ONE of Oxford's biggest and most popular community events is returning this weekend for two days of fun, music and art.

Headington Festival returns tomorrow and Sunday for the 16th time, featuring an extravaganza of street entertainment, games and live music.

The event, which is provided for people in Headington, Wood Farm and Barton, will see thousands of festival-goers pour into Bury Knowle Park.

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Entry is free to the event, which is supported by organisations including Oxford Brookes University, Oxford University and Science Oxford.

Tomorrow the weekly Headington market will double in size from 10am until 3pm, taking place at its usual home in London Road before moving to Bury Knowle Park.

As an attraction for budding artists, a Big Chalk event will run alongside the market.

It will see the pavements painted with green to create a beanstalk winding through the streets of Headington and finishing up at the end of London Road.

From 3pm, gates to the park will be opened for a small funfair, a bar and an outdoor cinema showing two films as the day rolls into the night.

Traders will tempt tastebuds with international dishes and there will be arts and crafts activities for families to enjoy.

A 24-strong team from the voluntary group Headington Action have spent the past six months pulling together the free community fiesta, which will re-commence at 1pm on Sunday.

Festival committee chair Elsa Bell said it was important to keep the event free.

She said: “Entrance is free and we have tried to keep all major entertainment free.

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"We want everybody, whether they have a small or big income, to come from Headington and surrounding areas like Wood Farm and Barton.

“We want to bring the community together in an inclusive way.

"We are aware that not everyone can go out for a whole day without spending lots of money.

“For example, this year there will be two films being shown in the evenings and people can go to that for free and bring their own drinks.

“If they can, they can also support the Round Table, which helps pay for the free films.”

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Organisers say Sunday’s festivities will resemble that of a community fete with sports sessions, farm animals to inspect, and a stage

In the afternoon, the winners of this year's children’s photography competition will be announced by the new Lord Mayor, Craig Simmons.

Ms Bell added: “It is important to feel part of a community and also feel proud of where you live.”