August can be a quieter month for events as lots of people are away, but the board in the Abingdon Information Centre has a variety of events.
Here are two highlights and some other events:
VJ Day 80th Anniversary – 15th to 17th August Abingdon will mark 80 years since VJ Day — the end of World War II — with a series of commemorative and community events organised by the Abingdon Royal British Legion and supported by the Town Council.
Friday 15th August: A ceremony will take place at the war memorial at 12 noon, honouring the 56 local men and 47 Abingdon School alumni who lost their lives.
Saturday 16th August: “Party on the Pitch” at Abingdon Rugby Club will feature Aunt Sally, a rifle range, bun-throwing, food, drinks, and live music. Bring your own picnic (no dogs allowed). To enter the bun-throwing contest (teams of four), email: abingdonrblvevj@gmail.com.
That evening, Wildflower Whisky will perform country music at the Royal British Legion on Spring Road from 9pm.
Sunday 17th August: A VJ commemorative tea dance will take place at Preston Road Community Centre, 2:00–4:30pm.
West Side Story – 22nd & 23rd August DIY Theatre Co, a youth theatre group based in Sunningwell and East Oxford, will perform West Side Story at the Amey Theatre. This production brings together young performers from DIY with dancers from Grenoble, actors from Bonn, and a 36-piece orchestra including musicians from Leiden and Oxfordshire — reflecting Oxford’s twinning connections.
The musical — based on Romeo and Juliet — features music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, including songs like Maria, Somewhere, and I Feel Pretty.
Also in August:
Wednesday 6th August from 7pm Hiroshima Exhibition and Lantern Floating at St Ethelwolds House and St Helen’s Wharf.
Saturday 16th August from 7:30pm: The tribute band Strictly UB40 will be playing at the Northcourt Centre.
Sunday 17th August from 10am: There will be a community litter pick in Southern Town Park.
Sunday 17th August at 3pm: The Tessera Viol Consort will give a concert of early English music at St Michael’s Church, Park Road.
Tuesday 19th August from 7:00pm: Atom Society Talk – Dr Andrew Molyneux will give a talk titled “Granny’s had a Stroke; shall we call the Doctor?”, informing people about what can be done to treat a stroke.
Thursday 21st August from 7:30pm: A monthly live music event (3rd Thursday) at the Loose Cannon Tap Room — an evening of local bands hosted by Make Music Abingdon.
Saturday 23rd August from 2:30 to 4:30pm: Cream Tea at St Michael’s Church, Park Road.
The board also looks ahead to a few events already planned for September, including Heritage Open Day and the Breast Walk Ever in support of Against Breast Cancer.