What’s on in Oxford this weekend for families? A whole lot of FREE Christmas fun kicks off!
Saturday 15th November
🎅🏽🚌 Click here for the Christmas Light Bus itinerary – it’s doing the rounds around the city and surrounds this on Friday and Saturday with Santa onboard!
🔦 Cutteslowe Light Trail – part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival
Love love LOVE this FREE family event. There’s a magical lantern display, shadow theatre performance, live music, crafts and a ride on the illuminated miniature railway! Yikes – Christmas dreams really do come true!
📅 15th November ⏰ 3pm – 7pm 💷 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the North Wall website.
🎅🏽Breakfast with Santa at Oxford Covered Market – part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival
If your children haven’t got their lists written yet, this may help them on their way and give you a steer on what to buy! The man himself will be helping little ones write their Christmas letters ready to post straight to the North Pole! For the adults: an array of coffee shops ready to sell you their wares!
📅 15th November ⏰ From 10am 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Oxford Christmas Light Festival.
🐞Brilliant Bugs Creative Lights Festival in Rose Hill – part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival
A magical event featuring drop-in creative activities, a free community meal, and a vibrant parade. Make your lantern, enjoy your meal and then join the parade from 5.30pm.
📅 15th November ⏰ 2pm – 4.30pm 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Creative Lights Festival website.
🌟 Glow Gallery at Pegasus Theatre – part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival
Exciting! This event is always so popular. The Glow Gallery uses lasers, LEDs and phosphorescent boards to capture science and light in a playful and creative spectroscopic exhibition. Learn about colour and energy, play with shadow and time and explore the science of light.
📅 15th November ⏰ 10am – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival website.
🪔 Diwali Glow – part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival
Starting at 5pm at the Westgate Shopping Centre then join a diya procession to fun, interactive activities and performances for the whole family in the OVADA Warehouse which will be transformed into a community celebration dance with light installations, food and more. This is a free event – open to all!
📅 15th November ⏰ From 5pm 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Ovada website.
🦖Oxford Museum of Natural History: Science Saturday
Meet scientists to investigate real natural history specimens from the collection. Hands-on science-based activities where families can explore a range of topics including insects, fossils, skeletons and microscopes. Touch real specimens and try investigating like a scientist.
📅 15th November ⏰ 2pm – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Museum of Natural History website or see one of our visits here.
Sunday 16th November
🎄Tree Barn
It’s open! Scaled back this year in size without losing the magic. Dressed trees, decorations of every size, colour and configuration and some sort of magical elixir which makes you want to buy everything! Fab addition of a Christmas Cabin café selling Christmas food and drink (bring cash).
📅 Open until Christmas eve ⏰ 9am – 5:30pm with some late nights 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Tree Barn website or see our visit last weekend.
🎁Oxford Victorian Christmas Market – part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival
Broad Street comes alive with Christmas stalls for its 5th year with 50 festive food, drink, and artisan stalls to browse and try. All the traders will be wearing Victorian dress and there will be street entertainment and live music too.
📅 Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th November ⏰ Thursday – Saturday until 8pm, Sunday until 5pm 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on the Oxford Christmas Light Festival.
