Lights festival and market to open festive season

Oxford is preparing to be transformed for a weekend of Christmas lights and festive events.

The Christmas Light Festival, from 13 to 15 November, will feature hand-made lanterns, LED displays, street decorations and colourful window art throughout the city.

A four-day Victorian Christmas Market on Broad Street also started on Thursday.

City council leader Susan Brown said the annual lights festival brought communities, cultures and businesses together for an event that "brightens up Oxford through a magical light spectacle".

The events company hosting the market, LSD Promotions, said traders would be dressed in Victorian-style attire, "helping to create a character-led Christmas experience".

A number of the city's cultural organisations are taking part in the lights festival.

A series of webinars called Glow Your Own by IF Oxford will guide visitors through building a programmable LED display.

In Cowley, the Ark-T Centre will open up The Venue for activities, and the Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford will include puppet-making workshops, drop-in arts and crafts and a youth open-mic night.

There will be a parade under the theme of Fantastic Fiction, led by Film Oxford with Rose Hill Community Centre and Rose Hill Junior Youth Club.

In the Leys, residents will decorate homes and communal spaces led by Integrate Community.

A light trail by The North Wall Arts Centre, with Cutteslowe Community Association, will lead visitors through Cutteslowe Park from creative craft activities to railway journeys and discos.

The Museum of Oxford on St Aldate's will open its doors for a new gallery trail, and a craft session and Bonn Square will be taken over by singers with a selection of festive tunes.

Oxford City Council said the Oxford Bus Company's Christmas Light Bus would be "bringing a joyous sparkle to neighbourhoods around and beyond".