Join The County’s Millennium Celebrations
BLACKBIRDS in pies, a giant pendulum, a mile for the Millennium and a Dance-a-thon: these are just some of the ingredients in 2007, when Oxfordshire celebrates its 1000th birthday ? and the whole county is invited.
Special events are being planned for Oxfordshire 2007, offering an exciting array of art, dance, theatre and music. Sport, food and science are also included ? and many of Oxfordshire?s 70-plus festivals will also be joining in the party with their own millennium contributions. Many events are free, or subsidised.
Oxfordshire 2007 is designed to showcase the remarkable array of creative talent – past and present – that exists in every corner of the county and represents a collaboration between hundreds of cultural organisations, individuals and communities to create a special and memorable year. Oxford Inspires, the county?s cultural development agency, is providing coordination and practical help to put on the celebration.
These are just some of the event to look forward to this coming spring:
Feb 12?March 11
Dancin? Oxford: a new dance festival in Oxford which aims to get everybody?s feet tapping.
March 6?April 14
The Falling Sky: a specially commissioned play about rural people which is touring the county
March 10?March 25
Oxdox Documentary Film Festival: the UK?s largest documentary film festival, features a simultaneous live screening of a specially commissioned film from China in 1000 cinemas across the world, plus Oxfordshire past and present through archive film.
March 13?March 17
La Dispute: Marivaux?s play is the culmination of a two-year collaboration with a theatre company in Normandy, produced by The Theatre, Chipping Norton.
March 15?March 17
Luminox: aims to set Oxford?s historic centre alight: a magical three days will include fire, music, street theatre, lantern processions and a giant pendulum.
March 17?March 25
Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival: takes place at Christ Church College, featuring authors Edna O?Brien, Sandi Toksvig, Alexander McCall Smith and many others.
Sunday March 25
Remembering Slavery: Set all free: The cream of the country?s gospel choirs will assembles in Christ Church Cathedral to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
Saturday May 12
Street Olympix: sport takes to the pavements of Oxfordshire culminating in a day of races, fun events and a mile street race to commemorate the four-minute mile run by Sir Roger Bannister in Oxford just over fifty years ago.
Other highlights to look forward to in Oxfordshire?s millennium year are the UK?s first-ever Children?s Food Festival (July 14 -15) with celebrity chefs Raymond Blanc and Sophie Grigson as patrons; a special Alice?s Day, based on Lewis Carroll?s famous character, (July 7) and Faces of Oxfordshire. There will be walks, trails, exhibitions, open doors, street theatre and much more.
Oxfordshire 2007 aims to turn the county inside out, introducing you to new places and new cultural experiences. To find out more about what?s happening in your area ? and elsewhere in the county ? visit www.oxfordshire2007.com
