From Chewbacca to the cheeky Elf the Didcot Festive Market had it all on Sunday (December 3rd), and not even rain could dampen the spirit of the event.
Once again the event was organised by Didcot charity group Play2Give, an event that the charity’s founder, 35-year-old Andy Baker, born with a brain injury helped to create four years ago with the team responsible for a number of events, the Didcot Events group.
Together the two organisations joined forces in 2020 to pull together a festive market to replace the now defunct street fair, and despite the drizzle and the cold on Sunday, plenty turned out over five hours to get into the Christmas cheer.
Over £2,500 is estimated to have been raised for Play2Give, which raises funds for Oxford Children’s Hospital and other causes, and there was even Santa who flew in for picture opportunities.
This year’s festive fair was held in the Market Place and Cornerstone arts centre, with stalls up to Pure Gym with the Broadways pub serving hot food outside.
At the Cornerstone a snowball fight was part of the order of the day, with the cast of the Christmas Show trying to make it snow, while there was a craft drop in workshop and choirs performed outside with balloon modelling magic.
Chewbacca and the naughty Elf roamed to bring smiles and delight to people’s faces and dance troupes also performed.
The event was a way to start Christmas off in the town, and saw a wide range of gift stalls to crafters and community groups to charities all joining in.
Play2Give organises year round events and this year reached an incredible milestone of raising over £100,000 for the children’s hospital since Andy, honoured with an MBE for services to charity in 2021, began fundraising for the hospital after being treated throughout his childhood, including brain surgery aged 12.
The volunteer group launched its ninth Sleigh2Give appeal in September, which collects toys and gifts each Christmas for patients in hospitals, hospices, and the less fortunate.