A monument of Ron Shapiro, owner of the beloved Hoka Theatre, is installed near the front door of The Powerhouse in Oxford. Photo by Newt Rayburn.
Plethora of Events Kicks Off the Dog Days of Summer
While football may dominate the fall, Oxford will have a host of events starting in August. For the past several years, the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council (YAC) has developed programs that engage the local community and returning students as school begins.
Following the passing of beloved townie Ron Shapiro, YAC launched Hoka Days to encourage community members to explore the diverse cultural offerings available in Lafayette County.
This year, Hoka Days returns beginning Thursday August 1, boasting a full slate of events covering music, art, food, dance, theatre, and free community events. The program kicks off with a visual art showcase that brings artists from across Mississippi to Oxford. An open studio in the Plein Air neighborhood of Taylor features Robert Townsend, whose recent Oxford series is on exhibit. The visual art portion continues with a Friday evening event at Oxford Treehouse Gallery and a Saturday event hosted by The Oliver Hotel with artists from across Mississippi sharing stories about their work. Unlike a traditional art exhibit, the audience is invited to vote for their favorite story, and the winning artist will receive a cash prize.
Performances during the month include Leda Swan, who will present a free dance concert at the Powerhouse entitled Butoh: Dance of Shadow and Light on August 2 & 3. LOFT’s annual Night for Nonprofits will highlight the work of community organizations. Oxford on Skates will host two free family-friendly skating events with music at the Old Armory Pavilion. A community block party with DJs and a community talent showcase with food trucks returns as part of the event. Former Senator Trent Lott will be the featured speaker at the Melodies and Monologues event, with a talk about how to achieve things in life. Nerd-Vana returns for two days of pop culture indulgences with appearances by Power Rangers, a Nerd Prom, and vendors featuring games, collectibles, and clothing at the Powerhouse and on the Square.
Theatre Oxford is partnering with the popular storytelling event Spillit, which invites community members to take the stage and share stories around a theme. This year’s theme is “Breaking New Ground,” with the winner receiving an invitation to the Spillit championship in Memphis. Delta Rising redefines the concept of a show as it uses food, drink, music, and art to help attendees explore the Mississippi Delta. Anubis Improv will host a two-person improv showcase that engages the audience in the creative process. The celebration ends with the annual Second Line and Dance in memory of Ron Shapiro.
New this year is Bit of the Sip taking place from August 9–11, which is a mini festival inside Hoka Days that focuses on drink and food. YAC recognized that the popular Iron Bartender event attracts contestants and attendees from all around the Mid-South.
“We realized people were coming for Iron Bartender and spending the night,” said YAC Director Wayne Andrews. “Our goal was to build upon its success and create opportunities for people to have experiences with makers in the farms, restaurants, and shops in our community. This mini festival offers a chance to have lunch with chefs from the Delta, talk to distillers, pair wine and cheese with the cheese maker and winery owner, pair cigars and port with the owner of the cigar brand, or just learn how to make bread or hot sauce.”
A full schedule of events, many of which are free, can be found online at www.oxfordarts.com.
