Annual events in Wantage

Wantage has a full calendar of community events: festivals, a summer carnival, folk music and dance, and a run of Christmas events in December. These are the regular events that come round every year. For dates this week and this month, see what’s on in Wantage.

Wantage events through the year

Dates change from year to year, so check each organiser’s website before you go.

Wantage Carnival

The Ray Collins Charitable Trust, a Wantage charity that helps local people in need, organises the town’s summer carnival and family fun day (billed in 2025 as the Wantage Community Festival of Fun). It usually has live bands, market and food stalls, face painting and plenty more. All proceeds go to local people and local causes. For this year’s date, see the Ray Collins Charitable Trust’s Facebook page.

Wantage Literary Festival

The Wantage Literary Festival (formerly the Wantage (not just) Betjeman Literary Festival) celebrates the spoken and written word: literature, poetry, comedy, history, science, the arts and much more. See wantageliteraryfestival.co.uk.

Wantage Welcomes Buskers

Started by Howard Hill in 2008, and first called “Wantage Presents”, this informal event brings musicians and sometimes dance troupes to entertain shoppers and visitors in and around the Market Place on Saturdays. See Wantage Welcomes Buskers.

Wantage Mummers

Mumming is a traditional folk play, recorded in England since the 18th century and usually performed around Christmas. Its story of a hero killed and brought back to life is often said to echo older midwinter customs. The Wantage Mummers perform their play on Boxing Day (26 December) outside the Bear Hotel in Wantage, raising money for charity. See wantagemummers.org.uk.

White Horse Folk Festival

Folk music, dance and singing in venues around the town, with camping at Grove Rugby Club. A friendly festival with plenty of chances to join in.

White Horse Ceilidhs

White Horse Ceilidhs hold ceilidhs (barn dances) in Grove Village Hall, near Wantage, every two months, with a live band, a caller, a half-time entertainment spot and good ale. The dancing is great fun and a good way to meet people of all ages, and the band, caller and half-time spot change each time.

Wantage Dickensian Evening

The Wantage Dickensian Evening is always held on the first Friday in December. It is a free community evening run by volunteers and supported by Wantage Town Council and local sponsors, with a Christmas feel, seasonal music and lights. It began as a way for local shops to thank their customers, and over the last 20 years it has grown into a much bigger evening for the whole town.

Wantage Summer Arts Festival

A festival of about five weeks in June and July, with music, drama, crafts, photography, historical talks, heritage walks and much more.

Wantage Music Festival

A platform for musicians and aspiring musicians of all ages to perform and get expert advice. Registered charity number 274734. See wantagemusicfestival.org.uk.

Mayor’s Carol Service

Usually held on a Wednesday evening in early December in the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul, the big stone church at the west end of the Market Place. The service usually starts at 7pm, but arrive early: it is very popular and seats go quickly. With the Dickensian Evening, it is a good way to start Christmas in Wantage.

Local groups and traditions

More about the groups behind many of these events:

• Folk music and dance in Wantage
• Book clubs and writing groups
• Wantage Twinning
• Wantage Welcomes Buskers
• Wantage Camera Club and the Wantage photo gallery
• Wantage and Grove Street Pastors

New to the town? Start with About Wantage.

Add your event

Running something in Wantage, Grove or the villages? Add your event to what’s on for free.