Christmas.vg

Here is a list of Christmas concerts and events in Oxford over the festive season, some of which are free! If you would like us to add your event to this list, just leave a comment at the bottom of the article and we’ll put it in. You don’t even have to leave your e-mail address.

Contents (click to go to the relevant section):

Christmas Shows

Christmas Fairs

Christmas Activities

Christmas Concerts

Christmas Church Services

Christmas Shows

OTELLO – WELSH NATIONAL OPERA 05/12/2008

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  Welsh National Opera - Otello

  7.15pm: New Theatre, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG

• This tragic work charts the downfall of the noble Moorish General Otello – who loses everything he loves, including his own sanity, through the envy, ambition, duplicity and hatred of his lieutenant Iago. This calculating villain ensnares Otello’s wife Desdemona and convinces him of her infidelity – resulting in tragedy.
• £15.00 – £49.50
• Sung in Italian with English subtitles
• Pre-performance talk on Tues 2 Dec at 6.15pm in Wesley Memorial Church.
• Click here for more details.

SLEEPING BEAUTY 06/12/2008 – 18/01/2009

• Various times: Oxford Playhouse Theatre, Beaumont Street, Oxford, UK OX1 2LW
• Box Office 01865 305305
• Sleeping Beauty will take you on an enchanting journey of dashing princes, evil witches and dastardly curses. You’ll meet good fairies, bad fairies, kings, queens and princesses and be swept along on a rollercoaster of hilarious comedy, gorgeous costumes and sleeping bags full of fun for all the family.
• Tickets from £10.50

Christmas Fairs

CONTEMPORARY CRAFT SHOW AT THE BARN AT THE GREEN 06/12/2008 – 07/12/2008

• 10:00 to 17:00: The Barn at the Green, Barn in lane adjacent to 12 The Green, Cuddesdon, Wheatley, Oxfordshire, OX44 9JZ
• Come and choose from an exciting range of contemporary arts and crafts all by local artists and craftsmen. Jessica Knott – handwoven silk scarves, Ewa Exley – felt textiles, Ann Collinson – hand built ceramics, Sarah Dearling – stone carving, Mark Austin – woodwork, Clare Wratten – silver jewellery, Heather Power – fused and kiln formed glass, Grace Exley – drawings, Jane Hanson – Pottery.
• Mince pies and mulled wine available.
• Free entry
• sarah.dearling@smoothstone.myzen.co.uk

CHRISTMAS MARKET AT GLOUCESTER GREEN 10/12/2008 – 13/12/2008

• Gloucester Green, Oxford, OX1
• Free entry
• Also, every Wednesday 9am – 3pm
• Contact Peter Chilton Tel: 01865 252133

Christmas Shows

THAT’LL BE THE DAY CHRISTMAS SHOW 13/12/2008

• 7.30pm: New Theatre, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG
• Join in and treat yourself to an early Christmas pressie and celebrate the festive season with all those Christmas hits from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80’s mixed with feel good comedy.
• £15.00 – £21.50
• Click here for more information.

FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL 15/12/2008 – 03/01/2009

• New Theatre, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG

Set in Pittsburgh, USA, FLASHDANCE The Musical tells the story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and “flashdance” by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy.

• £11.50 – £30.00
• Click here for more information.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT OFS STUDIO 16/12/2008 – 20/12/2008

• OFS Studio, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ
• ‘Marley was dead to begin with….’ BMH bring a new adaptation of Dickens work to the OFS Studio for one week only! Ebenezer Scrooge is an old miser, with a cold heart and a dislike of humanity. It takes the actions of three spirits one Christmas Eve to change his life, forever!
• £8.00 – £10.00
• Click here for more information.

Christmas Activities

ADVENT WEEKEND AT COGGES MANOR FARM MUSEUM 06/12/2008 – 07/12/2008

• 11:00 to 16:00: Cogges Manor Farm Museum, Church Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 3LA

Delight in the Manor House dressed for Christmas with traditional evergreen decorations, listen to carols while sampling hot mince pies. Make sugar mice or fairy peg dolls and Christmas gifts to buy. Enjoy a visit from Santa.

• Click here for more information.
• The Manager: Tel: 01993 772602

CHRISTMAS GROTTO AT TEMPLARS SQUARE 06/12/2008 – 24/12/2008

• Templars Square, Templars Square, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 3XH
• There will also be free ‘life size’ fairground rides and attractions, free face painting, and a fantastic free to enter Wizard of Oz competition for children to take part in. In addition to our fantastic Christmas Grotto, there will also be free face painting, and even more free entertainment on the 6th, 13th, 20th, 22nd, and 23rd December, and on Christmas Eve, we’re giving away free candy floss, pop corn, and chocolate apples!
• Dates and Times Dates Times
• Sat 6 Dec 2008 10:00 to 16:00
  Sun 7 Dec 2008 11:00 to 15:00
  Sat 13 Dec 2008 10:00 to 16:00
  Sun 14 Dec 2008 11:00 to 15:00
  Sat 20 Dec 2008 10:00 to 16:00
  Sun 21 Dec 2008 11:00 to 15:00
  Mon 22 – Wed 24 Dec 2008 10:00 to 16:00
• Templars Square: Tel: 01865 748864
• Click here for more details.

CHRISTMAS TRAINS AT LEIGHTON BUZZARD NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY 06/12/2008 – 24/12/2008

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  Santa on a Steam Train

  Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway, Page’s Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, IU7 4TN

  A 25-minute ride in a festively decorated steam train, along a unique narrow-gauge railway that is almost 90 years old. A thrilling walk through the Magic Tunnel to meet Santa, where children will receive a quality present.

• Seasonal refreshments for all in the friendly atmosphere of the station buffet.
• Adult £7.00 Child (aged 2 to 15 years) £7.00 Child (under 2 years) £3.00
• Sat 6, Sun 7 Dec 2008
  Wed 10 Dec 2008
  Sat 13, Sun 14 Dec 2008
  Wed 17 Dec 2008
  Sat 20, Sun 21 Dec 2008
  Wed 24 Dec 2008
• Booking Line (UK Only) Tel: 08444 77 1000
• www.buzzrail.co.uk

CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND AT NOTCUTTS GARDEN CENTRE 06/12/2008 – 21/12/2008

• Notcutts Garden Centre, Nuneham Courtney, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PY
• Customers travel for miles to enjoy the Notcutts Christmas Wonderland, a magical profusion of lights, colours and sounds that can make children of us all at this time of year. Familiar Christmas characters (Santa himself visits at the weekends running up to Christmas) are present in a variety of guises.
• Free entry
• Sat 6, Sun 7 Dec 2008
  Sat 13, Sun 14 Dec 2008
  Sat 20, Sun 21 Dec 2008
• Notcutts Tel: 01865 343454 oxford@notcutts.co.uk
• Click here for more info.

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS & SANTA AT BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE 06/12/2008 – 07/12/2008

• Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Nr Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 4BY
• Last December, children from far and wide descended into the sleepy village of Quainton to visit the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. A magical day was had by all that attended with fantastic entertainment and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas aboard his little blue steam engine.
• Prices start at £11.00 per person (all inclusive)
• Sat 6, Sun 7 Dec 2008 10:30 to 16:30
  Sat 13, Sun 14 Dec 2008 10:30 to 16:30
• Railway Tel: 01296 655720
• Click here for more information.

‘THREE DECEMBER SATURDAYS’ 06/12/2008 – 20/12/2008

• Oxford City Centre, Oxford, OX1 3HY
• OX1’s promotion of Oxford shopping for Christmas, featuring street entertainers, Christmas street ambassadors, in-store events, and a handy guide to Oxford at Christmas.
• Free entry
• Sat 6 Dec 200, Sat 13 Dec 2008, Sat 20 Dec 2008

SANTA’S GROTTO AT OXFORD CASTLE 07/12/2008 – 16/12/2008

• Noon: Oxford Castle, The Treadwheel, 43 Oxford Castle, Oxford, OX1 1AY
• Santa’s Grotto at Oxford Castle!
• £2.00
• Sun 7 – Tue 9 Dec 2008 12:00 to 18:00
• Sun 14 – Tue 16 Dec 2008 12:00 to 18:00
• Oxford Castle Tel: 01865 201657
• Click here for more information.

SEARCHING FOR THE YETI AT SCIENCE OXFORD 09/12/2008

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  Searching for the Yeti

  19:30 to 21:00: Science Oxford, 1-5 London Place, St Clements, Oxford, OX4 1BD

  Could the Abominable Snowman really be out there? Could the Yeti really exist, or is it just a popular legend? Anthropologist and primate expert, Dr Anna Nekaris, will be explaining how you find unknown animals, looking at examples of new species of primate still being discovered today, and exploring the likelihood of the Yeti’s existence. She will also bring us up-to-date with recent research into unidentified hairs reportedly taken from a Yeti-like creature in India.

• £3.00
• Science Oxford Tel: 01865 728953
• Click here for more information.

CHRISTMAS LECTURE AT SCIENCE OXFORD 10/12/2008

• 18:30 to 20:30: Science Oxford, 1-5 London Place, St Clements, Oxford, OX4 1BD

To celebrate the festive season and to coincide with our hosting of Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nick Baker will deliver the Science Oxford Christmas Lecture. Whether beetles or Brown bears, millipedes or Mountain Gorillas, snails or sharks, Nick Baker is the natural choice of guide.

• Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for children; SO Friends go free.
• Contact Science Oxford Tel: 01865 728953
• Click here for more info.

CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN AT BLACKWELL’S BOOKSHOP 13/12/2008

• Blackwell’s Bookshop, 53 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ
• This will feature an array of fun and entertainment including an appearance by Korky Paul who will be treating children to storytelling, drawing and workshops.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT CREATIONS 23/12/2008

• Museum of Oxford, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DZ
• Make some last minute Christmas crafts to decorate your home. Suitable for 5 to 12 year olds. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Prices £2.00
• 10:30 to 11:30 14:00 to 15:00
• Museum of Oxford Tel: 01865 252761
• What’s On at the Museum of Oxford

Christmas Concerts

FESTIVE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AT BLENHEIM PALACE 05/12/2008 – 14/12/2008

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  Blenheim Palace

  Fri 5 Dec 11:00
  Sun 7 Dec 14:00
  Fri 12 – Sun 14 Dec 11:00 14:00

• Friday 5th December: Our Ladies Junior School Choir will sing in the Long Library from 11am
• Sunday 7th December 2pm Long Library: The Blenheim Singers return for the festive season with a wonderful performance of Handel’s Messiah accompanied by a small Baroque consort. Seated tickets are available at £5 per person, please call 01993 811091 to book.
• 12th – 14th December: Carol singing and a silver band performing in the Long Library. The Marlborough School will sing on the 12th from 11am, with Cranford House singing on the 13th at 11am, and The Oxford Silver Band play festive favourites in the afternoon. On the 14th, Daneshill School choir will sing carols in the Long Library at 11am, and The Oxford Silver Band will play festive favourites from 2pm as the season draws to a close.
• Palace, Park & Garden prices apply for a full fixture.

CRANFORD CHORAL SOCIETY – HANDEL’S MESSIAH AT DORCHESTER ABBEY 06/12/2008

• 7.30pm: Dorchester Abbey, High Street, Dorchester-on-Thames, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 7HH

Come and hear popular local choir Cranford Chroral Society sing Handel’s Messiah in the exquisitely atmospheric surroundings of Dorchester Abbey, accompanied by the St. Giles Orchestra from Oxford. A great way to start the Christmas season.

• £10 (£7.50/£5 concessions)
• Ticket Office Tel: 01865 305305

AGE CONCERN OXFORDSHIRE CAROL CONCERT 09/12/2008

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  Christ Church, Oxford

  2pm: Christ Church, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DP

  Age Concern Oxfordshire invites all older people, their families and carers to a carol service at Christ Church Cathedral at 2pm on Tuesday 9th December in the presence of The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rt Revd Andrew Burnham.

• Free entry
• Contact Kerry Bateman Tel: 01235 849400 kerrybateman@ageconcernoxon.org.uk

CHRISTMAS AT CHRIST CHURCH 17/12/2008 & 20/12/2008

• Doors 7.30pm: Christ Church, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DP
• Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Jean Marsh Reader, Robert Hardy Reader (Saturday Only), Victoria Davies Harp
• This evening of uplifting music and thoughtful readings will inspire and invigorate you for the whole Christmas period. Very special guests Robert Hardy and Jean Marsh bring to life some of the best Christmas poetry and prose to reflect and to amuse as well as a beautiful selection of choral gems performed by the celestial Christ Church Cathedral Choir.
• £10 – £40, discounts available. No admittance to Under 6’s.
• Booking Office Tel: 01865 305305

OXFORD BACH CHOIR – CAROL CONCERT 19/12/2008

• 7.30pm: Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AZ
• Conductor: Timothy Byram-Wigfield
• Click here for event page.

HANDEL MESSIAH 20/12/2008

• 7.30pm: Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AZ
• Handel’s masterpiece, under the insightful direction of Marios Papadopolous, is a not-to-be-missed highlight of the Christmas season.
• Prices £37/£26/£17.50/£10 (Concessions Available)
• Ticket Office Tel: 01865 305305

LORD MAYORS CAROL CONCERT 21/12/2008

• 14:30 to 16:30: Oxford Town Hall, Oxford City Council, St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DZ
• Must be seated by 2.15pm. Tickets available from Oxford Town Hall from 1st December 2008.
• The Lord Mayors Sectretary Tel: 01865 249811 management@oxford.gov.uk

CHRISTMAS ARIAS ON ICE 21/12/2008 & 22/12/2008

• Oxford Ice Rink, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX
• Arias, songs and carols.
• Prices £12.50/£10/£5
• Sun 21, Mon 22 Dec 2008 17:30 20:30
• Click here for event page.

A CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS CONCERT 23/12/2008

• 8pm: St John’s College, St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3JP
• A Candlelit Christmas Concert with Liedertafel vocal ensemble and Colin Dexter (creator of Inspector Morse) – reader.
• Tickets £10.00
• Click here for more information.

Christmas Church Services

INTERNATIONAL ADVENT CAROL SERVICE 07/12/2008

• 6pm: St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AH
• Free entry
• Click here for more info.

ADVENT 2 07/12/2008

• Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
• 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys)
• 10.15 am Morning Service
• (Canon Sue Booys; preacher Revd Bob Whorton, Chaplain from Sobell House)
• 2.30 pm Reflections service for bereaved parents

ADVENT 3 14/12/2008

• Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
• 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Revd Richard Miller)
• 10.00 am Sung Eucharist (Canon Sue Booys)
• 3.00 pm St John’s Ambulance Carol Service

CHRISTMAS SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS 21/12/2008

• 6pm: St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AH
• Festival of 9 lessons and carols sung by St Mary’s choir
• Church Tel: 01865 279111
• Click here for more info.

ADVENT 4 21/12/2008

• Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
• 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys)
• 10.15 am Holy Communion with hymns (Canon Sue Booys)
• 6.00 pm Lessons and Carols (Canon Sue Booys)

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS SERVICE 22/12/2008

• 4pm: Saint Michael at the North Gate, Church Tower, Cornmarket, Oxford, OX1 3EY
• … complete with donkey who will be meeting the public in cornmarket about an hour beforehand.

CHRISTMAS CRIB SERVICE 24/12/2008

• 16:30: St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AH
• Free entry
• Click here for more info

CHRISTMAS EVE 24/12/2008

• Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
• 4.30 pm Crib Service (Canon Sue Booys)
• 11.30 pm Midnight Mass (Canon Sue Booys, Preacher: David Gifford)

MIDNIGHT MASS 24/12/2008

• 23:30: St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AH
• Free entry
• Click here for more info

MIDNIGHT MASS AT NEW COLLEGE 24/12/2008

• 11:30: New College, Holywell Street, Oxford, OX1 3BN

New College has one of the most beautiful chapels in Oxford and one of the finest choir schools. The college has no Christmas services after the end of the university term in early December, so one of the few chances the public has to hear Christmas carols in the college is during this service at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.

• Free entry
• Contact Tel: 01865 279555
• New College Midnight Mass webpage.

CHRISTMAS DAY 25/12/2008

• Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
• 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) (Canon Sue Booys)
• 10.15 am Christmas Family Communion (Canon Sue Booys)

CHRISTMAS DAY EUCHARIST 25/12/2008

• 10:30: St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AH
• Free entry
• Click here for more info