What’s On in Abingdon: Mostly Christmas Events, 13–20 December

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The Church in Abingdon will be singing carols in the Market Place on Saturday 13 December from 10am. Everyone is welcome to join in, and carol sheets will be provided. Musicians are encouraged to come along.

There’s an ADMS Christmas Concert on Saturday 13 December at 4pm in St Helen’s Church. It’s family-friendly and features The Nutcracker Suite, Sleigh Ride, and carols. It will support The Abingdon Bridge.

Abingdon Town Band Christmas Concert
Saturday 13 December, 7:30pm – Christ Church, Northcourt Road. Donations Welcome.

The Snowman Live is on Sunday 14 December – 1:30pm & 4pm – Amey Theatre, Abingdon School. It has live music performed by the Wantage Band.

The Abingdon Traditional Mummers will be touring the villages of Milton, Steventon, and Drayton (Monday 15 December evening), and  around the pubs of Abingdon town centre ( Wednesday 17 December evening). This traditional folk play shows the struggle of good against evil with sword fighting and healing and ends with We Wish you a Merry Christmas and rattling of the donation tin. Donations support St Ethelwold’s House.

A seasonal talk by Clare Goodall for the Abingdon Area Archaeology & History Society on Thursday 18 December, 7:45pm (doors 7:15pm) at the Northcourt Centre. Christmas tales and music from the Medieval and Renaissance, with thoughts of the obby Horse, wassailing, guising, the Feast of Fools and how music wanders over time. Suggested donation £4.

Abingdon Farmers’ Market
Friday 19 December, 8:30am–1:30pm – Market Place
The regular third-Friday market.


Against Breast Cancer Christmas Carols
Led by The Abingdon Rock Choir on Saturday 20 December, 4:30pm–6:30pm – Market Place.

The LAMPS Collective – Heavenly Realms
Saturday 20 December – 3pm (sold out) & 7pm – Peachcroft Christian Centre
Watch the Old Angel Pensioners at  ‘Heavenly Realms’ as they share memories of the first Christmas. Suitable for ages 8+. Tickets £10 adults / £5 children.

Ringing in the Season with the Abingdon Bell Ringers

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I’ve come across the Abingdon Bell Ringers three times already this festive season. The first occasion was at the St Michael’s Christmas Fair, where the bells provided background music.

Next, I saw them at Abingdon Phab, where they not only performed but also led Phab members in singing a selection of traditional carols and allowed members to have a go. The bell ringers also set a Christmas quiz for Phab members.

Most recently, they played at Trinity Church’s Winter Warmer, as church members gathered for a shared meal and raised over £200 for Christmas charities.

The group needs at least six ringers to give a full performance, and they seem to have a pool of players to call on. A few familiar faces appeared at all three events, while others joined for one or two, keeping each performance slightly different. Handbell ringing has a long association with Christmas. It is a visual performance too as audiences can watch the movement of the bells.

Abingdon Town Centre Lights and a Hidden Christmas Angel

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Back in Abingdon after a couple of days away, I took an evening walk around the town centre to see this year’s festive lights.

Ma Cherie was lit inside and out, and people were enjoying the warm atmosphere.

From the Waitrose car park, Bridge House is surrounded with lights, including a walk-in bauble at the Riverly Club entrance and other installations round the side.

As to the town council lights, I was reminded that you can create the illusion of an angel from the artificial illuminated tree on Roysse Court with the garland of lights across Bridge Street.

Just line them up and fine-tune your position to create the illusion.

Traffic Changes This Week at Lodge Hill Junction

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Drivers heading in and out of north Abingdon will see some changes this week as work around the Lodge Hill junction continues.

The Lodge Hill junction slip roads (and the short stretch of the A4183 between them) will be closed overnight on Wednesday 10 December from 8 pm to 6 am (Online information). Diversions will be in place, and advance warning signs have been put up .

From Thursday 11 December, the south-bound off-slip at Lodge Hill will remain open but with only one lane available while construction works continue. There will also be temporary traffic lights which will remain green until construction traffic needs to move. This will allow the southbound off slip realignment to take place.

More information at https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/roadworks/major-current-roadworks/a34-lodge-hill-interchange.