Shopping - Abingdon on Thames Town Council

Christmas Extravaganza this Saturday 28th November

This Saturday the 28th November 2015 is the Abingdon-on-Thames annual Christmas Extravaganza.

Below is a listing of the events throughout the day.

It will be a great day for all the family.

Market Place

11:15 Majorettes

12:00 Parade

12:30 Oxford Caledonian Pipes & Drums

13:00 Majorettes

13:30 Ashnar

14:00 Morris Dancers

14:30 Charlie Leavy

15:00 Sophie Elise

15:15 Abingdon Concert Band

16:00 Community Chior

16:45 Fire Performance

17:30 The big switch on, followed by fireworks

17:40 Community Chior

Bath Street

10:00 stalls open for business

12:30 Punch & Judy

13:00 Morris Dancers

13:30 Punch & Judy

14:00 TBC

14:30 Punch & Judy

15:00 Morris Dancers

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council Official Guide

The Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council Official Guide is now available to download.

If you live in the delivery catchment area one should have been delivered.

If this is not the case please click the below link for an electronic copy,

http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/flip_guides/abingdonguide3787/index.html

Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

Abingdon becomes a Business Improvement District

Abingdon can go from strength to strength

Businesses in Abingdon have voted in favour of the town centre becoming a Business Improvement District.

This means businesses in the area covered by the improvement district will pay money into a pot, which will be spent on improving the town centre with the aim of making it a better place for people to come and shop.

The amount of money a business contributes depends on its size, and some types of business don’t have to pay. In total it will create almost £800,000 over the course of five years, all of which will be invested directly back into the town centre.

Councillor Sandy Lovatt, Leader of the Abingdon-on-Thames Town Concil said,

“A fantastic result for the Town and it gives the traders an independent source of funding support to promote Abingdon’s economy”.

The Abingdon BID Ballot results can be viewed by clicking here

New Stalls at the Monday Market

There have been some changes at the Monday Market. Just a few weeks ago we were pleased to announce the arrival of the fresh fish van, which has now become a regular fixture, bringing freshly caught fish and seafood picked up in Grimsby that same morning. Following this we now have two more new stalls which started trading today bringing a splash of colour to the market. There’s a new china stall with delightful mugs, teapots and jugs in attractive designs including butterflies and ladybirds and also a lovely stall with pinnies, cushions and other stitched household textiles. Both of them are keen to come back again next week and we hope, with the support of the town, they will become regulars at the Monday Market.

Craftworkers can apply for the June Craft Market

Abingdon Craft Market ready for summer

Just a few weeks to go until the Craft Market is back in Abingdon Market Place for its summer appointment. Stall places are being finalised this weekend so email heather.brown@abingdon.gov.uk if you are a quality and genuine local craftworker, artist or artisan and you would like to exhibit/trade at the Summer Craft Fair on 13th June. New exhibitors will be able to rent a gazebo as well as book a pitch so please ask if you don’t have your own. Public liability insurance is a must so please do not enquire if you do not have it or cannot get it in time for the event date.

Museums at Night 2015

Tomorrow Abingdon Museum will be opening its doors from 5pm for an evening of free entertainment for all! With special appearances from Opera Anywhere, providing a taste of Opera for visitors including a very special performance on the Museum Roof to the setting sun, Raw Diva a highly energetic and talented all female dance group from Oxford under the Museum arcade, who will also be raising money for Blue Sky Thinking , and music from Oxford Horns, Ian Miles and The Mulberry Band, all of whom return to the Museum back by high demand.

Most importantly entrance is free for everyone all evening. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit the museum if you have never visited before, and a great opportunity for those who have previously visited to experience the museum in a new light. With the exhibitions, cafe, roof and shop open all evening, as well as superb craft activities for children, there will be plenty to see, hear and do throughout the 5pm-9pm opening period.

For more information on some of the performers:

Opera Anywhere

Raw Diva

Oxford Horns

Abingdon Museum will be open 5-9pm 13 May for Museums at Night and is free to enter, Roof Entry is charged at the standard £2 adult £1 concession (children under 16, over 65’s and EH Members), last call for roof entry is 8.30pm.

Ceramics and many other crafts from France

French Market arrives on Friday

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council have asked a new French market operator to come to town featuring non-food artisan products, crafts and some vintage stalls. We are experimenting with a new style of French market which is less competitive to our own shop traders and perhaps provides something a little more unusual as many continental markets have become rather predictable.

Come and take a look in the Market Place on Friday, Saturday or Sunday at the ceramics, drift wood, wooden toys, hand painted textiles, candles and soaps; there’s also a craftworker who recycles seat belts into handbags!

Music in the Park wristbands will be on sale from the orange gazebo also on the Market Place on Saturday 25th April 10am to 2pm.

For comments or suggestions about the French market please email heather.brown@abingdon.gov.uk

Christmas Inspiration at a genuine Crafts Market

Christmas Inspiration at the Craft Market this weekend

This Saturday 13th December the Market Place at Abingdon-on-Thames is the setting for a quality Christmas Market featuring genuine craftspeople and offering workshops and demonstrations.

Talented potters, woodworkers, bakers and painters will be joined by stalls full of lovely hand-made jewellery, clothing and soaps. So many unique and interesting gifts and stocking fillers to take away to complete your Christmas shopping…and the satisfaction of supporting craftspeople and young entrepreneurs from your own area with just some of your Christmas budget. When you’ve finished wandering around the market have a look in some of the great independent shops on Bridge Street, Stert Street, Bury Street and Bath Street.

We’ve got Chocolate-Craft workshops and Have-a-Go Woodwork sessions going on throughout the day (until half an hour before the market ends) as well as Mince Pies and Mulled Wine on sale for charity.

Come into Abingdon this Saturday for a traditional Christmas shopping experience in a traditional market town.

Great independent shops
Coffee and tea shops close by the market
2 hours free parking in town centre car parks
Unique gifts and genuine local crafts
Meet the person who actually made the gift you are buying
Order bespoke items or commission something really special

Stalls of vintage loveliness at Ruby's Fair in the Guildhall

News from the Vintage Fair

Heritage Weekend has started in great style. The 1914 re-enactment stalls are entertaining the crowds on the Market Place and lots of people are coming into the Guildhall now for the Ruby’s Vintage Fair. War Horses on the High Street and sergeant majors shouting out drill orders to the new recruits off the front and certain they will be home by Christmas.Find out how to make a pewter toy or watch the Punch and Judy show; sing songs from the early twentieth century or learn how to clean a rifle.

As always on Heritage Weekend there are a variety of interesting properties open to the public. A great chance to see inside some of Abingdon’s heritage buildings.

When it all gets too much there’s a welcome cup of tea at the Vintage Tea Room in the Guildhall (today only), or make your way down to our all-year-round piece of vintage heaven on West St Helen Street and try the lovely homemade cakes at Rosie’s Tea Room.

Craft Market on Saturday

You’ll be supporting your local town centre and keeping genuine British crafts alive by taking some time out in Abingdon-on-Thames town centre this Saturday between 9am and 3pm. With live music from clarinets and voices, the atmosphere should be mellow and the pace relaxed. Come and join us for coffee in the Market Place, take in the stalls and lovely, locally-made craft products, and enjoy Abingdon Market Place at its best.