Local News
A new calendar has been launched to help promote the wide range of events, activities and entertainment available in Abingdon. The calendar is online at www.abingdondiary.co.uk/diary.htm, via other local websites and soon in printed versions available around the town.
Its aim is to promote Abingdon in the early months of 2009 and encourage local people and visitors to come into the town during what is traditionally a quieter time of year.
The calendar includes theatre productions, music performances, one-off events in the Market Place, exhibitions at the Museum, promotional events run by town businesses, sports and leisure activities, plus major calendar highlights like Abingdon Arts Festival and Fairtrade Fortnight. It is hoped that community groups and businesses will add extra activities and events to the calendar, either as one-offs or to tie in with another in the diary. Community groups or businesses that plan to put on an event are invited to get in touch so that it can be added to the calendar.
Mark Thornton at Mostly Books says: “This is a great initiative for a great town. There is so much going on in Abingdon, and having a central diary will help let everyone know. Mostly Books will certainly make sure all its events are on there!”
Abingdon Heritage Day Organiser, Alastair Fear, says: “A lot of effort goes into publicity for the events I organise. A calendar like this will help make that easier. The important thing is that people know where to look to find local events, and where to send details of things they’re organizing.”
Campaign member, Bobbie Nichols, who’s been talking to town centre businesses about the calendar, says: “The feedback has been very positive and we’re already seeing businesses adding their promotional events to the listing. The Abingdon Diary will really help to get community and business events the publicity they deserve.”
Work on the calendar brings together local volunteers, councillors, council officers, and businesspeople. It ties in with the work of the ‘Choose Abingdon’ partnership which links Abingdon Town Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce, individual businesses and community members to focus on the vitality of the town.
Town Council Leader, Lesley Legge, says: “Even in what you might think is a quieter time of year, there is a great deal going on in Abingdon. The calendar is a real community-wide effort and highlights the great range of events, activities and entertainment we have. We hope that many more people will come and see and take part in what’s on. This will boost the community and volunteer groups running events and our town’s commercial, retail and hospitality businesses in these challenging economic times.”
There’s more at www.abingdon.gov.uk. Anyone wanting to add their event to the calendar can email abingdondiary@otcn.co.uk, write to Abingdon Diary at The Information Centre, Old Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon. OX14 3JD or drop in there and let us know.
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