be able to see the newly reopened Museum’s galleries, enjoy late night Christmas shopping, mulled wine and mince pies while listening to a great selection of live music. The evening starts at 6pm and finishes at 10pm. As with the other University Museums admission is free.

At Bodleian Library, Divinity School there will be a music and manuscripts event until 8.30pm. There will be a small display, plus an inspired range of original Christmas gifts and cards in the 17th Century panelled shop. The Oxford Waits will be playing traditional music in Convocation House.

At the University of Oxford Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street you will be able to catch the world’s first exhibition of Steampunk Art. Steampunk combines the technology of today with the aesthetic of Victorian science: expect ‘steam-powered’ computer mice, clockwork hearts, brass goggles and much more. The event which includes performances of Victorian and Edwardian parlour songs and a screening of the original 1940 film Gaslight, runs from 7pm until 10.30pm.

At the Oxford Playhouse you can see Oxford Operatic Society’s My Fair Lady. To coincide with this ever-popular musical, the Playhouse will be exhibiting the work of artist-in-residence Michael Gabriel, who, for more than 30 years, has made hundreds of quick sketches and paintings of actors, rehearsals and performance moments. Drop in for a special ‘Christmas Light Night’ cocktail anytime until 10.30pm. There will also be live music in the Circle Bar to enjoy.

At OVADA there will be an affordable art fair showcasing the best emerging art students from the Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art and Oxford Brookes Fine Art. You will get the chance to buy artworks and vintage fashion for a unique Christmas present and enjoy music and much more. The gallery’s current exhibition, by Anna Lucas will also be on view. The event runs from 5pm until 10.30pm.

In Gloucester Green there will be a series of Big Screen presentations with a selection of short films and video works from the Ruskin School, Oxford Brookes Fine Art and Oxford Brookes Film Studies.

Oxford Castle Unlocked will be offering chilling late night ghost tours from 5pm until 10pm every 30 minutes. Tickets costs £7.50 for adults, £6.20 for concessions and £5.35 for children. Group discounts are available.

Oxford Tourist Information Centre in Broad Street will also be open until 7.15pm on the night and will be able to offer advice on late night Christmas shopping and events in the city.

The Christmas in Oxford season is being co-ordinating by Oxford City Council, supported by Oxford Inspires and many other partners, to present the best of everything the city has to offer over the festive period.

Local shops and businesses are already participating in the events and we welcome more to join the festivities. 

To find out more information about Christmas go to our Visit Oxford website or the Oxford Inspires website where you can find more events to celebrate the festive period.