St Michael & All Angels’ Church annual Christmas Fair will be on Saturday, 9 November, from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be a mixture of craft and gift stalls, a raffle with prizes, and items like cakes, bottles, books, plants, and bric-a-brac. There will be music, activities for children, and refreshments. Proceeds go to church funds and Flexicare (a sitting service for families with children with disabilities).

There will be a charity concert at the Northcourt Music Venue (Abingdon United) on Friday, 22 November 2024, from 7:00 PM to Midnight, supporting SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide). The live performances are by Oxfordshire bands: Hatchee, The Ramblers, and Hard On Ya Ears. Tickets are £10 from https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/66203

Artwork by a group of Abingdon artists will be at St Nicolas’ Church, Abingdon for two days. There will be art from Margaret Horton, Emma Williams, Claire Cross, and glass artist Chris Eccles, along with prints, cards, and jewellery. This is in addition to Cards for Good Causes that is in the church anyway.

Discover the latest works from dozens of Abingdon Artists (including my wife) at the Abingdon Artists’ Autumn Exhibition (includes a range of original art and cards, and live demonstrations).

Browse the handmade crafts at the Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair in the Abbey Buildings (with 69 artisans).

There will be Ukrainian arts and crafts at St Ethelwold’s House.

Join the Abingdon Operatic Society for a performance of “Guys and Dolls” at the Amey Theatre.

There are three public firework displays being advertised around town. The Nags Head also has an event with a light show and fireworks on November 1st.

The clocks will go back in the UK on 27 October 2024 at 2am
Half Term is 28 October – 1 November.
Halloween is Thursday, 31 October 2024.

Quakers around the world are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of their faith’s founder, George Fox. In Abingdon, the local Quaker meeting is marking this milestone with a special meeting at St Ethelwold’s House. Visitors are invited to experience firsthand the quiet, contemplative nature of a Quaker meeting and enjoy a celebratory cake in honour of Fox’s birthday.

Enjoy two exciting classical music concerts this autumn at St Michael’s Church in Abingdon!

Concert 1 (Oct 6): Renowned pianist Huw Rhys James returns with a program featuring works by Haydn, Chopin, and Brahms.
Concert 2 (Oct 20): Local Pavlova Winds performs music by Holst and Hindemith.
Tickets are £12 for adults and £10 for concessions, with free entry for accompanied children under 16. Purchase tickets at the door or online:

Huw Rhys James piano recital: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DTWR
Pavlova Winds concert: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DTWT

Proceeds will support the church.

Abingdon’s historic Michaelmas Fair transforms the town centre and Ock Street from Sunday to Tuesday. It has already transformed the meadow by the Ock Bridge as some rides and caravans got here early.

Peter Foster leads a group of eight singers on a musical journey through the history of St. Helen’s Church. Moving through the five aisles, the singers will perform a diverse repertoire reflecting the different eras of the building, from Saxon to Victorian.

Proceeds from this event will be shared between St. Helen’s Church and Helen and Douglas House.

Despite morning showers, the Air and Country Show was sunny from around 2:30 PM. The event was less crowded than usual.
From RAF Brize Norton the Boeing C17 A Globemaster flew over the show and then came into land. There was a long queue all day of people waiting to board the plane.

The sight of a Hawker Hurricane Mk1 flying above was made more striking by a replica on the ground.

The Redline Home Guard, representing the BRX1 (Abingdon) Battalion, had an area showing weapons and a field office, and they gave a display of marching.

Chewbacca and Stormtroopers were posing for photos with countless stallholders and attendees alike.

Attendees could sit in the restored cockpit of a Buccaneer.

Mr. Punch’s insulting names for Judy, Rudy Doodie, and the Policeman, copper, always backfired. The audience enjoyed watching him get caught and scolded. Mr Punch also tried his hand at parenting, but his unawareness of a lurking green crocodile, he’s behind you, caused consternation and laughter.

This is just a brief sample of what was on offer. Congratulations to the team for putting the event together at shortish notice after the May event was cancelled.