Category: events

Banbury and the MICE market: an opportunity we’re not quite claiming?

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I’ve been noticing something over the past few months.

Across both the hospitality and travel sectors, there’s been a noticeable shift toward meetings, conferences and events – what the industry tends to bundle together as “MICE” (I know it sounds like a pest problem but I promise it’s a profit centre). Hotels are talking about it more. Venues are investing in it. Destinations are actively competing for it.

Which makes absolute sense in the current economic climate. Leisure travel is still strong but it is also unpredictable. Business meetings and events, on the other hand, offer a lot more consistency and reliability.

And, as is often the case these days, that got me thinking about Banbury.

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It’s Day 5 of English Tourism Week in Banbury gets eventful!

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It’s Day 5 of my #Banbury series for #English Tourism Week26, and it’s time to get eventful!

We have a truly impressive programme of local events that take place in the town centre. The crowds are made up not just of residents but of many visitors from further afield, and for good reason.

What makes these events special isn’t just the organisation; it’s the independence. These aren’t generic, “off-the-shelf” festivals. They are unmistakably Banbury, celebrating the town’s history, fostering community, and providing a “resident’s-eye view” for visitors that Banbury knows how to put on a party.

The Big Hitters

  • Banbury Canal Festival: Centred around the canal-side and the historic Tooley’s Boatyard, this is a weekend of narrowboats, floating shops, market stalls, and demonstrations. It is a fantastic reminder that the area’s industrial heritage is still very much afloat.
  • Banbury Music Mix: This event showcases artists from across the area to provide a great line-up of performances. Compared to others on the calendar, Music Mix is a relative newcomer, but it has quickly become a staple of the local scene.
  • Banbury Food and Drink Festival: An event for anyone with a passion for food, drink and trying new cuisines. Banbury’s history is intertwined with food, from the now-forgotten Banbury Cheese to the enduring popularity of the Banbury cake. With this event – and Taste of Spring – Banbury’s foodie credentials continue to shine.
  • The Michaelmas Fair: This event provides a direct link to our medieval history (though medieval attendees would no doubt be staggered, and possibly a little frightened, by the lights and noise of the modern fair). This three-day street fair takes over the town centre every October; it’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s a tradition that has survived for centuries.
  • Christmas Light Switch-on: A festive event that usually brings out the entire community to kick off the holiday season.

Dates for Your Diary

Make sure to note these dates down so you can come and join in:

  • Taste of Spring: April 12, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm | Banbury Market Place
  • Banbury Show: June 13, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | Spiceball Park
  • Armed Forces Day: June 27, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm | Spiceball Park
  • Town Mayor’s Fun Day: July 19, 11:30 am -4:30 pm | People’s Park
  • Banbury Music Mix: July 31, 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm | Banbury Market Place
  • Banbury Food & Drink Festival: August 16, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm | Banbury Market Place
  • Battle of Britain: September 13, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | Banbury Market Place / St Mary’s Church
  • Banbury Canal Festival: Oct 3, 11:00 am – Oct 4, 5:00 pm | Canal Side, Town Centre
  • Michaelmas Fair: October 14, 10:00 am – October 17, 4:00 pm | Banbury Town Centre
  • Remembrance Sunday: November 8, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Banbury Town Centre / St Mary’s Church / People’s Park
  • Christmas Lights Switch-on: November 29, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm | Banbury Market Place

More details can be found on the Banbury Town Council’s Events Page. But don’t forget there are other events throughout the year, including (but most definitely not limited to):

  • Various events hosted by Banbury BID, such as the Winter Market, the Lantern Parade, and trail competitions.
  • Banbury Christmas Tractor Run: Every December. The convoy enters Banbury via Bloxham Road, moves down South Bar Street to Banbury Cross, and travels along Oxford Road toward Adderbury.
  • Banbury Festival of Motoring: August 23, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm | Banbury Market Place

English Tourism Week is the perfect time to start planning your 2026 visits. Whether you’re a local who has lived here for decades or a visitor looking for a great out reason to hop off the train from Marylebone, Banbury’s events calendar is a top reason to stop and explore

Banbury 2025 – Pencil It In Edition

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Now, I know we’re not quite done with 2024 but it’s never too early to at least start penciling in a few things in the diary for the upcoming year. And so, a heads up on some of the events we expect in and around Banbury during 2025.

Of course, circumstances for each may change (rumblings that the events schedule may be trimmed down have reached my ears and I am hoping no one in the position to do so would be that short sighted) and we’ll check on each closer to the time. For Banbury Town Council events, their events page has not yet been updated but we’ll keep an eye on it and let you know when it has – so we can confirm that their events are happening and when.

But for now, a rough idea of when each normally happens.

The monthly Banbury Car & Bike Meet is always worth mentioning. Jan / Feb / Mar / Oct / Nov / Dec events will all be on the first Sunday morning of each month. Spring and Summer meets are Weds evenings. Keep track of the details by following them on Facebook.

Taste of Spring and the Banbury Food & Drink Festival – Banbury Town Council’s two food fairs. Taste of Spring in April and Banbury Food & Drink Festival in August.

Banbury Triathlon – looks like the 2025 date is May 18.

The VMCC Banbury Run – as their website says, “the largest gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles & three-wheelers in the world. This annual event sees a whopping 500 veteran & vintage motorbikes ride out together from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon and make their way to and from Banbury.” – normally June.

Speaking of wheels, the Broughton Castle Sportive 2025 is on June 29.

Bloxham Steam & Country Fair is Sat 28th – Sun 29th Jun 2025 according to Steam Heritage website.

Also at some point in June will be the Avon Dassett Soap Box Derby – we went for the first time this past year and it was FANTASTIC!

Banbury Music Mix: one of the more recent additions to the Banbury Town Council Events schedule and one I would expect to continue in 2025 – mid to late July

Banbury Canal Festival: all along the canal as it snakes through the town centre. Early to mid- October.

Michaelmas Fair: I mean, obviously in October as it always is and runs about 4 days (Weds-Sat)

Banbury Camera Club Annual Exhibition: always at the Heseltine Gallery in Middleton Cheney and usually earlyish November

Christmas Market and Lights Switch-on – usually last weekend in November.

Banbury Christmas Tractor Run: yup, we just had it and it raised an impressive amount for Katharine House Hospice. Very likely to be a similar time in 2025 to previous years – mid-December.

This list is by no means exhaustive and if you’d like to suggest additions, we’d love to have them. There’s a lot going on in and around Banbury – let’s get the word out!

The Yum Returns: Banbury Food & Drink Festival 2022

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Last held in 2019, interrupted by pandemic safety guidelines and much longed for by local residents and traders alike – Banbury’s annual food festival returned this weekend with something to delight everyone.

Once again, a brownie bonanza from Tess’ Brilliant Bakes (pic by Modern Parlance Photos)

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