Hundreds of people gathered in Abingdon town centre to enjoy the annual Christmas extravaganza.

The celebration started on Saturday with the Bath Street Christmas Market, featuring crafts, charity stalls, foods, and gifts.

Abbey Brass Band added to the atmosphere by playing carols, and donkeys were brought in to highlight the work of an animal sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.

READ MORE: The Westgate Centre is lit up with Christmas decorations 

On the Market Place stage, there were performances from the Abingdon Dance & Fitness Studio, the Marion Flanagan School of Irish Dance, the Amanda Alder Dance Academy, the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes, and the Abingdon Rock Choir.

(Image: Alastair Fear) At noon, a parade marched through town centre led by the Oxford Caledonian Pipe & Drum Band. The parade also featured the other performing groups.

The Community Shop at 24 Bury Street, run by Girlguiding Abingdon, provided a space for Christmas crafts, and shops created festive scenes in their windows.

At about 6pm, the town's Christmas lights were switched on in the market place.

Abingdon Events Partnership runs the extravaganza, with the support of the town council.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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