Liz Nicholls heralds a weekend of festive merriment which kicks off a bigger, better Christmas Light Festival

Those John Lewis adverts have started trying to make you blub (more with frustration than anything) and the central heating is officially ‘on’ in most of our homes.

Are you feeling Christmassy yet? Perhaps not. But just you wait: Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival should give you back your festive mojo.

It’s a case of the more the merrier when it comes to this year’s Christmas Light Festival, which is hoping to attract more than 35,000 from around the county and beyond.

Many of the city’s most loved landmarks (about 40 — twice as many as last year) are opening their doors for a weekend packed with free arts events and a seasonal extravaganza in St Giles. And, instead of just one night of merriment, tomorrow is the start of three days of city activities, rolling out eight weeks of cultural highlights too.

The landmark that is the Mini plant in Cowley is once again supporting this year’s Christmas Light Night lantern procession, which will shine with the glow of more than 500 school pupils on Friday. Children from 12 schools have been working with artists and trainees from organisations including the Ashmolean Museum to create their shining examples. This year will mark a century of car-making in the city and the 50th anniversary of author CS Lewis. The parade starts at 6pm and the best vantage point is Cornmarket or St Giles. If you’re Twitter-inclined, join the thread by following @OxChristmas or #OxLightFest13 for updates and plenty of festive pictures and videos too — if you’re not too teary-eyed, that is. The festival continues on Saturday with lots of free fun at venues including Museum of Oxford, the Ashmolean and North Wall Arts Centre.

Ever wondered where elves — and snow — come from?

Oxford Castle Quarter features a fabulous snow factory (free, from tomorrow until December 8).

Every 45 minutes from 6pm-10pm daily, a five-minute animation of one amazing elf’s story will show on the wall of Malmaison — a real highlight.

“Fires will burn around the Castle Quarter, completing the story of the elf breaking through the cloud cover to then harvest the sparkle from the moon, create snow and save Christmas,” says organiser and Wallingford mum-of-two Catherine Warrilow.

Call 01865 260666 or visit oxfordcastle unlocked.co.uk

And, this being Oxford, the music will be world-class thanks to Oxford Contemporary Music, while moves come courtesy of Dancin’ Oxford until 10pm and there will be a showstopper from Sole Rebel Tap in St Giles too.

Eagle-eyed tots can step into CS Lewis’s world with Wardrobe Worlds, a series of installations created by local artists and inspired by The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe — so keep an eye out.

Sunday will be a Day of Song with choirs performing across the city with a grand finale carol performance in St Giles at 3pm. And the festive market, the Victorian fairground and the children’s area are open all day so you can indulge in present-buying and meeting Santa’s reindeer.

Step into The Story Museum tomorrow, open late for Light Night from 6-8.30pm. Take a sneak peek at the work going on in this labyrinth, getting ready to open to great fanfare in the spring. Creative types can see the Bodleian’s antique printing presses in action, and make their own Christmas keepsake to take home.

Call The Story Museum on 01865 790050.

Oxford Playhouse will stage Snowy Storytelling, at 4pm tomorrow (Friday).

This free after-school session for ages five to 10 (and their grown-ups) is the perfect festive preparation for the lantern procession just over the road.

Call Oxford Playhouse on 01865 305305 or visit oxford-playhouse.com

The Oxford Poetry Walk (tomorrow and Saturday, 10am-6.30pm) is a 70-minute audio walk around Oxford with specially selected and recorded verse by performance poets Live Canon. Pick up an MP3 player, headphones and a map from the Playhouse ticket office and set off to enjoy the city with literary greats as your guides. It costs £3.50.

Renowned performing arts companies Theatre Hullabaloo and Theatre Lolo bring a magical theatre piece for the very young to Pegasus Theatre.

Luna is on today and tomorrow telling the whimsical story of a lonely moon. Tickets are £8 for adults, £5 for children. Those needing a burst of art appreciation (or a great Christmassy feast or a lovely drink) should head to The Jam Factory. This month three exhibitions open that really capture the imagination. Font//2 is an exhibition of contemporary typographic art; Seeds & Stars is a magical display of printworks by Flora MacLachlan that delves into ancient and enchanted landscapes, roamed by guardian spirit-like animals; while photographer Ross Mackenzie displays his amazing Arctic and Antarctic pictures.

Call The Jam Factory on 01865 244613.

Children under 15 have free bus travel over the weekend — see oxfordschristmas.co.uk for details and for its handy itinerary planner.