The unmissable annual events in Oxford in 2024
From the Oxford Literary Festival to the Oxford Half Marathon – here are the unmissable annual events in Oxford taking place in 2024.
Grab your diaries – digital or otherwise. Fire up those WhatsApp groups. Get your planning hats on. There’s quite a lot to look forward to in 2024.
We’re always excited about all the great stuff Oxford has in store for us in 2024 – from major exhibitions at the city’s major museums to outdoor events at the city’s parks and outdoor spaces, including the iconic Broad Street.
These are just a handful of the thrilling events and things to do in Oxford on the horizon in 2024. There are loads more still to come, and we promise to keep this page updated as they are announced.
The Torpids
One of two bumping boat races in Oxford’s rowing calendar, the Torpids takes place annually around the 7th week of Hilary Term (towards the start of March) on four successive days from Wednesday to Saturday, on The Isis, a length of the River Thames in Oxford, which is generally too narrow for side-by-side racing.
Oxford Literary Festival 2024
The Oxford Literary Festival is a world-class literary event that brings together leading authors and public figures in a magnificent setting in the central university area of Oxford each year.
The festival is a reminder that, in a world of noise and division, words have the power to heal and bring us together. It’s a reminder that, despite our differences, we all have the right to be different and learn from one another.
Festival lineup includes: Mike Brearley / Amir Khan / Paul Lynch, Sharron Davies / Val McDermid / Ann Cleeves / Grace Blakeley / Liam Fox / Hardeep Matharu / Peter Oborne / A C Grayling / William MacAskill / Ali Smith / Will Hutton / Paul Nurse / Josephine Quinn / Ian Goldin / Hein de Haas / William Hague
May Morning 2024
May Morning is an annual event in Oxford, held on 01 May – a tradition stretching back over 500 years. The event typically attracts crowds of thousands of people – students and Oxford residents alike – who start gathering under the tower, on Magdalen Bridge, and along the High Street.
Oxford Town and Gown 2024 (TBC)
Oxford Town and Gown is the oldest run in the series. It started in 1982 by local runners as a fun run to raise funds for muscular dystrophy, and still to this day, all profits from the race go to Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK). The race now attracts up to 6,000 runners every year.
The Summer Eights
The second of the bumping boat races in Oxford’s rowing calendar, the Summer Eights takes place on the 5th week of Trinity Term (towards the end of May) from Wednesday to Saturday. The races follow the ‘Bumps’ format, in which several boats chase each other in single file, because the stretch of river is generally too narrow for side-by-side racing.
Oxfordshire Artweeks Festival 2024
Oxfordshire Artweeks is the UK’s oldest and biggest artist open studios and pop-up exhibition event. As always, you can feast your eyes on a huge range of creative activities by hundreds of artists, makers and designers in artists’ studios, pop-up galleries, glorious gardens, ancient churches, medieval tithe barns and other amazing venues in Oxford and across Oxfordshire.
Oxford Pride Day 2024 (TBC)
Oxford Pride is an important event celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and bringing people together for an annual parade through the city centre on Pride Day. The 20th Anniversary Pride Day event on 03 June is moving to University Parks. The Pride Parade will still go through the city centre, ensuring it receives the same high visibility as in previous years.
Race for Life Oxford 2024
The Race for Life Oxford features a 5k and 10K race that unites thousands of people with one purpose – to raise valuable funds for life-saving research. The 10k race is a great step up from the 5k event that’s still achievable for everyone. Join a Race for Life 5k or 10k event and help raise valuable funds for cancer-beating research.
Alice’s Day 2024
Alice’s Day is the annual city-wide celebration of all things Alice in Wonderland, and it is marked on the first Saturday in July, in commemoration of the afternoon on the 04 July 1862 when the Christ Church mathematician Charles Dodgson took the Dean of Christ Church’s daughters (Lorina, Alice, and Edith Liddell) on a boat trip, from Folly Bridge to Godstow, where they had a picnic.
Oxford Festival of Arts 2024 (TBC)
The Oxford Festival of Arts 2024 (OFA 2024) will be back in venues across Oxford, with events running from 27 June to 14 July (TBC). The festival’s theme will be based on the idea of a muse or inspiration, or linked to the nine muses: Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomeni, Terpsichore, Erato , Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope.
Foodies Festival Oxford 2024
Foodies Festival Oxford, part of the UK’s biggest food festival, will return over the Bank Holiday weekend with a mouth-watering summer festival, live music, workshops, masterclasses and of course, Top Chefs. Watch MasterChef Champions showw off their skills, learn how to make show-stopping cakes, sample new wines, champagnes and cocktails, taste new flavours, meet artisan producers, and most importantly, have fun all day.
Festival lineup includes: TBC
Oxford Open Doors 2024 (TBC)
Oxford Open Doors is a weekend that celebrates Oxford’s heritage and culture by giving everyone the chance to explore the colleges, university buildings and green spaces together with a range of heritage sites across the city – many of which are not usually open to members of the public.
St Giles’ Fair 2024
St Giles’ Fair is one of the greatest and most prestigious in the country. The fair dates back to 1625 when it was a parish festival to celebrate the feast of the patron saint, St Giles, and is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles’ Day (01 September).
Oxford Half Marathon 2024
The Oxford Half Marathon is a flat and fast 13.1-mile race through historic Oxford. The route begins at Oxford’s iconic Broad Street in the city centre and passes through Old Marston village, the River Cherwell, Oxford University’s impressive Lady Margaret Hall, before finally finishing on Parks Road.
Oxford Round Table Charity Fireworks Display 2024
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.
Oxford City Remembrance Sunday 2024 Service & Parade
The Lord Mayor of Oxford, in partnership with the Oxford City branch of the Royal British Legion, is set to host a Remembrance Sunday Service at the War Memorial in St Giles’ on Sunday 10 November 2024. The Mayor will be joined by military units, uniformed organisations, community groups, civic dignitaries, residents and visitors from across the county to mark Remembrance Sunday.
Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival 2024
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.
2024 dates TBC
Oxford City Christmas Market 2023
Oxford City Christmas Market is set to take place in the heart of the city on beautiful and historic Broad Street in 2023 with a mix of local arts and crafts, food stalls and gifts. The Christmas Market will be open for 24 days from Thursday, 30 November to Saturday, 23 December 2023 inclusive.
The post The unmissable annual events in Oxford taking place in 2024 appeared first on The Oxford Magazine.
from The Oxford Magazine https://ift.tt/3GerzHU
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment