There are few better ways to enjoy local flavor than to join in the festivities of a community. North Oxfordshire villages and towns have their own community events and gatherings each year. Besides the Christmas markets and fetes that many country villages traditionally host, here is a look at some other local festivities in North Oxfordshire and its villages.

Milton Fireworks and Barn Dance, Milton

The village of Milton lies about 4 km south of Banbury on the Milton road between Adderbury and Bloxham. The village hosts annual fireworks and a barn dance.

Banbury & District Show, Banbury

Every June, the Banbury & District Show brings dog shows, inflatables, a funfair and beer tent. The fair is free to enter and is organized by the local Rotary Club, Town Council and the Banbury Cross Round Table.

Music at the Crossroads, Hook Norton

The village of Hook Norton hosts a music festival every year, called Music at the Crossroads, to raise funds for charity. The festival is a small, family-friendly affair with limited tickets but great British music including tributes to the WHO and the original The Kinks.

Deddington Annual Village Show, Deddington

The annual Deddington Festival aims to bring the community of Deddington and its surrounding villages together in an inspiring environment. The festival is a charity and runs over several days. It includes lineups like an art exhibition, poetry and writing competitions, jazz, a large rock concert with over 400 audience members and other activities for the whole family. The festival covers the villages of Deddington, Clifton and Hempton, which belong to one parish. Attendees and participants often come all the way from Oxford, Banbury and other surrounding villages.

Blenheim Palace Food Festival, Woodstock

For three years since 2015, Blenheim Palace has been hosting a food festival featuring plenty of local produce and tastings. The festival in 2017 May is expected to feature regional foods and drinks from 120 stalls. Visit for a taste of local craft brew, artisan bread, gourmet burgers, handmade sweets, etc. The food festival sets out hay bales for traditional picnic areas for the whole family.

Blenheim Palace Flower Show

Every year, the Blenheim Palace Flower Show celebrates, for three days, UK gardening at its best. Growers from all over UK come to Blenheim to showcase their flowers, garden gazebos and other products and offer advice for amateur gardeners. Dogs are welcome, as long as they are on leads.

Blenheim Palace Triathlon

The palace triathlon held every year draws competitors to the swimming course in the Great Lake, followed by a cycling course around the Park, and the Triathlon ends with a run around the Queen Pool.  The popular sporting event is usually held in summers each year

Blenheim Battle Proms Picnic Concert

The Battle Proms is a popular concert of classical music, cavalry displays, cannon fire and fireworks choreographed to perfection next to the Column of Victory. The concert is a charity for Combat Stress, which is UK’s top veteran mental health charity.

Other festivals that deserve mention include the Woodstock Christmas Market in which traders and artisans sell everything from jewelry to cards, soaps to jigsaws and woodcraft, the Kidlington Beer Festival introducing real ales and others.