Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for traders in Oxford’s Covered Market and they are all hoping to see lots of customers, after suffering during the pandemic.

Here we look at photos of festivities from previous years.

The market has always been a special atmospheric place to do your Christmas shopping.

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And traders running independent businesses join together with landlords the city council to ensure a fun festive countdown to December 25, with lots of decorations on show.

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This year the city council, backed by the Oxford Mail, is running a six-week promotion, encouraging people to shop local and choose independent traders, in locations across the city, including the Covered Market. The has an Alice in Wonderland theme.

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In 2018, the council decided that art installations involving rabbits, reflecting the Alice stories, would add to the fun at the market.

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In recent years, traders have catered for demand in the run-up to Christmas by opening up pop-up shops to supplement what they can sell in their main units.

Last year visitors saw special decorations over the Market Street entrances, donated by market florist The Garden of Oxford, and a big tree was set up inside the market.

Owner Paul Birtles said last year: “Putting up the big tree in the central square is something all of the Covered Market traders look forward to, and has become something of a tradition in recent years.

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“The tree comes from Greenfield Farm at Christmas Common near Watlington and this year’s specimen is as good as we have ever had."