Didcot Garden Party has something for everyone to enjoy this summer
Didcot Garden Party is back this summer, bigger and better than before with a great selection of free activities for everyone to enjoy.
From creative and arts activities, to sport, yoga and live music there is something to suit all ages and interests.
The party starts on Saturday 22 July and will run through to the end of August.
The free activities will take place across the garden town area, day and night, weekends, and weekdays, with key events happening at Cornerstone Arts Centre and in the town and surrounding village’s parks and community halls. The focus for this year’s party will be health, wellbeing and the environment.
A snapshot of some of the activities residents can enjoy this summer will be live music at Cornerstone on some Friday evenings in the courtyard and a community open mic night, free activities for children including skateboarding, Xplorer, table tennis and dance with the Active Communities team. Four community days are also planned at Cornerstone and the Civic Hall with the themes; environment, keeping active, food and finances and Independence Day of Ukraine.
Most Saturdays there will be free performances and activities in the courtyard at Cornerstone for families to take part in.
The garden party is a great opportunity for residents from the town and surrounding areas to come together and celebrate Didcot’s art, culture and natural spaces as part of the district councils’ Didcot Garden Town delivery plan.
Didcot was given Garden Status in 2015 by the government, enabling South Oxfordshire District Council and its partners to create and develop a plan to help improve the lives of residents living in and around Didcot Garden Town. The delivery plan was revised last year to focus on supporting community projects that bring people together, supporting local businesses, encouraging healthy lifestyles, tackling climate change and increasing sustainability.
Cllr Robin Bennett Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “We’re really pleased to have the Didcot Garden Party back this summer. It’s a great way to celebrate the town and showcase everything that it has to offer. Didcot has a thriving community spirit, and we want to embrace that and encourage everyone in the town and surrounding areas to get involved in the fun this year, building on the success of the last couple of Garden Parties.”
Cllr Sue Caul Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing, Development and Infrastructure at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “Didcot Garden Party is a special summer event for residents, and it gives the town and local businesses a boost as well. We know that finances are stretched for many, and hope people are able to come along to our Food and Finances Day to find out what support is available and by making the events over the summer free it means they are accessible to everyone.”
More information about the activities taking place can be found on the Didcot Garden Party webpage and keep an eye on the councils’ and Cornerstone social media throughout the summer for updates on activities and events.
Notes for editors
The Didcot Garden Town plan is overseen by the Didcot Garden Town Advisory Board. The advisory board is made up of representatives from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, the county and town council, surrounding parish councils, OxLEP and Homes England. The board meet quarterly with all meetings open to the public.
