Looking for something to spice up your Friday night? Or perhaps a day out with the kids? Witney Town Council hosts a variety of events of our own and third-party events year-round in our community venues.
Witney Town Council Community Events
80th Anniversary of VE Day – 8th May 2025
Market Square.
All events take place in or around the Market Square unless otherwise stated.
9:00 AM – Nation’s Official Cry (Corn Exchange) and afterwards Flag Raising (Town Hall)
Town Crier accompanied by DL Ron Spurs and the New Mayor (TBA) and the Mace Bearer. From the window of the Corn Exchange.
12:30 PM – 4:00pm 1940s Music and Afternoon Tea -with the Candy Girls in the Corn Exchange – Tickets Available at Eventbrite
Session 1 – 12:30pm to 2:30
Session 2 – 2:30pm to 4:00
5:00 PM onwards Market Square Street Party
Witney Town Council will be hosting a celebration outside the Witney Corn Exchange. Bring a picnic – tables are first come, first served – and enjoy a wonderful music set from the Witney Town Band starting at 6pm. This will be followed by our evening service at 7pm with more music from the Town Band and WOAPA Singing Group. Service Sheet
Deciding on hosting a street party of your own? West Oxfordshire District Council are waiving road closure fees for this year’s events. Read more about it here: www.westoxon.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/apply-or-renew-licences-and-permits/organising-public-events/temporary-road-closure/
6:00 PM – 7pm Music from Witney Town Band
6:25 PM – Mexican Wave of Bells on Church Green followed by the Official Ring for Peace at St Mary’s Church
Mayor of Witney, Cllr Owen Collins invites you to bring a bell and ring it in a celebratory Ring for Peace for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Whether it’s a hand bell, doorbell or even a bike bell, put Thursday the 8th of May at 6pm in your calendar and come on down to Church Green to commemorate the end of the war just as Witney residents did in 1945
- 7:00 Introduction by the Mayor
- 7:02 Music and cadet march-on
- 7:08 An address from the Rector of St Mary’s
- 7:11 An address from our humanist celebrant
- 7:14 WOAPA perform How Shall I Keep From Singing
- 7:17 Cllr Collins Reading from Round the Square
- 7:20 WOAPA and all gathered I Vow To Thee My Country
- 7:23 Lighting of the Lantern and two minutes silence
- 7:26 Tribute by the Mayor of Witney
- 7:29 National Anthem
All service timings are approximate
8:00 PM – Open Mic Night at Market Square
Corn Exchange
Open Mic
Regular open mic sessions held first Thursday of every month, 19:00 to 22:00. All ages and experience welcome, no need to book. PA system provided.
Witney Jazz
Witney’s best jazz club, first Friday of every month with an excellent range of different jazz styles in a relaxed and professional venue. Tickets available here.
Corn Exchange Daytime Film Club
From October 2024, join the Daytime Film Club fortnightly to catch a classic film in the Corn Exchange on our big screen.
Dates and tickets available here.
You can take a look at the Corn Exchange Website for a full calendar of events taking place at the Corn Exchange Witney.
External Third-Party Events
These are events such as fairs, festivals and circuses that hire our venues, but are not Town Council Events, although we work closely with organisers.
Witney Carnival – Saturday 12th July 2025
Starting with a float procession around town, followed by events and entertainment on the Leys.
Witney Feast – September 2025 (Date TBC)
A yearly funfair held on the Leys.
OPA Playday – August 2025 (Date TBC)
The ever-popular free event held for the children of Witney. No need to book – just turn up and have fun.
Circus Ginnett – October 2025
Witney Christmas Light Switch On (Witney Rotary Club) – Friday 28th November 2025
