The Abingdon Horticultural Society is hosting their annual Autumn Show this Saturday, September 9th, from 2pm to 4pm at the Northcourt Centre in Abingdon. The show will feature a variety of exhibits, including flowers, vegetables, fruit, plants, and handicrafts.

The annual Church Bike Ride and Stride is returning to Abingdon on Saturday, September 9th. This sponsored event is a great way to explore the town’s churches and get some exercise at the same time.

There will be nine churches manned in Abingdon, and many more further afield. Some of the churches will also be open for people to look around. The Abingdon route could take in:
* St Helens
* St Michael and All Angels
* Trinity Methodist and URC
* Abingdon Baptist Church
* St Nicolas
* Christ Church
* All Saints Methodist
* Peachcroft Christian Centre
* Our Lady and St Edmund of Abingdon

MG enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the marque at a special event at Abingdon Cricket Ground on Sunday, September 10th. The event is open to all models of MG, from the very historic to the newest, and costs just £5 per car.

My Extinction will be screened at the Abbey Cinema on Friday September 8th from 7:30pm to 10:00pm. This documentary explores the potential extinction of humanity and the challenges we face in the 21st century.

Christian Garrick and The Budapest Café Orchestra will perform at the Amey Theatre on Saturday September 9th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. This world-renowned orchestra will play a mix of traditional and contemporary Hungarian folk music.

The Abingdon Healthfest is back this Saturday, September 2nd, from 10 am to 2 pm at Abingdon Market Place. This is a chance to learn about the things happening in our town to improve our health and well-being.

There will be lots of stalls. The Mayor of Abingdon will be opening the event at around 11 am, and you can participate in a taster dance session from Dance Creative at 12:30 pm. See https://healthyabingdon.org.uk/healthfest2023.htm.

Preparations are underway for Music in the Park, a concert in The Abbey Park, Abingdon, on Saturday, September 2nd, from 12 pm to 10 pm.

The Wurzels, a popular Scrumpy and Western band, will be headlining the event. The Wurzels have been performing since 1966 and are best known for their number one hit “Combine Harvester” and number three hit “I Am a Cider Drinker.” They will be supported by local bands, including Hope and Glory, the Zoots, Kaptain Kuppa, Zaia, and Superloose.

Tickets for adults (over 12 years old) cost £20. Children under 12 years old are admitted free. Children and adults under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. See https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/news/tickets-now-available-for-music-in-the-park.

You may have read in yesterday’s post that in 1923 the film The Sheik was in Abingdon, starring Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres.

A hundred years later, vintage Barbie dolls have been spotted in charity shop windows in Abingdon ahead of the first showing of the live-action Barbie film in the Abbey Cinema on July 28, 2023. The iconic 11-inch plastic doll, first released by Mattel in 1959, has become a cultural phenomenon. Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, was introduced in 1961, followed by a host of friends and family members.

The live-action film is directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. The film follows Barbie as she leaves Barbieland for an adventure in the real world where she meets various new people and learns about herself and the world around her.

To celebrate Barbie’s breakout film, the Abbey Cinema will serve Pink Proseccos and Double Pink G&Ts.

Schools broke up for the summer holidays yesterday, and the Summer Reading Challenge is underway at Abingdon Library. This year’s challenge is called “Ready, Set, Read!” and celebrates sport, games, and play.

Yesterday, I noticed the latest summer holiday-themed postbox topper crochet in Abingdon. It was a colourful creation featuring a row of ice creams on one side. I thought I would have plenty of time to look closer, but when I returned today, it was gone.

The Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool in Abingdon opened for the 2023 season today. Despite the rain, that started mid-morning, people were swimming.