Didcot Festive Market

Thank you to those who donated new toys and gifts to Sleigh2Give this year at Play2Give's stall at this years event. They received a fantastic box full and more of toys for their festive drive.

A RECORD BREAKING SLEIGH2GIVE!

And that is a Christmas Appeal wrap for another year! 🎅

What another amazing year this year has been, not just for our charity but for our festive arm too, for which we focus on a special feature on our 9th and the best, biggest and most incredible SLEIGH2GIVE drive ever 🙌

It must be a record Sleigh2Give in history! 👏🏿

We have received more than over ** updated ** 2,000 estimated plus gifts - all from our fabulous community, and even as far afield as Plymouth, all enabling us to spread cheer, joy and smiles to children and families in hospitals, hospices, the vulnerable, and those less fortunate 🎁

We have made deliveries to:

~ Oxford Children's Hospital (Oxford Hospitals Charity)
~ SSNAP (Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents)
~ Helen & Douglas House
~ Ronald McDonald House Oxford
~ Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire
~ Oxford Head Injury Service - OHIS
~ Thomley
~ Home-Start Oxford
~ Barnardo's Viking House
~ Oxfordshire Foster Care Association
~ Some individual families facing hardship
~ Toys for families through Didcot Foodbank

And, as we have had another overwhelming number of gifts this year than ever before, we will be able to continue some deliveries gifting out toys in January, including to the Royal Berks Charity for the Reading children's wards, and others by referrals, which is just astonishing 😍

We never take for granted the kindness and generosity of the community and so this year when we launched our 9th annual festive drive in late September we wasn't sure how the response would go from the public, but, as always our community of incredible supporters have come out trumps again and we've been truly overwhelmed more than ever before by the sheer amazing generosity that we have received. We never ceased to be amazed all year round by the love and support we receive, and our toy and gift appeal is no exception 🥰

This year more supporters than ever before have come on board!

Sleigh2Give is all about spreading, cheer joy and smiles in abundance and we have done this once again this month with more donation zones than ever before.

From over 2,000 plus donations of new toys, story books, puzzle books, games, sensory toys, baby items, jigsaws, puzzles, toiletries, selection boxes and soft toys to arts and crafts, footballs, garden games, and more we are literally all elved out!

As well as all the individuals who have given so generously at our various donation zones, or into supermarket trollies, we would like to say thank you to all the following companies, schools, groups; dance schools and sports clubs for being involved and being a part of the record breaking Sleigh2Give 2023 👇

~ Airbox Systems
~ Berro Lounge
~ Bio-Techne
~ Bizzy Bees Cafe & Bistro
~ Bloxham School
~ Boundary Park
~ Bridge House Care Home
~ BSWK Karate & Karate Kids
~ Carterton Morrisons
~ Comets Netball Club
~ Coronet Bingo Didcot
~ Cromwell Lodge Hotel
~ Didcot Civic Hall & Didcot Town Council
~ Didcot Events Craft & Gift Fair
~ Driving Miss Daisy Didcot & Vine Recruitment Solutions Ltd
~ Daniel Lloyd BCyA & family
~ F.Church LTD
~ Forterra UK
~ Go Green Taxis
~ Hobbycraft Oxford
~ Infineum
~ Jennings of Garsington
~ KJ Hair 180 The Broadway
~ The Lambourn (Mantle Space), Abingdon
~ Lee Crook
~ Milton Hill House
~ Mini Professionals Dance Academy
~ Motors.co.uk
~ Orano, Abingdon
~ Perpetual Childcare Limited
~ RAF Brize Norton
~ Sainsbury's, Heyford Hill, Oxford
~ SD Solutions, Plymouth
~ Snap Fitness Didcot
~ Space Store
~ St Birinus School, Didcot
~ St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Littlemore
~ Step In Time School of Performing Arts
~ Tesco Didcot Superstore - Community Champions - Becci & Elaine
~ The Crafters Emporium CIC
~ The Entrepreneurs Mentor
~ The WIT Group
~ The Works
~ Travelodge, Thame
~ Vertex Pharmaceuticals
~ Wallingford School
~ Willowcroft Community School

We think they along with all of the many individuals who've donated so generously, all our volunteer elves who've helped with pick ups, deliveries and tirelessly sorting through and packing sacks, are all !

We also add our enormous thanks to Val and BizSpace (UK) Didcot for sponsoring our charity and providing storage, without which we really would be left stuck as our toy donations continue to grow and grow!

2024 will see our 10th Anniversary Sleigh2Give Appeal! What an incredible milestone from a toy appeal with Sainsbury's Didcot, that was originally intended to be an one-off.
Want to be involved next year? Get in touch 😊

Thank you to all of our stalls, sponsors and all who supported this year's event by coming out despite the rain.

Thank you also for supporting Play2Give on the day. With the stall fees along with their own fundraising on the day including tombola over £2,850 was raised for Play2Give. A new record amount from this year for the charity.

Special sponsor thanks go to Didcot Events for their £1.5k contribution which really helped to fund this years event to happen and to Doddle Homes for their advertising canvassing boards outside 29 homes and donating £290 to Play2Give charity.

Thank you to Rob Wallace for producing and engraving the best dressed stand trophy and to the Didcot Mayor for attending and judging the best dressed stands. This year's winner was Dave's Wooden Crafts.

Thank you to Cornerstone Arts Centre for their support and involvement with adding to the day by way of their Christmas Show cast and other activities.

To all our entertainers including Chewbacca, the Elf and Twistopher. Face Painting by Dorothy and Emma's Glitter Tattoos

Didcot Santa

To all the choirs and dance groups who performed

To the Broadways Public House for providing hot food van.

Our security guys doing

To all the volunteers, and those who generously gave up their free time to help in the lead up to and on the day ensuring the event ran smoothly.

Overall, despite the rain it was a lovely day, and great to see a lot of the town, and wider afield, turn out to support this years event.

We hope all of our traders had a successful day.

Winner - Best Dressed Stand

Congratulations to Dave's Wooden Crafts who was this year's winner of the best dressed stand at the Didcot Festive Market 2023.

The winner was chosen by the Didcot Mayor Axel Macdonald, who went around all the stalls to judge his chosen winner.

Last year's winner Pindy's Samosas was opposite Dave's stall.

Dave is pictured receiving his winners plate, with the Mayor and with Play2Give's Andy.
Thank you to Rob Wallace for producing the lovely winners plate and to Didcot Events for sponsoring.

We are at Didcot Festive Market today until 4pm! We have brought our full Christmas range and lots of new products. Our mystery balls are £3 today and worth at least £10 ❤️

Pete at Didcot Festive Market today

Team Lovebeer are split this morning with Pete at Didcot Market and Jim at Newbury Market, come and say hello!

In Didcot Today

We’ve had some great markets this festive period, but there’s nothing like selling for the home crowd! We’re at the Didcot festive market all day today! Find us down market place opposite Lloyds. This is our last Didcot event of the year - come talk bagel to me one last time in 2023!

It's tomorrow!

The Didcot Festive Market 2023 is 10-3pm and we are ready!

The weather outside is looking oh so frightfully festive today so do wrap up warm, and make it a day of Christmas cheer and joy.

Plus 🎅 will whizz in, and will be in the Market Place for you to meet him, have your picture taken with him. He will be with Play2Give at their Tombola stall.

Cornerstone Arts Centre will be open too with activities & stalls inside, plus their Christmas Show cast will be trying to make it snow ❄️ outside. Here you'll find Twistopher the balloon modelling man with his organ too.

There'll be over 40 stalls in total from gifts and crafts to charities raising funds.

There'll be entertainment including choirs and dance performers at allotted times and the cheeky naughty Elf will be roaming as will Chewbacca.

Hot food served by and outside the Broadways Public House.

Face painting and glitter tattoos.

The Didcot Festive Market is all in the Market Place, in & outside Cornerstone and from Neater Cleaners down to Pure Gym.

So do come and support this lovely Christmassy spirit and festive feelgood event organised by the Play2Give charity and sponsored by Didcot Events and make it a day ❄️🎅

Fly a Kite Clothing with us tomorrow

National Animal Welfare Trust Berkshire will be one of our stalls joining us

They'll be located in the Market Place opposite Emma's Glitter Tattoos and the Play2Give charity including Santa

The NAWT will have pet accessories, gifts for your pets and more on sale and to browse.

We will be at the Didcot Festive Market tomorrow from 10am-3pm!

Pop down and say hello and maybe grab yourself a present or two for your pawsome pets! We are a cash preferred stall so please remember to bring some change with you if you're stopping by 😀

Didcot Festive Market - Entertainment Schedule

10am: Didcot Festive Market 2023 opens

At Cornerstone Arts Centre 👇

Twistopher balloon modelling & organ (10-3pm)

10.15-10.30am: Voices of Oxfordshire Choir in the courtyard

11am: Heart of Winter Christmas Show cast snowball fight in the courtyard

11am-1.30pm: Free Christmas craft workshop drop-in (inside)

12-12.30pm: Didcot Choral Society - in the courtyard

1pm: Heart of Winter Christmas Show cast snowball fight in the courtyard

1.30 & 2.30pm: Vocalize Choir - in the courtyard

2pm-2.30pm: Simeon Lord with Christmas Jazz

2pm: The Muppet Christmas Carol inside Cornerstone and special VIP Guest Q&A after

Outside Broadways 👇

10.30-11am: Step In Time School of Performing Arts

12.30-1.30pm: Elmaz Productions

Lots of fun going on at Didcot Festive Market 2023 tomorrow from 10am-3pm.

Market Place (where Santa will also be), Neater Cleaners down to Pure Gym and inside and outside of Cornerstone lots of festive fun, some more stalls and activities.

Here is Cornerstone's programme for the day. You could even see The Muppets 🐸🐷 and the Christmas Show cast will be trying to make it snow outside too.

Thank you to Cornerstone Arts Centre for being a part of our wonderful event. It's sure very festive by weather out there today!

Here is your timetable for all the festive fun taking place on Sun 3 Dec from 10am with our friends Didcot Festive Market 🎅

Take a screenshot and send to your friends!

Pindy's Samosas is one of our stalls with us on Sunday. 10-3.

Pindy will be located in the Market Place with Abingdon Distillery, LoveBeer Brewery and others.

In total we have over 40 stalls including several from Neater Cleaners down to Pure Gym and inside the Cornerstone too.

It's this Sunday!

Didcot Festive Market 2023 ❄️🎋

Not long now until this year's Didcot Festive Market 🎅

It will be a lovely event to start off the Christmas spirit and officially mark the start of the countdown to the big day 🎋🎁

Cornerstone Arts Centre will be open from 10 on the day and will be joining in the fun and festivities.

Cornerstone will have mince pies and mulled wine in the cafe area, 6 craft stalls including Author AJ Warren’s page with her novels, a craft drop in workshop where you can make wintery snowflake catchers, The Muppet Christmas Carol will be on the big screen at 3pm and the cast of Heart of Winter Christmas show will be joining in the festive fun for a snowball fight outside and we can't wait!

Plus Twistopher, the balloon modelling man will be outside Cornerstone under shelter for balloon twisting fun and with his organ.

Plus, there'll be choirs Vocalize Choir, Didcot Choral Society, Voices of Oxfordshire, and Simeon Lord jazz saxophonist all performing in allotted times outside in the courtyard from 10.15am too.

It is not long until this year's Didcot Festive Market organised by Play2Give on 3rd December, (this Sunday)!

It all takes place in the Market Place (with eateries including Sals' Snack Bar and The Sandwich Shop open), a range of gift, craft and charity stalls including Play2Give's charity Tombola and Santa along with Emma's Glitter Tattoos outside Wilko and stalls from
Neater Dry Cleaners down to
Pure Gym Didcot.
There'll be some special dance performances from Step In Time School of Performing Arts and Elmaz Productions outside
Broadways Public House who will also be rustling up hot food outside to keep everyone warm.

The cheeky Elf will be roaming about, and Chewbacca from Star Wars will be too.

Stalls outside Pure Gym include Tesco's Didcot Superstore - Community Champions - Becci & Elaine and Face Painting by Dorothy.

We can't wait for another lovely day bringing some Christmas cheer and spirit to the town ❄️🎅

Thank you to Didcot Events for sponsoring this event to the tune of £1,500 and to Doddle Homes for their support too!

South Oxfordshire District Council

So much to look forward to at Cornerstone Arts Centre on Sunday 3 December.
There will be craft stalls inside the centre as part of the Didcot Festive Market
There's a free craft drop in where you can make wintery snowflake catchers
The cast of Heart of Winter will be trying to make it snow and having a snowball fight in the courtyard
The Muppet Christmas Carol is on the big screen in the afternoon with Thames Con and a Q&A with special guests!

We will be at Didcot Festive Market on Sunday, 10 am - 3 pm! 🎄☃️🎁 Come and and say hello to our youth workers Lisa and Charlotte if you're around 🥰👋

Thanks Cornerstone Arts Centre . Excited to have you a part of Sunday's event.

Please note everyone however event start time is 10am and 3pm finish.

The countdown begins! We're getting super Christmassy this season 🎄

The festive fun truly begins at 10am on Sun 3 Dec at Didcot Festive Market which will run till 3pm.

At 2pm we're inviting you to watch the classic The Muppet Christmas Carol 👏 https://www.cornerstone-arts.org/

The Didcot Mayor will be popping along between 11am-12pm.

Mayor, Axel Macdonald, will be judging the best festive dressed stall.

Last year Axel, as deputy mayor, did the honour and the winner at last year's event was Pindy's Samosas. Axel is pictured with Pindy.

Well done Pindy who won the plate.

Who will win it this time?

The Mayor, along with Play2Give's Andy Baker MBE, will present the winners with this year's plate.
We can't wait to find out who will be crowned the best dressed stand for 2023.

The Festive Market takes place from 10am-3pm, in the Market Place, Neater Cleaners to Pure Gym Didcot including a bbq outside Broadways pub and inside and outside of Cornerstone Arts Centre.

Meet our Entertainers

This Sunday is Didcot Festive Market 2023 day!

And, we have several choirs and dance troupes once again joining us to add the sparkle to proceedings, you can find them outside in the courtyard of Cornerstone Arts Centre or Broadways Public House.

Showcasing their talents you will find our talented acts from choirs and performing art groups at the times and locations below:

10.15-10.30: Voices of Oxfordshire.
Outside Cornerstone.

10.30-11am: Step In Time School of Performing Arts - including singing, ballet and street dance. Outside Broadways

12-12.30pm: Didcot Choral Society - Carol singing.
Outside Cornerstone.

12.30-1.30pm: Elmaz Productions - Festive performance. Outside Broadways

1.30pm-2pm & 2.30-3pm: Vocalize Choir - Christmas songs. Outside Cornerstone

2-2.30pm: Simeon Lord - Christmas carols through jazz saxophone.

We look forward to seeing them all in action and showcasing their exceptional talents whilst adding lots of joy and smiles.

Thank you to them all!

Don't forget Twistopher will be outside Cornerstone with balloon modelling and organ.
Whilst Cornerstone's Christmas Show cast will be trying to make it snow outside and a snowball fight.
The naughty Elf will be roaming about as will Chewbacca.
In the Market Place you will hear a classical and jazz flautitst.

Broadways pub will be rustling up hot food outside and eateries in the Market Place will be open as will all the shops and eateries in the Orchard Centre.

Heres some pictures of our Entertainers from previous years