There was a craft market on Abingdon Market Place this Saturday morning.

A group of young people from the Yo Co Youth Challenge Oxfordshire ran a food hub and raffle in the old police station. They will be running Bingo from St  Helens Church on 13th December. Yo Co organises programmes for young people that culminate in a time of volunteering in Kenya.

In Rye Farm meadow, there was a Saturday tree planting session.

The Oxford Caledonian Pipes & Drums led the Christmas parade around Abingdon from 12:00 and performed in Abingdon Market Place afterwards.

The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were also in the parade at 12, then danced on the Market Place at 2.15 and Bath Street at 3.30. In between whiles some of them were in the Punch Bowl playing tunes.

The  Abingdon Mace Bearer, the Mayor, Town Clerk and Town Council were in the parade. The  Town  Clerk,  Mr Nigel Warner, will soon be stepping down after over twenty years in the post. Interviews happened a couple of months ago for a replacement, but I know no more than that.

The Abingdon Lions helped by giving transport to Santa Claus. Before Christmas, they also run the Santa Sleigh around the streets of Abingdon and surrounding villages. For  a  full  schedule see https://www.abingdonlions.org.uk/santa2022.html.

An afternoon of festivities culminated in the lights being turned on and fireworks.

Thank you to Ryan for standing in and taking some pictures.

We booked a family event away for the same weekend.

The Abbott of Abingdon fell over a few weeks ago and is still down. The Abbott was once sponsored by the Abbey Press and has had no sponsor in recent years.

Abingdon Drama Club is producing a play, Abandonment, by Kate Atkinson, up to the weekend.

Smarts the Peachcroft fish and chip shop has closed.

Work has commenced repairing Abingdon Bridge, where an area has been fenced off, a portable metal cabin unloaded, and pontoons floated.

The ex Added Ingredients will re-open as a craft beer/artisan drinks shop + microbar and be called The Cowshed Abingdon. There is more information on the Oxford Drinker website. Opening Dec 1st.

The Market Place Christmas Tree was erected and decorated today in time for the Christmas Extravaganza this weekend.