The unmissable annual events in Oxford in 2025
From the Oxford Literary Festival to the Oxford Half Marathon – here are some of the major unmissable annual events in Oxford taking place in 2025.
Grab your diaries – digital or otherwise, fire up those WhatsApp groups, and get your planning hats on because 2025 is packed with exciting events!
We’re always excited about all the great stuff Oxford has in store for us in 2025 – 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 annual events and things to do in Oxford in 2025. There’s loads more in the what’s on section of the website.
The Torpids 2025
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 2025
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: TBC
May Morning 2025
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.
Discover more: Community Events
Oxfordshire Artweeks Festival 2025
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.
Discover more: Exhibitions & Displays
Oxford Town and Gown 2025 (Bidwells Oxford 10k)
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.
Discover more: Sporting events in Oxfordshire
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.
Oxford Pride Day 2025
Oxford Pride Parade returns to the streets. Pride is both a celebration and a protest, and you are encouraged to be your authentic selves as the parade marches through the city. This year, there will be three live stages, an accessible viewing area in the Castle Quarter, and Paradise Square Gardens, with live acts being broadcast on a big screen.
Discover more: Community Events
Race for Life Oxford 2025
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 2025
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.
Foodies Festival Oxford 2025
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
St Giles’ Fair 2025
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).
Discover more: All the fun of the fairs
Oxford Open Doors 2025
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.
Oxford Half Marathon 2025
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.
Discover more: Running events in Oxfordshire
Oxford City Remembrance Sunday 2025 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.
2025 dates TBC
Oxford Festival of Arts 2024
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.
Cowley Road Carnival
Cowley Road Carnival provides a platform for artistic expression and a spectacular parade, embodying the true essence of masquerade. This uniquely colourful and vibrant community event will be back on the streets with plans that include the iconic Cowley Road procession, Eco Floats, Street Parties, and House Floats.
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.
Discover more: Funfairs & fireworks
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.
Christmas in Oxford 2024 (previously Oxford Christmas Market)
This year’s Oxford Christmas Market, which will now be known as “Christmas in Oxford”, is set to take place in the heart of the city on beautiful and historic Broad Street with wooden stalls, a giant Christmas tree, and a live music stage. The Christmas market will run from 23 November through to 05 January.
Discover more: Markets & Fairs
The post The unmissable annual events in Oxford taking place in 2025 appeared first on The Oxford Magazine.
from The Oxford Magazine https://ift.tt/NLBbopf
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment