Five of the best: Entertaining things to do and see in the Banbury Guardian area

Looking for something to do this month? Take a look below.
Fairport ConventionFairport Convention
Fairport Convention

1 MUSIC

Banbury Folk and Hobby Horse Festival, GF Club, Spiceball Park Road, Banbury and other venues, October 12 to 14

Joanna LumleyJoanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley

The annual folk extravaganza returns this weekend with a line-up brimming with world-class talent and up-and-coming acts. Folk-rock legends Fairport Convention will headline the Saturday night. Their 1969 album Liege and Lief was voted the most influential folk album of all time by Radio 2 listeners, in 2006. The current line-up is Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Gerry Conway. TradArrr will be headlining on Friday night. Consisting of PJ Wright, festival patron Marion Fleetwood, Gregg Cave, Guy Fletcher, Mark Stevens, Gemma Shirley and Brendan O’Neill, they have been headliners at festivals all over the country, including Cropredy. They last performed at Banbury in 2015 and will be supported by one of Banbury’s favourite bands of the 90s, Clarion, who re-formed the original line-up for a one-off gig last year. The festival closes on Sunday with festival patron Gerry Colvin, one folk’s greatest entertainers.

2 STAGE

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Joanna Lumley: It’s All About Me, New Theatre, Oxford, October 17

One of the works on show in Priscilla Ormerods exhibition at The Mill in BanburyOne of the works on show in Priscilla Ormerods exhibition at The Mill in Banbury
One of the works on show in Priscilla Ormerods exhibition at The Mill in Banbury

Joanna will take audiences through her comical and interesting adventures from her remarkable career spanning more than four decades, recounting some stories never heard before. She will also be joined on stage by friend and producer Clive Tulloh, who will put to Joanna questions from the audience that they’ve always wanted to ask.

3 ART

Priscilla Ormerod: Behind the Sofa and New Shoots, The Mill, Banbury, until October 28

Illuminated Evenings at Fairytale FarmIlluminated Evenings at Fairytale Farm
Illuminated Evenings at Fairytale Farm

Priscilla has long been a prominent figure on the Banbury art scene, and this exhibition features work dating back more than 50 years. The exhibition’s title refers to Priscilla’s discovery of forgotten paintings stacked behind her sofa, as well as her continued artistic inspiration, which has led to new works. The diverse exhibition features art in a wide range of media and styles, aiming to give visitors an enjoyable experience, particularly through glimpses of her travels to locations including Cyprus, the Alps and Cuba, along with subjects closer to home, such as pets and the garden. There’s much fun, character and humour among them, too.

4 FAMILY

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Illuminated Evenings, Fairytale Farm, Chipping Norton, October 13 to December 23

Visitors on Saturday and Sundays are promised a magical wonderland of fairy lights to delight children and adults. The Mermaid Garden, Giant’s Camera, The Extinct Band, Giant Party Poppers and Light Fountains will be a blaze of colour and the Dancing Water Fountains will be illuminated. The lights will come on at dusk.

5 FAMILY

Canal Day, Spiceball Park, Banbury, October 14

Canal Day will remember the history of Banbury’s waterway with a fun-filled family day out.

There will be dozens of colourful narrowboats, plus a fun fair, arts and crafts market, dance displays, along with food and drink stalls.