With half term under way and hot weather forecast, the Splash Pad area in Abbey Meadows received a pressure wash today in preparation for busy days ahead. The open-air pool has not yet reopened, but nearby Hinksey Outdoor Pool is already open for swimmers.

AbiBinIt Community Litter Pick: Marcham Road
Saturday 23rd May, 10am–12pm
At MG Heritage Park on Marcham Road.

AbiBinIt’s latest community litter pick takes place around the Marcham Road area. Litter pickers and equipment will be provided, and newcomers are very welcome. Children should be accompanied by a responsible adult, and suitable clothing and footwear are recommended.

The group says: “If you’ve never litter picked with us then make May your month to change that.”

Abingdon Freewheeling Annual Cycling Festival
Saturday 24th May, 9.30am–12.30pm
Starting from Abingdon Market Place.

Abingdon Freewheeling will be hosting its annual cycling festival, with a range of rides leaving at different times during the morning.

The rides will finish at Loose Cannon Brewing Co. for drinks and food. The festival aims to encourage cycling in the community, and all are welcome. No booking is required, although spaces on rides are limited.

Come for a Bank Holiday Walk
Sunday 25th May, 10am–1pm

A chance to explore Abingdon and the surrounding area on foot, either through one of five guided walks or by following a self-guided trail.

Trail leaflets will be available on the day, with around a dozen different walks covering a range of interests and ages.

(Also the day of the Harwell Feast)

Edmund Rich – later to become St Edmund of Abingdon – was born in Abingdon around 1175. St Edmund’s Lane in Abingdon preserves the memory of what was traditionally regarded as his birthplace, and there was once a chapel dedicated to him in that area. St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School in Abingdon and Our Lady and St Edmund of Abingdon Church are also dedicated to him. There is a plaque in his honour in that church (above) and another outside St Nicolas Church where his mother was buried.

Beyond Abingdon his fame was to grow. St Edmund Hall, a college of the University of Oxford, is also dedicated to his memory as a teacher and has a modern statue there in his memory. He studied in Oxford and Paris and taught in Oxford. In 1222 he became Canon of Salisbury Cathedral during the cathedral’s great building period. In 1233 Edmund became Archbishop of Canterbury. He was known for personal austerity, care for the poor, and for defending church rights during the reign of Henry III. His efforts to challenge royal interference brought him into conflict with the king. He left England intending to present his case to the papal court in Rome, but he fell ill on the journey and died in France in 1240. Edmund was buried at Pontigny Abbey, where he became venerated as Saint Edme. He was made a saint in 1246, only six years after his death.

Abingdon is marking the 850th anniversary of St Edmund with the ‘Cakes and Ales Festival’ on Saturday 16 May 2026. The celebration includes music, refreshments and community events connected with St Edmund’s life and legacy. There will be a Medieval Recipe Cake, a talk on Anglo Saxon Beer-Making, a cake stall on the Market Place and a Loose Cannon Special 850th Ale.

One featured event is a piano recital at St Michael and All Angels Church at 3pm, followed by tea and cakes.

Another event is a Ceilidh at St Michael’s.

A fuller weekend of events can be seen on the official leaflet. Most of the other events are free.

The blog will be taking a short rest over the next few days to catch its breath. Before then, here are a few events happening in Abingdon over the coming week – some of them marking a momentous change in the town.

The last event to be held in the Abbey Buildings before they close for their revamp project is the Abingdon Beer Festival. Running from Friday 1st May to Sunday 3rd May, the festival takes place at Abingdon Abbey Buildings, down Checker Walk. Opening times are 5:00–11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 1:00–4:00 pm on Sunday. It will be a last chance to see the Upper Gallery without glass windows.

With the Abbey Buildings closing, the regular live Music at the Unicorn – part of the Abbey Buildings – is relocating. For the near future, performances will be part of Music at St Helen’s Church, with the first concert taking place next Saturday, 7th May.

During the week, Oxfordshire Artweeks will be underway across Abingdon and beyond. Locally, the Abbey Group will be exhibiting at St Nicolas Church from 2nd May (10:00 am) to 9th May (5:00 pm), with five artists showing original art, prints, crafts, cards and jewellery.

There will be 9 artists exhibiting at St Ethelwold’s House during the week, and if you pick up one of the Artweeks booklets at any of the venues – or visit the website https://www.artweeks.org/ – you will find more.

More soon.

Beauty and the Beast
7–11 April | 7:30pm  Saturday Matinee 2:30pm
Amey Theatre, Abingdon
Abingdon Operatic Society brings Disney’s Broadway musical to Abingdon.

Musica Medievalis – Medieval Music Concert
10 April | 7:30pm (doors 7:00pm)
St Nicolas Church, Abingdon
Join Marco Cannavò and Steve Tyler for a  journey back to medieval Europe, featuring hurdy-gurdy, harp, lute, and organ. A blend of sacred and secular music.

Clubs & Societies Day 2026
Saturday 11 April | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Guildhall, Unit 25, St Nicolas Church & Market Place, Abingdon
Discover the wide range of local groups and organisations in Abingdon. A great chance to meet people, learn something new, and get involved.

Creating Ponds for Wildlife
Wednesday 15 April | 7:30pm
Abingdon Baptist Church
An illustrated talk by Jeremy Biggs exploring how to create ponds that support biodiversity and wildlife.

Author Talk: Carolyn Kirby – Ravenglass
Thursday 16 April | 6:00pm
Abingdon Library
Novelist Carolyn Kirby discusses her historical novel Ravenglass, set during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Tickets: £2 (includes a welcome drink).

History Talk: Unremembered Allies
Thursday 16 April | 7:45pm
Northcourt Centre, Abingdon
A talk by Rev. Mark Nam on the Chinese Labour Corps in WWI – the often overlooked story of over 140,000 men who supported Allied efforts during the war.

Celtic Songs & Music Evening
Saturday 18 April | 7:30pm
St Helen’s Church, Abingdon
An evening of traditional Celtic music with Valentine Roland, performed on violin, guitar, and tin whistle.