Outdoors - Abingdon on Thames Town Council

Recycle Your Christmas Tree!

This is a reminder that as usual, now that the Christmas festivities are concluded, you can bring your Christmas tree to the Market Place to be recycled into woodchip.

This annual event takes place on the Saturday after Twelfth Night and this year is scheduled for Saturday 5th January from 9am to 3pm. This service is provided by the Town Council.

The woodchip produced will help to line our woodland pathways and provide compost for allotments and flowerbeds.

Take advantage of this convenient and environmentally-friendly way to say goodbye to your Christmas tree.

Mission Space will take Abingdon fair to new heights

The organisers of next week’s Abingdon Michaelmas Fun Fair are promising a bigger and better version of one of last year’s hit attractions. Mission Space will replace the Sky Fly ride on Ock Street, towering 40 metres (130 feet) high. For two days only – Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th – riders will be able to enjoy an exhilarating experience as they are twirled high over the rooftops of the Oxfordshire town.
Not only is the new ride taller than its predecessor by a full 10 metres, it also features a dazzling colour-changing LED package that will create a fantastic light show now that the nights are drawing in.
“The Sky Fly has been one of our most popular attractions the past few years in Abingdon, so we’re pleased to take it to new heights,” says Emily Wilson of organiser Bob Wilson’s Fun Fairs. “Unlike some of our other tall rides, this one is not fast or intense, so you’ll have time to enjoy the views from the top, which should be most spectacular.”
Thrill seekers with a need for speed may prefer the Booster, which returns again this year. Even taller than Mission Space (42m), it whisks riders through the sky on seats that rock forwards, backwards and through full 360° somersaults. Other white knuckle rides for 2018 will include the Freak Out, Extreme, Body Count, Tagada, Meteorite and Hysteria.
As always, the Galloping Horses (Carousel) will take pride of place on the Market Place. There will also be classic fairground attractions including the Waltzer, Dodgems, Fun House, Helter Skelter and many more, including a large selection of rides and attractions just for the little ones.
Billed as the largest street fair in Europe, the two-day event stretches for one mile down the high street, taking in both the Market Place and Ock Street. Adding atmosphere will be the many food kiosks and games stalls.
The Michaelmas Fair, named after the feast of St Michael, was originally a medieval hiring fair for rural farmworkers to find work in the area around Abingdon-on-Thames. Over the years it evolved to include a large selection of rides and other amusements.
This year’s event takes place on October 9 and 10, with a church service by the Carousel in the Market Place providing an added spectacle on Sunday night a 8.00pm. More details can be found at www.Facebook.com/OxfordshireFunFairs

Abingdon Michaelmas and Runaway Fairs come to town!

Abingdon Michaelmas Fair will take place on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th October from 12 noon to 11pm each day. The Michaelmas Fair is the longest street fair in Europe, running from the Market Place, through the High Street, The Square and the full length of Ock Street. This historic street fair has its origins in the shortage of labour following the Black Death of 1348/9. The Fair was a hiring fair, the equivalent of today’s employment agencies and online job websites. Men were hired for agricultural work at Michaelmas and the Fair provided an opportunity for staff to be hired for the next 12 months. The Fair remained, at least in part, a hiring fair until the early part of the last century. Nowadays the Fair continues but as a fun fair. It includes some of the latest state-of-the-art fairground attractions which operate alongside more traditional rides, side-shows and refreshment kiosks.

The smaller fair, held the following Monday week later and still called The Runaway Fair, provided the opportunity for unhappy employees to change their minds and contracts.

Both of these Fairs are organised by a professional funfair operator, Bob Wilson’s Funfairs. Based in Birmingham, they are responsible for the organisation of many funfairs throughout the country. Like many of the showmen who attend Abingdon Fair, they have a long tradition of working in Abingdon which goes back many years.

The Michaelmas Fair starts setting up from 8.30am on Sunday, after which there are road closures and diversions to enable the traditional street fair to take place. There are also closures and diversions the following week for the Runaway Fair. Please click here for a link which will take you to the page which contains these details.

To mark the start of the Fairs, the Town Council is organising the traditional Fairground Service of Blessing and Dedication. This will take place at 8pm on Sunday 7th October 2018 on the Galloping Horses in the Market Place. All are very welcome.

Music in the Park – Sold Out

Wristands for Saturday evening’s Music in the Park event are now sold out, so there will be none available on the gate.

However if you have pre-ordered wristbands but have yet to collect them, these are available at the Town Council control tent during Fun in the Park (open until 3.30pm) or at the Abbey Car Park gate when the gates open for Music in the Park . Gates will open between 4.30 and 5pm. You should bring with you your online order number.

For further details of the day’s events click here.

Fun and Music in the Park Saturday 2nd June 2018 – a guide for the day

Both Fun and Music in the Park take place in the Abbey Grounds and for everyone’s safety Abbey Close will be closed to traffic all day. The Abbey Close car park (immediately adjacent to the Abbey Grounds) will also be closed.

Fun in the Park

This event starts at 10.30am and ends at 3.30 pm.

Wild west Bouncy Castle

Climbing Wall

Go Karts

Arts and Crafts

Music and Dance

A variety of local community stalls

Food and drink refreshments

Music in the Park

This event starts at 5pm. Gates will open before then (but not before 4.30pm). Please put your wristbands on before reaching the gate as this will assist in your smooth entry to the event. For the further information and terms and conditions please see the detailed section at the end of this page. These have been issued to all those purchasing wristbands.

The bands playing this year are:

Sidekickz

Undercovers

Oxfordshire Youth Big Band

Abingdon Town Band

The event finishes at 10pm with fireworks.

Entrance is strictly by wristband only. These are now sold out and so are not available on the day of the event.

However if you have pre-ordered wristbands but have yet to collect them, these are available at the Town Council control tent during Fun in the Park (open until 3.30pm) or at the Abbey Car Park gate when the gates open for Music in the Park . Gates will open between 4.30 and 5pm. You should bring with you your online order number.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council: Music in the Park – 2^nd June 2018

Terms and Conditions to accompany the sale of wristbands.

Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds or replace, free of charge, lost wristbands.

2. You may be asked for age identification when purchasing wristbands.

3. Security personnel will in attendance and may ask to check your belongings when you enter the grounds.

4. Bar and refreshment facilities will be available. No persons under the age of 18 years old will be served alcohol. Age identification may be requested.

5. You may bring your own alcohol as part of a picnic but only in limited quantities; you may be checked by the security personnel and if it is found that you have a large quantity of alcohol, you will either be refused admission or the alcohol will be disposed off. If you do bring alcohol or soft drinks onto the site then please make sure that there are no glass bottles or glass containers.

6. Please take all your own rubbish home and do not dispose of on or near the site.

7. No animals will be allowed to enter the grounds during the event except guide dogs/ hearing assistance dogs.

8. Gazebos are allowed but only in the limited allocated area; once this space has been filled then there will be no other areas available for gazebos.

9. For reasons of public safety, there will be no vehicular access to Abbey Close between 8am and midnight on Saturday 2^nd June 2018 and the Abbey Close Car Park will be closed all day. Access to Abbey Close will only be allowed to Abbey Close residents and services, and access to both Abbey Close and Abbey Close Car Park will be for event participants.

10. There will be zero tolerance to anti-social behaviour. Anyone displaying anti-social behaviour will be asked to leave the Abbey Grounds.

11. Glass containers/bottles, sharp objects and other dangerous objects will not be allowed in the Abbey Grounds. Barbeques will not be allowed in the Abbey Grounds.

12. Children under the age of 14 years cannot purchase wristbands unless they are accompanied by an adult. There are free wristbands for children under 5 which must be obtained at the same time as adult wristbands are purchased so that we have a clear idea of numbers. Adults are required to supervise the children in their party at all times during the event and no responsibility will be taken by the council for children who are not adequately supervised. Adults should be aware that there is deep water in close proximity to the venue.

Music in the Park takes place from 5pm to 10pm. For security reasons, there will be no entry or re-entry to Music in the Park after 9pm.

If you are also coming to Fun in the Park this will take place from 10:30am to 3:30pm.

During Ticket sales we collect personal data including your Name and Email Address or Telephone number. This will only be used if we need to let you know of any amends to the Event and will only be shared with Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council and Flame Concepts who supply our booking software.

Thank you for complying with these conditions- we do hope you enjoy the evening.

Your last chance to get wristbands for Saturday’s Music in the Park

There are just a few wristbands remaining for this Saturday’s “Music in the Park.” The event takes place in the Abbey Grounds – gates open 5pm and the event ends with the traditional firework display at 10pm.

If you have already ordered your wristbands online and chosen to collect them ahead of the event, these must be collected from the Council’s offices at Roysse Court. To assist those who may not be able to collect their wristbands, we have arranged to open last this Thursday evening, so you may now collect your wristbands either Thursday from 9am to 7pm; or Friday, 9am to 4pm.

If you have yet to purchase wristbands, you must act fast – the wristbands will be on sale at the Royyse Court offices from 9am on Thursday but will sell out soon.

Ock Valley Walk Footbridge

We are pleased to say that the new footbridge for the Ock Valley Walk (St Helen’s Court) has been manufactured and delivered. Unfortunately, installation of the new bridge has been delayed due to the inclement weather and flood warnings on the River Ock and Thames. It is hoped that installation will begin week commencing 9^th April if the water level and flows permit.

Music in the Park 2018

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council are once again organising the popular “Music in the Park” event!

Wristbands for this year’s event are on sale now. Wristbands will cost £10 for adults and £5 for children. Under 5’s are free and must be worn so please remember to ask. No concessions.

Tickets are available from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, Roysse Court Offices, and online. With online sales there is an option for collecting them or paying extra for postage until we get near the date of the event.

Music in the Park has taken place in the Abbey Grounds every year since its inception as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, attracting large crowds with 3,500 wristbands being made available in the spring.

This year’s Music in the Park takes place in the evening of Saturday 2nd June, following on from the popular daytime event, Fun in the Park.

The evening event will start at 5pm with live music from local bands and concludes with a Proms Concert by Abingdon Town Band and a Grand Firework Display.

Severe Weather Information and Advice

Severe weather can affect you in several ways and in the event of bad snow or ice it is important to know where to get help if you need it.

Please see the useful link below from The Vale of White Horse District Council for further advice on issues such as Waste collections, School Closures, Flooding and loss of utilities.

There are some out of hour’s telephone numbers if you need assistance or are worried about a relative or neighbour.

And also some information about how to join the Priority Services Register for vulnerable residents.

www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/services-and-advice/environment-and-neighbourhood-issues/severe-weather/severe-weather

We will keep our Social Media updated with weather warnings and the most up to date information we have available.

Bun Throwing Ceremony to commemorate the end of the First World War

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council has announced that it will be holding a Bun Throwing Ceremony on the afternoon of Saturday 10th November 2018 to commemorate the end of the First World War.

The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Jan Morter, stated: “Over the course of this year and especially during the weekend of the 10th and 11th November we will remember with sadness and pride those who gave their lives during the First World War. However, it is also right that we should remember those who made it through the War and returned to their town and their families. The bun throwing ceremony will commemorate, with gratitude, their return and the end of the conflict.”

The Town Clerk, Nigel Warner, stated that the Bun Throwing Ceremony would be part of a weekend of events which were being organised to commemorate the end of the First World War, further details of which would be emerging over the coming months.

Bun Throwing Ceremonies are organised periodically to commemorate major royal and national events. There have been 35 Bun Throwing Ceremonies since 1761, the last Bun Throwing Ceremony taking place in June 2016 to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen.