The blog will be taking a short rest over the next few days to catch its breath. Before then, here are a few events happening in Abingdon over the coming week – some of them marking a momentous change in the town.

The last event to be held in the Abbey Buildings before they close for their revamp project is the Abingdon Beer Festival. Running from Friday 1st May to Sunday 3rd May, the festival takes place at Abingdon Abbey Buildings, down Checker Walk. Opening times are 5:00–11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 1:00–4:00 pm on Sunday. It will be a last chance to see the Upper Gallery without glass windows.

With the Abbey Buildings closing, the regular live Music at the Unicorn – part of the Abbey Buildings – is relocating. For the near future, performances will be part of Music at St Helen’s Church, with the first concert taking place next Saturday, 7th May.

During the week, Oxfordshire Artweeks will be underway across Abingdon and beyond. Locally, the Abbey Group will be exhibiting at St Nicolas Church from 2nd May (10:00 am) to 9th May (5:00 pm), with five artists showing original art, prints, crafts, cards and jewellery.

There will be 9 artists exhibiting at St Ethelwold’s House during the week, and if you pick up one of the Artweeks booklets at any of the venues – or visit the website https://www.artweeks.org/ – you will find more.

More soon.