Today the Christmas Market at Oxford’s Broad Street opens for 24 days, after LSD Promotions were brought in to run the event after the previous organiser Nicole Rahimi pulled out due to safety concerns.
The Christmas Market will be open from today, Thursday 30th November to Saturday 23rd December 2023 from 10am and until 6pm week days and 8pm weekends.
Traders will return to bring festive joy to the city of dreaming spires with a mix of local arts and crafts, food stalls and gifts. Broad Street will see brand new, 3x3m pop canopies with back and side sheets and tables, and it is expected the event will feature a beautiful and consistent green and red colour scheme to create an aesthetically pleasing marketplace.
The festive market is set up in the shadow of the iconic Oxford University buildings, creating a charming and festive atmosphere and features over 50 wooden chalets adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations. These chalets house a variety of stalls selling a wide range of gifts, crafts, food, and drinks.
The Oxford Christmas Market is family-friendly, with activities and attractions for children, and transforms Broad Street into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights, Christmas decorations, and an overall magical ambiance.
The market is easily accessible, with public transport links and nearby parking facilities.
When: 30th November 2023 to 23rd December 2023
Where: Broad Street, Oxford City Centre, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3AS
Cost: Free
Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 10.00am to 6.00pm
Friday and Saturday from 10.00am to 8.00pm
The event replaces the old organisation of the event run for the last 14 years by Nicole Rahimi, after the council rejected a request to close the cycle lane on Broad Street to avoid any accidents with pedestrians and cyclists.
City council leader Susan Brown said of the festive market:
“I am delighted that this year’s Christmas market will once again go ahead in Broad Street. As well as supporting local traders, the increased footfall in the centre is a great opportunity for local businesses to attract new customers, and this year the market will take place for longer, meaning there’s even more time for people to experience the joys of Christmas in Oxford.”
Lara Davis, event organiser at LDS Promotions, said:
LDS Promotions are truly honoured to be entrusted with bringing the magic of the Oxford city Christmas Market to life this year. The market will not only provide a platform for local artisans and businesses but will also serve as a gathering place for the community to celebrate the joys of the festive season. As the Christmas season approaches, the Oxford City Christmas Market stands ready to spread joy, warmth, and togetherness.
Traditions of a Christmas market
Christmas markets have a long history, dating back to the Late Middle Ages in Germany, with the first recorded Christmas market is believed to have taken place in Munich, Germany in 1310.
They are usually set up in town squares or pedestrian zones and consist of wooden stalls selling various goods and food. Christmas markets are known for their festive atmosphere, with decorations such as lights, Christmas trees, and ornaments.
The stalls at a Christmas Fair sell a wide range of items, including handmade crafts, gifts, toys, jewellery, and winter clothing. Food and drink are also a major part of Christmas markets, with popular items including mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, gingerbread cookies, sausages, and other traditional seasonal treats.
Many Christmas markets also feature live music, carol singing, and other entertainment to create a joyful and festive ambiance. And if Santa Claus and Christmas Carols don’t make you feel festive, you must be a Grinch.
Some of the most famous Christmas markets include the Christkindlmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, the Strasbourg Christmas Market in France, and the Christmas Village in New York City, USA.
