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October 2020
Fright or Flight at Birdland!
Let your imaginations fly wild during October Half Term holidays, with a special Halloween themed week of activities. Superstitious twitchers can discover why owls are considered to be so wise, where the legend of the phoenix came from, and find out which bird’s call the Romans believed meant imminent death! Half Term visitors after something a bit more spooky for all hallows eve can uncover some of the avian world’s most disgusting characters; from blood-sucking songbirds and puking penguins to…
Find out more »Family-friendly Halloween Event 2020
There are always supernatural goings-on in the land of fairytales. This Halloween, help us solve a famous haunting fairytale mystery, ‘The Curse of Sleeping Beauty’, from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November 2020. Become a ‘Fairytale Supernatural Sleuth’ and solve this creepy mystery. Find the 10 photo clues when you venture down the Enchanted Walk; the clues will help you uncover the name of which of the seven chosen fairy godmothers is the evil one who put the curse…
Find out more »November 2020
An event every week that begins at 7:00 pm on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, repeating until November 1, 2020
Spooky Tours at Oxford Castle & Prison
Join one of our paranormal investigators and hunt for ghosts around the castle for this years’ Ghost Fest. Hear the spooky stories of our 1,000 year past and let our gruesome history come to life… It won’t be too long before your imagination becomes a reality! Are you brave enough to visit one of the most haunted places in the UK? Explore the vaulted well chamber, search for paranormal entities in the punishment cells and go underground into the dark,…
Find out more »Virtual Oxford Christmas Market
We are beyond sad that this year’s Oxford Christmas Market had to be cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are excited to present you with a whole range of small independent businesses this festive season. Browse, discover, and enjoy unique gifts directly from the makers themselves!
Find out more »The Oxfordshire Craft Guild Christmas selling Exhibition
We are thrilled to welcome back The Oxfordshire Craft Guild with their annual Christmas exhibition. Featuring many of the county's leading craft designers and makers, the exhibition includes jewellery, ceramics, textiles, wood, glass and stunning keepsakes - perfect for Christmas!
Find out more »Oxfordshire Craft Guild Virtual Christmas Exhibition
Christmas is not cancelled! Although due to Covid restrictions we have had to cancel our showcase Woodstock Christmas Exhibition we are delighted to announce that this year we have gone virtual and invite you to visit our Woodstock online exhibition at www.gallery.ocg.co.uk Innovation and diversity in design and craft are just a click away so please visit us to see the range of new and exciting work produced by the Oxfordshire Craft Guild. The on-line exhibition goes live on the…
Find out more »Christmas At Blenheim
We love Christmas at Blenheim Palace and we are so happy that even though 2020 has been a difficult year, the good news is Christmas will still be happening, although a little differently this year. But don't worry we haven't gone all Baa Humbug... For 2020 we cannot offer joint tickets for the Palace and Light Trail. Book your tickets and time slots separately. There are bright lights for winter nights... The Illuminated Light Trail will be even more spectacular…
Find out more »Christmas at Blenheim Palace
The illuminated trail makes a welcome return to Blenheim Palace transforming England’s finest view with a bright and magical winter walk like no other. Inspired by the landscape itself, visitors embark on a winterland adventure, dramatically illuminated with stunning lights. Featuring lasers and light projections, visitors wander under magical tree canopies drenched in seasonal colour and dripping with silvery shards of light, frosty snowflakes, stars and baubles. From the Heart of the Stars scattering ethereal light across the lawn to…
Find out more »December 2020
‘Light up December’
Help Helen & Douglas House ‘Light up December’ We love Christmas at Helen & Douglas House and although this year will be a little different, we are already getting very excited planning fairy lights, shiny decorations and lots of sparkle! As we start a second lockdown, most of us now know our neighbours better than ever before and the local community has become very important to us. Decorating our windows has been great fun and we have all enjoyed walking…
Find out more »Board Games and Medieval Medicine
Daniel Burt, from the Literary History of Medicine project, discusses his experiences sharing the board and card games they created which were inspired by Medieval Islamic Science and Medicine. After a quick overview of the project, Daniel will present the games that were made and played with the public, look at the wider process of creating games, and consider how they can be used to engage the general public with the results of academic research. About Daniel Burt Daniel Burt, ICT…
Find out more »An event every month that begins at 2:00 pm on day Second of the month, repeating until December 11, 2020
Book Group
The Museum Book Group enjoy a wide selection of books with all members choosing their reading list then they get together in the Museum Cafe every second Friday of the month. It is free to attend but we do ask you support the Cafe. For more information and to join call the Museum on 01235 771447, email info@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk or send us a message.
Find out more »An event every week that begins at 9:30 am on Friday, repeating until December 18, 2020
Wantage Country Market
Wantage Country Market is held in the Museum Cafe every Friday morning. The best place to buy fresh homemade goodies such as jams, chutneys and cakes as well as home grown fruit, vegetables and flowers. They also have some crafts, including cards, aprons & knitted baby wear. *Please note this market is not organised by the Museum, the Wantage Country Market is a separate organisation.
Find out more »An event every month that begins at 1:30 pm on day Third of the month, repeating until December 18, 2020
Knit, Knot and Natter Craft Group
The Museum's Knit Knot and Natter Craft Group meet in the Museum Cafe every 3rd Friday of the month. Bring along your own craft projects, take tuition from current members in crafts such as knitting, crochet and embroidery or just come along for a cuppa and a chat. Free to join but we do ask you support the Cafe. No need to book in advance, just come along on the day
Find out more »Winter Wings Over the River Windrush
Birdland is the perfect location to enjoy a winter outing and discover its host of exotic feathered residents at a much quieter time of year. Informative daily keeper talks, the chance to cosy up in the Flamingo Point Café and peaceful chirps make a visit to the wildlife park over the festive season the perfect day out. The December sun illuminates this idyllic Cotswolds setting as you explore along the banks of the River Windrush and discover the wildlife park’s…
Find out more »An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Sunday and Saturday, repeating until December 24, 2020
Christmas Fairytale 2020 at Fairytale Farm
At the Farm's magical 'Christmas Fairytale' event, you will journey from the South Pole to the North Pole and visit a Fairytale Castle along the way. You will meet some interactive dancing penguins, visit the Toymaker's cosy log cabin and see Santa's sleigh ready to launch into a clear night sky of twinkling stars, before walking through the Secret Forest to meet Father Christmas himself in his beautiful Grotto, which evokes an atmosphere of Christmas past. Other Christmas activities include…
Find out more »Korky Paul: Winnie and Wilbur’s Magical Moments
Winnie the Witch and her long-suffering black cat Wilbur will be making magical moments at The North Wall this Christmas. Korky Paul, the much-loved illustrator, presents his most famous characters, featured in the multi-million selling picture books written by Valerie Thomas (Oxford University Press). The exhibition features a selection of his favourite illustrations exhibited as giclée prints: reproductions of the originals in limited editions of 150, signed and numbered by Korky himself. Korky’s illustrations bring to life his spontaneity and…
Find out more »January 2021
Is ‘Science’ Always Exact?
What can we call a science? And what makes it science? Dr Taha Yasin Arslan from Medeniyet University, Istanbul challenges us to rethink the history of science, proposing new definitions for the term “science”. Join us — and share your ideas. About Dr Taha Yasin Arslan Dr Taha Yasin Arslan is an assistant professor at the Department of the History of Science of Istanbul Medeniyet University in Istanbul, Turkey. His research covers surviving astronomical instruments and related manuscripts in the…
Find out more »Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Dvořák with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
On Friday 1 January, star cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason joins the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in his first ever recorded performance of Dvořák’s rich and lyrical Cello Concerto in B minor (1894), performed in its arrangement for chamber orchestra by George Morton. Dvořák had long resisted writing a solo concerto for cello – he was fond of the instrument, especially its middle register, but felt it would not do as a solo instrument thanks to its ‘nasal high register and mumbling bass’.…
Find out more »Comedy Gala
Oxfordshire Mind and Jericho Comedy are taking over The North Wall Arts Centre for our annual Oxfordshire Mind Comedy Gala! This year the shows will be socially-distanced with live streaming in the evening for those isolating at home. Raising money for the vital support Oxfordshire Mind offers those with mental health problems, don’t miss this hilarious day of belly laughing comedy. Date: 16th January 2021 Time: Matinee – 4.30pm (Live) | Evening – 8pm (Live and Livestream) Tickets: Live: £40 per bench (seats 2 people) | Livestream: £11 per…
Find out more »Adam’s 7 Gold-Medal Winning Chelsea Gardens
Our Winter Lectures are back and this year you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home. Adam Frost is a British garden designer and television presenter, known for his award-winning Chelsea gardens and for his presenting role on BBC's Gardeners’ World. He is an RHS Ambassador, helping to raise awareness and interest in gardening amongst secondary school children and other community groups. In this talk Adam will discuss his 7 Chelsea gold-medal winning gardens followed by a…
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