Bicester Festival returned for its sixth year on Saturday 15th July 2023. This years festival was led by OYAP Trust with the support of Cherwell District Council, Bicester Town Council, The Mill Arts Centre and volunteers.
Building on the most successful components of previous years, we planned a parade, performances and participatory workshops, ensuring everyone planning to attend could enjoy the festival spirit. We mixed performances across the two stages, encouraging the audience to move around the park.
Sadly the weather was not on our side this year. For the safety of everyone involved the majority of the activities in Garth Park were cancelled due to severe weather warnings.
However, we did have a wonderful parade and family activities at OYAP. Lobster a la Cart, a huge, red inflatable Lobster, led school and community groups on a colourful parade through the town centre and back to OYAP.
Fam Jam didn’t disappoint with lots of great games and giggles at the Family Disco, while our Lobster friend posed for photographs. There was also Face Painting, a Paper Sculpture Workshop and Ceol Creative joined us to deliver some excellent drumming workshops. We even had a visit from a Giant Ring Master!
Everyone was thankful that Loraso Ice-cream had decided to join us despite the change in plans, meaning a well-earned treat for those on the parade!
News from the Festival
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Maria Merinova
Maria is a singer-songwriter and a cover artist from Bicester. She performs acoustic piano versions of well-known songs by Muse, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Adele and others. In 2022 as a member of a progressive metal band Apparent Magnitude (in which she performed as a vocalist and lyricist) she released her first album “Black mirror” available…
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The Oscillations
We are a band of six teenagers who perform covers and some original songs. We are all from Bicester and formed this band in school to express our love for music and to perform a variety of styles for everyone to enjoy. The Oscillations have recently taken advantage of rehearsal space at OYAP. Their enthusiasm…
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Bradley Pullen
Bradley Pullen is an independent artist that likes making sad songs sound happy. Local to Bicester, he’s looking forward to performing on the Stage Bus from 7pm! Be Bicester, Be Entertained, Be There!
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Molly Jin
Molly is a Bicester Festival favourite, previously appearing in her school choir, youth theatre and as a soloist. This year she will be singing some musical theatre and playing her violin on the bandstand at 2pm. Molly’s tells us it’s her great pleasure to perform at Bicester Festival. Well Molly we say it’s really our…
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Bicester Concert Band
Performing at The Bandstand from 4.30pm, Bicester Concert Band is a well-established and thriving community band. Their repertoire includes music of just about every genre. They play Classical, Rock, Pop, modern, Film music, toe tapping marches and some lesser known music. More recently they have included music of a Royal Theme for the King’s Coronation.…
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Boogie Woogie Bellas
Boogie Woogie Bellas are a popular 3 part harmony group who cover hits old and new! Think post modern jukebox, vintage style and covers of popular songs from a variety of different genres. A unique and nostalgic sound, and overall feel good experience. We can’t wait to boogie with them from 5.30pm on the Stage…
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OYAP Youth Theatre
Join us on a journey as we follow the story of a child who is bored with everyday life when suddenly they find themselves in a new and exciting world… The Royal Family of this mysterious world have lost their favourite marmalade and soon the child find themselves on a quest to find it –…
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Bert Honour
Bert Hounour is a local singer-songwriter, whose music straddles the line between punk and folk. His performances are high energy and he’s known to throw in the odd curve ball of a cover. His music can be found on all streaming platforms, including the new EP ‘It’s All True’.
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Lobster a la Cart
We are delighted to have Artizani’s ‘Lobster a la Cart’ heading up our colourful parade from 1030am. We’ll be joined by schools and community groups all celebrating Bicester as a friendly, welcoming town! Departing from OYAP, we’ll wind our way through the town centre and arrive in Garth Park to open festivities! Join us for…
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Stages Theatrical
Opening the performances on the Stage Bus from 12:15 will be popular, local group Stages Theatrical! Formed in 2019, Stages sing, dance, act and play their own instruments along with writing theirr own material. Their shows contain everything from duets, 4 piece, 5 piece or full company, singing many different genres with their own spin…
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Bicester Festival 15th July 2023
We are delighted to announce that this year Bicester Festival will take place on Saturday 15th July. Our theme of Near and Far will explore Bicester as a growing, welcoming town – thinking about ‘what makes us special?‘ Bicester has a rich history of welcoming and supporting families and individuals. In recent years we continue…