From Spring through Fall, the South’s favorite town brings festivals, concerts and more
Oxford, Mississippi, located off Interstate 55, about an hour from Memphis, Tennessee, welcomes visitors with quintessential Southern charm and the convenience of big city amenities. From Spring through Fall, dozens of happenings beckon travelers to enjoy its fun events, from the World Championship of Old-Time Piano Playing and its accompanying Festival to art crawls and theatre. The challenge won’t be finding enough to do, but finding enough time to do it all!
The season kicks off April 24 with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific that delights with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the most-loved hilarious and romantic moments–the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more–plus surprising new twists. Tickets start at $73 for non-students. FordCenter.org/events
The last Saturday in April, the Double Decker Arts Festival is held in Courthouse Square in downtown Oxford. Named for the town’s beloved authentic English tour buses, the festival draws more than 50,000 people to celebrate and enjoy music by a dozen groups, delicious festival food from more than 30 vendors and the work of over 100 artists. DoubleDeckerFestival.com
Every 4th Tuesday of each month the Oxford Arts Crawl visits galleries and venue stops on the Double Decker Tour Bus. Free; hop on and off the bus or pick up the tour at any time. VisitOxfordMS.com/events
Fans of ragtime, traditional jazz, blues, honky-tonk, boogie-woogie and novelty songs from the early 20th Century will love the 44th Annual World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest & Festival, May 24-27. Players compete for significant prizes in the Regular and Junior divisions, and attendees get a four-day treat of workshops, guest artist performances, a double-decker bus tour of historic Oxford and the Ole Miss campus Blues Archive, and after-hours events every night on the Oxford Square. OldTimePianoContest.com
Every Sunday in June brings the Summer Sunset Series at The Grove, where free concerts start at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and/or blanket, along with family and friends. VisitOxfordMS.com/events
Held Friday through Sunday, July 20-22, 2018, the Oxford Blues Festival offers a variety of blues music and musicians, including a “who’s who” of the genre. Performances are given at a variety of venues in the historic Oxford square and in The Grove. Free and low-cost admission. OxfordBluesFest.com
Shakespearean masterpieces are brought to the stage at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts and Meek Hall Auditorium in Oxford. Macbeth is presented in all its tragic glory on April 20-22. Tickets for non-students, $18-$21. FordCenter.org/events
Save the date for these additional can’t-miss seasonal events:
Faulkner scholars and enthusiasts from around the world gather in Oxford at the University of Mississippi’s Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, July 22-26, to celebrate and explore the writings of William Faulkner, this year with a focus on his portrayals and views on slavery. Registration includes buffet supper on the grounds of Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak, optional tours and more; $150 for students and $300 for others. www.Outreach.olemiss.edu/events/faulkner
On July 28, 2018, the Oxford Square Alliance Summer Fest celebrates the Square’s creative muses, from writers to musicians, painters to poets, and the shops and restaurants that contribute to the unique ambiance of The Square. VisitOxfordMS.com/event/oxford-square-alliance-summer-fest-2
August 9-12 features more than 50 happenings over just four days at the Art-er Limits Fringe Festival, a quirky compendium of events from Iron Bartender cocktail challenge to children’s activities, art demos, film screenings, musical performances and more. Admission: $10-$40. www.OxfordArts.com/events/fringe
Collegiate sports, such as baseball, softball, tennis and track and field, are all found during the spring and summer at Ole Miss, and of course, fall football frenzy culminating in the University of Mississippi Homecoming Game versus LA-Monroe on October 6 and Homecoming Parade on October 5. Check with the Ole Miss Alumni Association for a schedule of activities. www.OleMissAlumni.com
Oxford culture is so entwined with music, it is difficult to find a day of the week where live music is not being performed on the square, in The Grove or nearby. Whether it’s one of the many varied local acts performing, a band on tour or an artist in residence while they record at the famed Sweet Tea Records, Oxford’s eclectic music scene is sure to delight.
The square is home to a variety of shops and elegant boutiques including the South’s oldest department store. Extraordinary cuisine is also abundant around the Historic Downtown Square.
If You Go:
Find links–where to stay, eat and even more to do at VisitOxfordMS.com.
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