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Step back in time at Banbury’s Victorian Christmas Market
25/11/2022
The market runs through the weekend, culminating with the town’s Christmas lights being turned on
Banbury’s first ever Victorian Christmas Market has started today.
Running until late Sunday afternoon, the event includes 130 stalls in the Market Place offering a range of gifts, food, drink and entertainment, with many of the town’s businesses joining in to conjure up the atmosphere of Christmases past.
Attractions include a carousel and fairground rides and traders will be dressed in Victorian style. A Victorian police officer on the beat, stilt walkers and performers on Penny Farthings will also give a feel of life in the 1800s.
Youngsters will be able to catch Father Christmas in his grotto and can take part in lantern-making workshops. A number of dance groups from the area will perform on a stage close to the Town Hall in Bridge Street and anyone following a Nutcracker trail around the town could be in with a chance to win an iPad mini.
The Victorian Christmas Market has been organised by Banbury BID.
BID Strategist Jasmine Gilhooly said: “We wanted to create something new for the town that would boost trade in the all-important run-up to Christmas and we are thrilled that everybody is pulling together to make it a memorable occasion.”
Banbury BID is working with LSD Promotions, which has experience of running similar markets across the Midlands.
Jasmine added: “These events are a huge success where our partners LSD run them already – such as in Stratford and Oxford – but now there is no need to go elsewhere to get in the festive spirit, it’s happening right here, the perfect attraction for our historic market town!
“All the stalls have been snapped up and we hope visitors will also get in the Victorian spirit by dressing for the occasion and will make a day or night of it by following up their shopping with a meal in one of our fantastic pubs and restaurants.
“It’s free to attend, it’s going to be a wonderful three days and we hope it will become a regular feature on the Banbury Christmas calendar!”
The Victorian Christmas Market runs from 10am to 8pm today and tomorrow and 10am to 6pm on Sunday.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam