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.
I did love the signs put up around abingdon in advance of this event. Always pointless to say “this Saturday” on posters particularly in this case when the signs were up two weeks before the event!
They were not put up 2 weeks ahead. They went up on the Sunday before.
There were signs up on the Thursday/Friday which led to comments among our friends about whether it was “this Sat” or the next Sat. Turns out it was the next sat
I agree with Kelly, I was chatting to 2 guys putting them up last Sunday, only 6 days before the actual switch on
Not for the extravaganza. But now they’re up for this Saturday’s market – put up yesterday (Sunday)..
Have now checked. There were posters up earlier but they had the date on them. Absolutely no signs up before the Sunday which stated ‘this Saturday’.
But they weren’t 😂😂😂😂
It was a brilliant day – great to see the town full of people enjoying themselves. Well done to the organisers/volunteers. And the lights are lovely – so well done to Abingdon Town Council for that.
Enjoyed the fireworks, as usual.
Does anyone know though why it all “finishes up” so early – the market bit…well before the fireworks? It seems odd that the people who all come in later miss out on the market? Stalls were closed/closing by 3.30. Seems a shame… Christmas markets can go on for ages in other places…Abingdon seems all tucked up in bed by 6.30….
Probably because these were mostly very small businesses or voluntary groups who would struggle to keep a stall going from 9am till evening – commercial markets will have more resources. However I think the organising team, some of whom are new, will be looking for constructive suggestions for improvements and I would imagine timings would be something which could be reviewed in future.
Mainly because it starts early and is a full day event, rather than a Christmas evening, which it used to be and was less successful. Having run a charity stall at it for a number of years, it is a VERY long day from set up well before 9am. Also quite hard in the dark especially with a tombola. Weather wasn’t bad this year – in the past it has been freezing and approx 10 hours is enough. Yes, might make a bit more money, but most stall holders are very happy.
I thought that the gentleman with the white beard and red suit is called Father Christmas? 🤔
Lighting is an issue for the market stalls. The street lights aren’t sufficient to light the stalls as it get dark. Logistics of providing light is probably too great and expensive.
I see there was only seven Town Councillors present for the parade out of a possible nineteen. There was also a poor turnout of Town Councillors for the Remembrance Day Service and very few attended the Michaelmas Fair Service. If Town Councillors show no interest in what’s going on on the town perhaps they should stand down and let others who are interested have a go.