What's On in Banbury
Things to do in and around Banbury: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Banbury Toy Appeal: Drop New Toys at Town Hall by 1 Dec
The Town Mayor's Toy Appeal is back: leave new or excellent-condition toys for 0 to 18s at Banbury Town Hall, 9.30am to 4.30pm, until Tuesday 1 December.
Dates for the diary
- Thu 5 Nov Kidlington Fireworks Night
- Thu 5 Nov Elvis: From Memphis to Vegas
- Fri 6 Nov Lucy Porter: Let Yourself Go
- Sat 7 Nov Banbury United v Leamington
- Sat 7 Nov Bicester Fireworks Display
- 7 to 8 Nov Room on the Broom
- Sun 8 Nov Banbury Remembrance Sunday
- Sun 8 Nov Bicester Remembrance Sunday
- Wed 11 Nov An Evening with Sir Geoff Hurst
- Thu 12 Nov Christmas trees at Perry Tree Farm
- Sat 14 Nov Banbury Comedy Festival
- Sat 14 Nov Rock for Heroes
More stories
Food & Drink
Christmas Dinner in Banbury 2026: Restaurants and Pubs With Prices
Christmas Day lunch near Banbury from £61 at the Acorn in Bicester to £130 at the Castle at Edgehill: 11 pubs with 2026 prices, child rates and deposits.
Christmas
Christmas trees in Banbury: Perry Tree Farm opens 12 Nov
Perry Tree Farm in Adderbury sells real Nordmann firs from Thursday 12 November, 4ft to 16ft, open Tuesday to Sunday. Prices are not out yet; we check weekly.
Banbury
Tell Your Story Festival Banbury: Procession Sat 31 Oct, 2pm
Free youth arts festival ends with a procession through Banbury on Saturday 31 October, 2pm, and a Play in a Day show at The People's House on 1 November.
Banbury
Banbury Pride Fundraiser: Held 24 October, Now Passed
Banbury Pride raises money for 29 May 2027 at The Apothecary Tap, Butchers Row, on Saturday 24 October, 4pm to 7pm, with Red Texas live and a Pride raffle.
Christmas
Upton House Christmas: Muses Rooms Open From 14 November
Upton House's Christmas with the Muses runs 14 November to 3 January, 11.30am to 3.30pm, plus family crafts, wreath workshops and evenings from 2 December.
Banbury
Glebefields Drayton: 17 October Open Day Has Now Passed
Glebefields Care Home in Drayton held its open day on Saturday 17 October, after a free curry taster on 8 October. Ring 01295 738133 to arrange a visit.
Halloween
Banbury Halloween: Hadsham 9.30am Left, Perry Open 10-12
On Halloween, Hadsham Farm's 12.30pm and 3.30pm sessions are sold out and 9.30am still had tickets on 30 October. Perry Tree Farm opens 10am to noon, pay £6.
Events
What's On in Banbury: Fireworks 5 and 7 Nov, Lights 29 Nov
Last pumpkins on Halloween, Kidlington fireworks on 5 November and Bicester's on the 7th, Remembrance on the 8th, then the lights switch-on on 29 November.
Banbury
HMV Banbury DJ Showcase: Held Sunday 4 October, Now Passed
Chris D J King played a free live DJ set at HMV in Castle Quay from 1pm on Sunday 4 October, the second day of the Banbury Canal Festival in the town centre.
Christmas
Banbury Christmas market: Winter Market, 28 and 29 November
Banbury Winter Market runs Saturday 28 November, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 29 November, 10am to 6pm, with the lights switch-on and fireworks at 5pm on Sunday.
Christmas
Santa's grotto in Banbury: where to see him, with prices
See Santa free at Banbury's lights switch-on on 29 November, at The Mill's Dear Santa from 14 December for £18, or at Bicester's garden centre from £22.
Days Out
Broughton Castle is closed for winter: what is open instead
Broughton Castle's season ends on 30 September and only pre-booked groups can visit in winter. Rousham's garden is open daily for £10; Banbury Museum is free.
Half Term
Banbury October half term: 26 to 30 October, what's on
Half term is 26 to 30 October. Banbury Museum runs £4 crafts every weekday, Brickworks ends 1 November, and Upton House has £2 Halloween crafts.
Remembrance
Banbury Remembrance Sunday: parade 10.15am, 8 November
Parade from the Town Hall at 10.15am on Sunday 8 November, service at St Mary's at 10.45am, wreaths at People's Park at noon. Bicester's starts at 11am.
Christmas
Banbury panto 2026: The Mill's Dear Santa and The Snow Queen
The Mill's Christmas show is Dear Santa, 14 to 24 December, £18 with a Santa's grotto. The nearest panto is The Snow Queen at Chipping Norton Theatre.
Banbury
Banbury Pride 2027: 29 May Date, 30 Sept Meeting Has Passed
Banbury Pride returns on Saturday 29 May 2027. Anyone can help shape it at a public meeting in Banbury Town Hall, Wednesday 30 September, 7pm to 8.30pm.
Banbury
Banbury Canal Festival: 2026 Was 3 and 4 October, Now Passed
The town council's biggest event of the year ran 11am to 5pm on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026, free to enter. The 2027 date is not yet announced.
Banbury
Banbury Michaelmas Fair: 2026 Was 14-17 October, Now Passed
Bob Wilson's funfair filled Banbury town centre from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 October 2026, with roads shut under a county order. 2027 dates are not out.
Banbury
Banbury Fireworks 2026: Bicester 7 Nov, Kidlington 5 Nov
No Banbury display this year. Kidlington is Thursday 5 November, adults £6 in advance; Bicester Round Table is Saturday 7 November, gates 5pm, £7.
Banbury
Banbury Christmas Lights Switch-On: Sunday 29 November
Free in the Market Place, 11am to 6pm, with fireworks at about 5pm. Bicester switches on the Saturday and Kidlington on Thursday 26 November.