At 10am Abingdon Freewheeling gathered for a medium paced ride of around 30 miles starting at Abingdon Market Place.
Nearby, at 10am Fat Face opened their doors for the start of the sales.
At 10am members of the MG Car Club had begun to gather for the annual Boxing Day run starting from Abingdon Market Place. The route was about 34 miles ending at the Dog House at Frilford Heath
Over 40 MGs gathered to take part.
The annual Carol Singers from Abingdon Christian Aid were on the Market Place yesterday. John Enticott always sent me a picture for the blog. This year the singers braved the cold wind and hopefully raised quite a bit from passing shoppers. They even had some impromptu dancing from a happy toddler or two. It would have been Johns’s 77th birthday, and although everybody who knew him missed him, the brass band and singing did him proud. Thanks to John’s daughter for sending this.
The Town Crier was ringing his bell and announcing the Street Art Exhibition which had its last day today at the Community Shop. It was something new to Abingdon and well worth a visit.
Some firemen came to town later in the day. They were recruiting ‘On Call Fire Fighters’. Anybody interested can go along to the Fire Station any Tuesday Evening from 7-9 pm.
Today was probably the hottest Abingdon Christmas Extravaganza Day on record. It was a lovely sunny day in late November.
The Mayor, Councillor Angela Lawrence – a long time advocate of Fair Trade, visited the Fair Trade Christmas Bazaar, at St Ethelwold’s House, in the morning.
There was no best shop window competition this year. But looking round, and I am no judge, it would have been between Fabulous Flowers …
and Oxfam. Snow was falling throughout the day on the Reindeer inside the window. If they don’t turn the snow off soon it will drift.
At midday, waiting in Queens Street Carpark for the start of the Christmas Extravaganza Parade, were the Mayor, Mace Bearer, Town Crier, and Town Clerk.
Various community groups were also waiting to take part in the midday parade, including some junior members of the cast of a play that will be performed in the Unicorn Theater from Wednesday 10th December to Sunday 14th December – called Scrooge. More Info Here.
The Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band led the parade.
Throughout the day people visited Abingdon shops, and coffee shops. They ate Hog roasted by the Crown and Thistle, partook of beer brewed by Loose Cannon Brewery, and enjoyed entertainment provided by many community groups. Pictured above are the Abingdon Community Choir.
The day ended with fire juggling…
The Christmas Lights were switched on (pictures to follow) …
and fireworks.
More pictures of the day on AbingdonBlog Facebook.
The Christmas Extravaganza road signs are there for the parade at 11:45am on Saturday, 29th November 2014.
Once the parade is over there will be entertainment in the Market Place and Bath Street, and traffic can flow normally. Entertainment will include a mix of Bands, Choirs, Dancers, Street Entertainers, and Punch and Judy. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 5:30pm followed by Fireworks.
To coincide with the Abingdon Christmas Extravaganza Day there will be free parking all day in all Abingdon’s car parks.
There are also other events that coincide with the Christmas Extravaganza Day: