Over 100 colourful tractors covered in Christmas lights delight locals in annual Banbury festive fundraiser

•  The Christmas Tractor Run in Oxfordshire, has taken place every year

Crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of 100 tractors decorated with Christmas lights for an annual festive fundraiser last night.

The Christmas Tractor Run, held in the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire, has taken place every year to raise money for the Katharine House hospice.

Now in its eighth year, the event raised thousands for the patients as locals decorated their tractors in bright lights and Christmas trees.

One tractor carried a gigantic inflatable snowman on the back while another had a lit-up reindeer, positioned to seem like they were pulling it along, with fairy lights acting as ‘reins’ held by a Santa Claus.

A lorry with ‘Katharine House Hospice’ – which provides palliative and end-of-life care – written along the side advertised the hashtag ‘Making Every Moment Matter’ as it brought up the rear of the convoy.

Crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of 100 tractors decorated with Christmas lights

The Christmas Tractor Run, held in the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire, has taken place every year since 2016 to raise money for the Katharine House hospice

Now in its eighth year, the event raised thousands for the patients as locals decorated their tractors in bright lights and Christmas trees last night

The group of colourful vehicles carrying inflated Santas and festive trees raised over £13,000 before they even took off.

It began from a farm at Barford St Michael at 5pm, travelling through the villages of South Newington, Milcombe and Bloxham before continuing on to Banbury.

Then the convoy passed Katharine House Hospice in Adderbury,  travelling through four more towns and villages back to the farm it set off from.

It cost each participant £35 to obtain a spot in the group, and sponsorship packages ranged from £150 to £500.

The event organiser, Jennie Steenkamp, said: ‘The support for our event has been nothing short of remarkable, prompting us to shift our focus towards sponsorship this year, with the aim of giving as many local businesses as possible the opportunity to be part of the event. 

‘We are thrilled with the enthusiastic response we’ve received. With more than half of the fleet sponsored, it is not only fantastic but also a game-changer for our fundraising efforts.’

The group of vehicles carrying inflated Santas raised over £13,000 before they even took off

It began from a farm at Barford St Michael at 5pm, travelling through the villages of South Newington, Milcombe and Bloxham before continuing on to Banbury

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Roseann Thompson, Community Engagement Manager at Katharine House Hospice said: ‘The overwhelming response to sponsorship has truly exceeded our expectations, and the broad community support for the event continues to leave us in awe. 

‘We’re also immensely grateful to TWE, who, in collaboration with the tractor run team, have adorned one of their trucks with text-to-donate information, adding a unique and impactful dimension to the convoy. 

‘While the Banbury Christmas Tractor Run exclusively features tractors, the innovative approach with the sign-written curtain-sider truck provides an exceptional means to highlight the crucial avenues for donation. We couldn’t be more excited!

‘During this cost-of-living crisis, many charities are finding it harder to raise funds and Katharine House Hospice is no different. As such, this event is so important to us and we’re so grateful to RC Baker, the sponsors, tractor drivers and of course to our amazing local community.’

Since the first Christmas Tractor Run in 2016, the event has raised £97,000 so far.

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