OXFORDSHIRE 2007

Say farewell to Oxfordshire 2007 and the county's millennium year at one of five celebratory events in each part of the county.

Winter Light adds a unique millennium dimension to festive celebrations in Abingdon, Bicester, Chipping Norton, Henley and Oxford - with spectacle, light and sound, all of which have been a feature of the past year.

Oxfordshire 2007 has turned the spotlight on the creative county in scores of imaginative and colourful ways. Luminox - the magical fire/art installation in Oxford's Broad Street - was the curtain raiser and many other new festivals, from Alice's Day and the Children's Food Festival to Go with the Flow and Faces of Oxfordshire, have delighted thousands of people. Oxfordshire's very own millennium may be coming to an end, but some of the events and partnerships which it has sparked off will continue to entertain, delight and inspire in years to come.

So many happy returns - and here's to the future of Oxfordshire's rich cultural life!

Thank you

Winter Light would not be possible without the support of public and private funding. Oxford Inspires, the county's cultural development agency which is coordinating Oxfordshire 2007 and its closing events, is hugely grateful to the following organisations:
Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Arts
Council England, the University of Oxford, Oxford
Brookes University, Oxford Bus Company,
BMW Group Plant Oxford, Berman Guedes
Stretton, Blackwell, Bicester Village, Local
Network Fund, Emma's Trust.

BICESTER THE CYCLE OF TIME

Friday November 30, 5.30-7pm
(procession from 5.30pm; show starts 6.30pm)
Venue: Pingle Field (next to Bicester Village)
Enjoy some pyrotechnic time travel through Bicester's action-packed history. The town - whose name means Fort of the Warriors - has longstading military connections, from Roman camps to civil war combat.

A thousand years are telescoped into a specially devised show, which starts with a procession of young people and stiltwalkers carrying giant sculptures forming a 'Shadow Army' inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.

Expect bloodthirsty clashes, whizzes, bangs and exploding helmets - and a narrative soundtrack to celebrate Bicester's battle-scarred past.

Don't miss the show's spectacular fire pictures; see if you can recognise some well-known Oxfordshire images.

Fireworks, street performers and jugglers will also feature in this family friendly entertainment.

Having a blast with the past The Cycle of Time in Bicester and The Time Tellers in Abingdon are led by Oxfordshire producer Paul Batten and his company Pyro-Theatrix. Professional artists are working with young people from
Bicester to create the show's special effects. Local primary and secondary schools, The Courtyard Youth Arts Centre and other youth groups are taking part in this festive celebration with a difference.

CHIPPING NORTON
lights up
Thursday December 6, 6-10pm
Venue: Town centre and The Common
Enjoy an evening of late-night shopping, entertainment and a spectacular
light show. See the town's Christmas trees switched on at 6pm, and
join a candle and torchlight parade from the square to the Common to
experience Symphonie Conique (see right), a playful reminder of the
mystery of the ancient Rollright Stones in Oxfordshire's history.

Back in the town, the evening's events include stalls, roundabouts and rides, a bazaar in the Town Hall and a pig roast. The town will open for present buying and refreshments until 9pm.

For further information visit www.chippingnortontown.info or
www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk.

Produced in partnership with Chipping Norton Theatre, Chipping Norton Town Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and local schools.

A continental celebration

First started in Russia's St Petersburg, where summer evenings are so bright that there's often no point going to bed, White Nights are now celebrated across Europe. Many cities hold their own all-night cultural festival - but tradition
has yet to catch on in the UK. The county's millennium closing events create a link with European neighbours and a similar festive idea for Oxfordshire.