Oxfolk Ceilidhs is a volunteer-run community organisation running public folk dance events in and around Oxford. Most of our dances are at Kennington Village Centre, and ceilidhs take place on the second Saturday of the month from October to May.
We also run the dancing at Oxford Folk Festival, as well as occasional balfolk and other events, and we’re also very excited to be supporting the beginning of Oxford Contra this season! There will be three contra events this year in addition to the ceilidh programme. You can find out a bit about the ceilidhs and contra dances here, but if you want more info, or you’re interested in volunteering with us, check out the Accessibility and FAQ or Volunteering pages.
We no longer use disposable plastic glasses. You can bring your own marked pint or half pint glass or we have reusable plastic pint and half pint glasses which you can buy for £1. You can keep yours for next time, or return it and we’ll give you your £1 back.
What’s a ceilidh?
A ceilidh is an evening of high-energy dancing to live music. Ceilidh, barn dance and country dancing all mean pretty much the same thing. The dances can be traditional or newer, but will usually be in ‘sets’ of a few people and you’ll usually be dancing with a partner – though there’s no need to bring one as there are always loads of people to dance with. The important thing to remember is that it’s a lot of fun!
The music is always live and loud and dancing is often fast and furious. Oxfolk plays host to many of the best ceilidh bands on the English folk scene and there will always be an excellent caller to guide you through the dances. Dance moves are always taught without the use of gendered instructions.
Check out a ceilidh dance here:
At our ceilidhs there’s a licensed bar with reasonably priced beer, cider, wine and soft drinks – this means you can’t bring your own alcoholic drinks. We also provide plenty of water for thirsty dancers!
What’s a contra?
Contra dancing is the North American equivalent of ceilidh. It’s fast-paced, sociable and highly addictive. Expect a live band with great tunes and lots of groove, and caller who will explain all the moves.
Check out a contra dance here:
Oxford Contra events start with a short lesson in the basics, so if you’re new to contra there’s a chance to learn more at the beginning of the event. Please note that contra dancing is slightly less suitable for young children than ceilidh due to the more complex nature of the dances.
At our contras at Kennington we won’t be running a licensed bar, so feel free to bring your own drinks. Jugs of water will be available, and you can buy tea, coffee and squash.
Ticket Prices
Ceilidhs and Contras at Kennington are priced:
Standard: £14
Concession: £10
E.g. unwaged, low income, students, pensioners. We don’t ask for proof of concession: if you can’t afford to pay the standard price, you are eligible for a concession, no questions asked.
5-16s: £4
Under 5s: Free
Carer: Free
If you have a disability and need a personal assistant so that you can enjoy an evening at Oxfolk, we’re happy to provide you with an extra ticket for them, free of charge
To buy tickets, visit the Buy Tickets page.
Other special events will be priced differently depending on costs. Ticket prices will be clearly explained on the booking page for each event. Oxfolk is a not for profit organisation, and charging a fair price for tickets enables us to pay artists properly.