THE noise and sparkle of St Giles’ Fair may have been swept away for another year, but Town Hall planners have already set their sights on Christmas.

Oxford City Council has announced its plans for the festive season, but the Christmas Light Festival is set to move location this year.

The local authority will hold the festival from November 21 to 23 and create a ‘hub’ in Gloucester Green, in partnership with Arts at the Old Fire Station and Oxford Playhouse.

And despite news there will be no lantern procession and St Giles’ will not be closed to traffic, traders told the Oxford Mail they are upbeat about plans for the three-day event.

Andy Carveth, assistant manager of the Lamb & Flag in St Giles’, said this year’s plan to centre festivities around Gloucester Green “made much more sense”.

He said: “During previous festivals we have been very busy, it’s one of our busiest times of the year.

“But it makes much more sense to keep St Giles’ open and have the celebration in Gloucester Green, because it is a main road in a city which is not great for cars already.

The festival will feature art activities, dance, theatre, music and takeaway food. There will also be a “day of song”– a series of choir performances – with a finale in the Town Hall, in St Aldate’s.

Oxford Mail:

  • Last year’s Christmas Lights event in St Giles’

City council spokesman Chofamba Sithole said the decision to hold the festival at the end of November was to allow more partnerships with schools in the city, before the end of term. He said: “We are working with schools to create light installations inspired by the city’s museums and also enable students to attend the festival.”

It will mark the beginning of an eight-week programme of seasonal events at venues across the city, he added.

The decision to curtail the Christmas festival’s scope was first revealed in March, after the city council said residents, firms and city workers had complained about the closure of St Giles’ to traffic.

A report also showed it had faced sharp criticism from St John’s College, Balliol College, St Cross College and Jesus College, with staff branding the celebration “naff and tawdry”.

But traders set to benefit this year from the move to Gloucester Green said they were delighted.

Duty manager of board game shop and cafe Thirsty Meeples Simon Read said: “For everyone here, sitting down and playing board games with your family is a fundamental part of Christmas, so we couldn’t be more pleased.”

 

 

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