Oxford City Council is preparing to invite organisations to apply to host Christmas events on Broad Street as part of a wider Christmas 2024 programme.
The City Council is encouraged to have already received early interest from several national and local organisations hoping to organise this year’s event and is confident that a solution, building on learnings from last year, can be found while work with Oxfordshire County Council continues to find a bigger space for festive celebrations from 2025 onwards.
Permanent changes to Broad Street to create a year-round civic space have prompted some concerns about the size of Christmas events compared to previous years.
However, the Council is confident that by combining events in various locations — such as the Covered Market and Gloucester Green — it can create a comprehensive and exciting festive programme for Oxford.
The City Council is also working with the County Council to identify a central location, ideally on Broad Street, for the city's Christmas Tree.
The official procedure for organisations to submit their interest will begin in the coming weeks. Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed that the Broad Street cycle lane will remain open during the 2024 celebrations and organisers are expected to plan events accordingly.
Comment
"It may feel like Christmas 2023 was just yesterday, but we're already planning ahead and eager to create a festive programme that reflects the diverse spirit of our city.
“By using Broad Street along with other locations in the city centre, we aim to offer an exciting and inclusive experience for residents and visitors while we work with the County Council on longer-term plans."
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Partnerships
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