Oxford Events
Christmas light events in Oxfordshire
About the Christmas light events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire and beyond in 2026
’Tis the season to see Oxfordshire at its most dazzling!
The arrival of Christmas lights brings a little extra magic to the darker evenings, transforming Oxford’s historic streets and town centres across Oxfordshire with festive illuminations.
From the first flick of the switch to the glow of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, these annual events mark the beginning of the countdown to Christmas, often accompanied by live music, family entertainment, market stalls and visits from some familiar festive faces.
Whether you’re planning an evening in Oxford city centre or heading to a nearby town for its own celebrations, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the atmosphere and discover somewhere new along the way.
Each event has its own character, from community-led gatherings in market squares to larger celebrations bringing people together for an evening of festive entertainment.
Our guide brings together Christmas lights switch-on events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire in 2026, with dates, times and details of what to expect. We’ll keep updating the page as further events are announced, so bookmark it and check back as the festive season approaches to help plan your Christmas outings.
City centre plus various venues and neighborhoods across Oxford
The festival has been taking place since 2009. It’s evolved over the years from a single evening’s event in the city centre to a full three day weekend that includes light and sound installations, a festive market, music, dance and lots of free activities in venues across the city, and more recently to light trails and events in residential areas of the city.
13 November to 03 January
Christmas at Blenheim Palace returns bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever. Featuring dazzling new installations, festive food, and the chance to see Father Christmas, the Illuminated Trail transforms the palace gardens into a spectacular wonderland of light, colour, and Christmas cheer.
The Kidlington Christmas lights switch-on event usually features local school choirs, local stalls, Santa’s grotto, funfair rides, animal petting corner, concert brass band, hot and cold refreshments and lots more. Hundreds of people turn out for the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights in the High Street and Piazza by Santa.
Henley-on-Thames Town Centre
The town centre will be closed to traffic and filled with stalls and rides for the whole family to enjoy. At 7.00pm, the Mayor will switch on the Christmas tree lights alongside a VIP celebrity guest, the winner of the Christmas card design competition, characters from the Kenton Theatre pantomime. The celebrations will continue with carol singing and festive tunes performed by Woodley Concert Band.
Christmas in Thame begins with the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights. In recent years, the event has been an evening of festive entertainment – with Santa’s Grotto, gift stalls, refreshments, carol singing, and more, and primary schools parading their beautifully created lanterns down the High Street – a sight not to be missed.
Banbury Market Place & Town Centre
Banbury Winter Market will sparkle with festive cheer from Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 November 2026 with over 80 Stalls, live entertainment, the big Light Switch-On, special appearances from the festive Gingerbread Man, Christmas Tree, and live performances from Hook Norton Brass Band, and music from Radio Horton.
Abingdon Christmas Extravaganza kicks off the festive season in Abingdon. It’s a family-focused festive event in the heart of the town where the community comes together as one. Expect a Christmas market on Bath Street, a parade through the town centre, as well as music and other entertainment from the stage on the Market Place and a performance area on Bath Street.
Sprinkled with extra Christmas magic this year, wander through Bicester’s Christmas Shopping Market for sweets, treats, and much more to begin your Christmas festivities, taking place on Saturday 28 November. Join in for a magical day packed with Christmas shopping, festive treats, live entertainment, and the sparkling moment when the town is lit up.
Starting with the Christmas Market from 11.00am, expect a Craft Fair in the Corn Exchange arranged by the Faringdon Art Society, Santa’s Grotto in the Market Place, Market stalls in the Market Place, music around the Christmas Tree and much more. The light switch-on will take place at 5.00pm.
The lantern parade meets at 5.15pm at Carterton Community College. Lights switch on at 6.00pm in the Market Square. Expect live music, stalls with crafts, gifts and refreshments, funfair rides, meet the Reindeer, a snow globe and, of course, And, of course, Father Christmas will be in his grotto.
This family-focused festive event in the heart of the town brings the community together as one to kick off the festive season. The event will start at noon with activities and festive stalls to enjoy. There will be lantern-making workshops during the day, followed by a lantern parade after dark. The festive lights will be switched on by the Town Mayor at 6.00pm.
The Banbury Christmas Lights Switch On is a family-focused festive event in the heart of the town where the community comes together as one to kick off the festive season. Enjoy thrilling funfair rides, great food, and a stellar line-up of musical acts and performers, all the before the grand finale where the lights are switched on to a blast of fireworks!
Wantage Dickensian Evening is held on the first Friday of December every year in and around Wantage Market Place, and everyone is invited to dress up in period costumes. Enjoy Christmas attractions and start your holiday shopping, including switch-on of the Christmas lights, Christmas carols with Wantage Silver Band and the Parish Church Choir, childrens’ activities and much more.
Christmas at Silverstone will transform the home of the British Grand Prix into a spectacular festive wonderland. This year’s celebration will bring together exhilarating motorsport experiences, immersive family entertainment, live music, festive food and drink, and the unmistakable magic of Silverstone. At the heart of the event is Lap of Lights, the only festive experience in the world where visitors can drive an iconic Formula 1 circuit after dark.
Highlights from last year…
Residents and visitors are warmly invited to a Night of a Thousand Candles in Woodstock. Come see the Christmas lights switched on and enjoy a great family event to start the festive season. See Woodstock at its best with late shopping, great restaurants and pubs, the Woodstock Festive Fayre, live music, a short panto (oh yes, there is!), school choir, food and drink and Father Christmas.
While we do our best to ensure the information on this page is accurate, please don’t hesitate to reach out if something seems off or if you have any updates to share. We’d love to hear from you!
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Pantomimes and Christmas shows in Oxfordshire this season
It’s panto season. Oh no, it’s not. Oh yes, it is.
A great pantomime – that very British tradition at Christmas – is full of larger than life characters and plenty of laughs – a villain that everyone hates, a comical dame and young love.
From Oxford to Banbury, Henley to Chipping Norton , here’s our pick of the unmissable Pantomimes in Oxfordshire in 2025, plus a selection of non-panto family-friendly Christmas shows in theatres across Oxfordshire.
We’ve also included the note-worthy non-Christmas-themed shows taking place in Oxford and across Oxfordshire during this festive season and pantomimes worth travelling beyond Oxfordshire for.
So what are you waiting for. It’s time to get booking!
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Take your family and friends along to share in the joy of A Fairytale for Christmas with the greatest sing-along songs of all time including ‘The Galway Girl’, ‘The Irish Rover’, ‘Dirty Old Town’ and ‘The Black Velvet Band.’ An Irish Christmas night out you won’t forget.
19 November to 18 January
The Theatre Chipping Norton
Step into a world of magic, laughter, and heartwarming storytelling in Beauty and the Beast pantomime. Follow Marie, her loyal friend Phillippe Fillope, and the hilarious Dame Fifi Fromage as they journey through spooky chateaus, encounter mysterious beasts, and face a wicked enchantress.
Father Christmas has gone missing, and the elves are in a festive frenzy to finish wrapping in time for the big day. Filled with stories, songs, and interactive fun, this Oxford Playhouse adventure invites children aged 3 to 6 to help find him and save Christmas in a joyful family experience.
05 December to 04 January
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Jack and the Beanstalk is the Pantomime you’ve ‘bean’ waiting for. Expect a jovial Jack, a punch-packing princess, a feisty fairy, a silly sibling, a witty widow, a slippery servant, a kind-hearted king… and a cow with some beef. Oh… and a very large magical plant, of course!
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves, but their lipstick is rebellious red. Think you know the rhyme, think again… Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!
Peter Pan is a brand-new pantomime adventure sees the infamous Captain Hook on a mission for revenge. Backed by his all-singing, all-dancing pirate crew, the heartless and hated hot-head of Henley has concocted a dastardly plan to steal Fairyland’s happy thoughts. Featuring dazzling costumes, spectacular choreography, special effects, a hilarious script, bags of audience interaction, sweets, and who knows, maybe even the odd water gun or two!
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Dear Santa tells the story of Santa’s mission to deliver the perfect Christmas present to Sarah. But things don’t go as planned, and Santa doesn’t get it right at first! With the help of his playful Elf, he finally finds the ‘perfect’ gift—just in time for Christmas Eve. This is a holiday experience that families will cherish and remember.
16 December to 03 January
Michael Harrison in association with Cameron Mackintosh presents a new production of Miss Saigon as Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical is reborn. The soaring score features original hit songs including; The Heat is On in Saigon, The Movie in My Mind, Last Night of the World, and The American Dream.
A tale as old as time comes to Cornerstone Arts Centre! Expect dazzling scenery, glittering costumes, magical effects, toe-tapping musical numbers, and real live panto pooches. With plenty of laughs and audience participation, this is pantomime at its very best — a heartwarming festive treat for the whole family, from toddlers to grandparents.
Little Red Riding Hood is a a brand new, laugh-out-loud pantomime adventure full of magic, music and mayhem. Special performances include an 18+ After Dark Panto for grown-up giggles, and a Relaxed Performance designed to provide a welcoming, inclusive experience. Expect fairy magic, sweet treats, royal banquets, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
The Cornley Amateur Drama Society are back with tidings of chaos and joy, ready to tackle Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. Don’t miss this new production of Christmas Carol Goes Wrong from Mischief, the multi award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.
Fireworks and bonfire and events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire
Explore the top fireworks and bonfire events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire, with our guide to the unmissable fireworks and bonfire events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire in 2026.
Wrap up warm, put on your wellies, grab the thermos, and don’t forget the tickets. Some of these Oxfordshire fireworks events are ticketed, so you may need to book in advance. Even for events offering tickets at the door, it’s wise to check whether you can book ahead to guarantee entry.
And of course, we’ll be updating this page with more events as they’re announced, so do check back ever so often.
Looking for what else to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this autum? Be sure to visit the “What’s on section”, where you’ll find more events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire, as well as a limited number of unmissable events beyond the county that would make for a great day out.
Got an event that should be on the list? List your event on The Oxford Magazine and reach an engaged audience of people who live, work or place in Oxfordshire.
Stratfield Brake Sports Ground
The annual Kidlington Fireworks is set to return to Stratfield Brake on Thursday 05 November, organised by Kidlington Parish Council. Great food and refreshments will be available by Gosford All Blacks – before and after the fireworks display. Gates open at 6.00pm and the fireworks display starts at 7.00pm prompt.
Bring your friends and family to Witney Lakes Fireworks 2026 for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, delicious food, and festive fun. Prepare to be wowed as we light up the skies above Witney Lakes Resort with a spectacular fireworks display bursting with colour and excitement.
Chinnor Rugby Football Club
Thame Fireworks Display is an annual fundraising event organised by volunteers from the three primary schools in Thame – Barley Hill, John Hampden and St Joseph’s. The money raised is shared equally between the PTFAs of each school.
A household event in Oxford’s South Park, the Oxford Round Table Charity Bonfire and Fireworks Display is widely considered to be Oxfordshire’s largest firework display for charity. Expect a traditional spectacular fireworks display, an enormous bonfire, Hebborn’s Funfair, and a fully licenced bar.
Celebrating 51 years of Bicester Round Tables firework displays in Bicester, and going all out with the biggest ever display – Bicester Round Table Charity Firework Spectacular 2026 on 07 November. Bonfire lighting at 7.00pm and fireworks at 7.30pm
Wallingford Fireworks is annual bonfire night celebrations at the Kinecroft, with a huge bonfire and enormous firework display. The event starts Saturday 07 November at 6.00pm with a medieval torchlit procession of Guys walking through the crowd, beating drums, to light the spectacular bonfire at about 6.30pm, with added pyrotechnic effects! At around 7.00pm there will be a lower-noise children’s display, and then the incredible, award-winning, main fireworks spectacle!
Ignite your autumn evening with a sky full of colour at this Fireworks Spectacular. The event promises to be a sensational feast for your eyes and ears, with fireworks crafted by the award-winning Illusion Fireworks team. As the night sky comes alive, it’ll be a sight you won’t want to miss.
Celebrate Firework Night at Minster Mill. With delicious hot food and a cosy atmosphere, this Firework Night promises to be an unforgettable experience for all. As the evening chill sets in, prepare for a spectacular fireworks display to celebrate Bonfire Night.
Experience a mind-blowing fireworks display at Abingdon Bonfire & Fireworks 2026 as the sky erupts around you with lasers and lighting choreographed to music, plus the South’s biggest fairground, a huge bonfire and so much more.
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