Two students holding sparklers
Two students holding sparklers

Oxmas activities for all students

Oxmas refers to Christmas at Oxford, which takes place on 25 November - exactly one month before Christmas day. We celebrate Oxmas so we can spread a little Christmas cheer during term time. Very soon the Christmas lights will turn on and you'll start seeing trees going up across the University. Some colleges and departments provide an Oxmas dinner, and if you're lucky, there may even be a carol service - complete with mince pies and mulled wine.

Christmas card collages

Create your own unique Christmas cards at the Weston Library on Friday 16 November between 6-9pm. You can also explore the exhibitions and browse unusual Christmas presents at the Bodleian gift shop. The Oxford Bach Choir will sing carols in Blackwell Hall at 7pm and 8pm, and the café will be serving mulled cider, mince pies and other seasonal treats.

Oxford's Christmas Light Festival

This annual City Council festive celebration is a highlight of Oxford’s cultural calendar. The three day festival takes place from Friday 16 November to Sunday 18 November, and includes light and sound installations, a festive market, music, dance, and lots of free activities in venues across the city.  For more information about what's on when, visit the festival website.

Talking Maps Lightshow

Come to the Bodleian’s Old Schools Quad to experience a spectacular light display projected onto the library's historic buildings, designed from images from its Special Collection materials. The incredible map collections of the Bodleian Library will be brought to life on Sunday 17 November, as a grande finale to this year's Christmas Light festival.

Oxford Botanic Garden Christmas Fair

Find the spirit of Oxmas at the Oxford Botanic Garden Christmas Fair, from 1-2 December. Stroll through the festive marquee laden with handcrafted stocking fillers, admire the Herbarium Room decorated with 234 individual prints and browse the Botanic Garden shop. Entry for students is £3.50 and there will be food and entertainment all weekend.