Entertainment in Oxford and Oxfordshire
There’s always something going on in Oxfordshire – from world-class concerts and festivals to fantastic art exhibitions to small community events.
Art & Theatre
Oxfordshire is home to some of the best theatres and art spaces in the county. The New Theatre Oxford hosts some of the biggest shows and names; from comedy shows to operas, there is something for everyone. The North Wall Arts Centre is an arts centre for live music, theatre and film screenings with an emphasis on new and innovative art. With its changing programme of acclaimed exhibitions, exciting artist commissions, fun events and creative activities for all ages, Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces.
Festivals
Oxfordshire is home to some of the country’s most popular festivals. The Wilderness Festival held at Cornbury Deer Park is a multi-award winning 4-day festival of live music, wild swimming, spectacle, late night revelry and dining experiences; the Cornbury Music Festival is a lovingly crafted, top notch, typically English open air party, tailor-made for the whole family; Hill Farm plays host to another year of Truck Festival, being even bigger than last year with a great musical line-up and fun for all the family; and finally, something for the whole family – The Big Feastival is a unique weekend festival celebrating good food and music with Jamie Oliver and Alex James. If you’re in Oxford during the month of October, don’t miss IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival with inspiring, entertaining and immersive events for people of all ages. There’s something for everyone, with activities for young children and families, or sessions for teenagers and adults to enjoy alone or as a group from the safety and comfort of home, in venues across Oxford or as on demand online content.
Annual Events
If you are in Oxford on the first of May, get up early to catch the choristers sing from Magdalen Tower at 6am, before the city gets populated with Morris Dancers to celebrate May Morning. On the first Saturday of July, Alice’s Day turns Oxford into Wonderland in memory of Lewis Carroll’s famous story and the Golden Afternoon on which it was first told, and on the following day, Cowley Road celebrates its cultural diversity in the colourful Cowley Road Carnival. In August, Oxford Proms is back with performances at locations across Oxford.
The locally famous St Giles Fair in Oxford is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles’ Day (1 September). The fair dates back to 1625 when it was a parish festival to celebrate the feast of the patron saint – St Giles. To celebrate Guy Fawkes night in Oxford, The 54th Oxford Roundtable Fireworks display will take place at the beginning of November. At the end of November, the Christmas Lights Festival rings in the festive season with music, illumination and many more events.
Oxfordshire Artweeks is the UK’s oldest and biggest festival of artist open studios and pop-up exhibitions, taking place in various venues across Oxfordshire in May. In summer, Oxford Festival of the Arts celebrates Oxford’s rich heritage and thriving culture. Henley-on-Thames features the Royal Regatta, one of the key events of the English social season and is undoubtedly the best-known regatta in the world. Close to Halloween, the award-winning Ghost Fest returns at the Oxford Castle & Prison and includes ghost hunts, spooky tours, trick or treating and after dark dinners.
Use our calendar to find the latest events to plan your visit to Oxfordshire. You can filter options from searching by date, the name of the event or location. You can also view events as a complete list, by month, week or day or even have it all displayed on a map.
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