Now that Spring has sprung, our neighbors in Oxford, Mississippi are ready to welcome visitors with open arms and a host of events. Pop-Up Oxford Spring Edition, is taking place from April 22 to May 16. Check out Visit Oxford MS’s website to start planning your trip now.
1. Eat on one of Oxford’s many balconies + catch a sunset if you’re lucky
Every good weekend trip needs great restaurants, and Oxford’s got plenty. In this age of outdoor dining, you won’t be lacking in choices of where to get your food fix:
- The Summit—one of the OG Oxford balconies, perfect for catching the sunset.
- City Grocery Bar—the other OG Oxford balcony, next door to The Summit, on Van Buren.
- Rooster’s Blues House—a student fave place to grab a beer on a pretty spring afternoon. They’ve got wings, blues and good sunsets.
- Bouré—perfect for a picturesque panoramic view of the Courthouse and Square center, especially at sunset. With more than 40 beer options plus a bar menu, it’s the perfect place to visit before dinner.
- Library Sports Bar—the largest sports bar on The Square, on Van Buren, with lots of atmospheric options, including an upstairs balcony shaded by a tree
- Southern Craft Stove + Tap—kid-friendly patio with a fenced-in area with giant Connect-4, ping pong and cornhole, plus tables for dining.
- Volta Taverna—recommendations: margaritas, mojitos, especially the Staff Favorite flavored margarita with a blend of strawberry and orange juices.
- The Coop (The Graduate Hotel)—hop on the elevator to the fourth floor to find this bar named after Cooper Manning. Not only will you see a great view of the courthouse and the Square. Pro tip: sip on their signature Frosé or nosh on their Rebel tots.
Ready to plan your trip? Visit Oxford MS has all the info you need to get you started.
Art vendors will pop up around the Square at a few different times:
- 12-5pm Friday, April 23
- 10am-5pm Saturdays
- April 24
- May 1
- May 8
Then on April 24, International Sculpture Day, you can take in some new public art:
- The City of Oxford will unveil a new sculpture called “Victory Dance” by local sculptor Earl Dismuke. Location: the roundabout at the intersection of Belk Boulevard and South Lamar.
- A “Greetings from Oxford” mural, created by a husband-wife duo known on Instagram as @greetingstour, features iconic scenes from Oxford as well as cultural and historical imagery. Local artist Bradley Gordon contributed to the project by painting Princess Hoka’s wings in his unique painting style.
- Location: behind City Hall in the lower parking lot. A photographer will be on site to snap pics of you and yours in front of this new mural on April 24.
3. Enjoy live music in the great outdoors
I don’t know about you, but I don’t actually remember the last time I heard live music. Now that more people are getting vaccinated, it’s exciting to imagine being able to see a show again.
In Oxford, there are a few taking place between April 23 and May 8.
- Friday, April 23
- 5-7PM, Balcony Concert at The End of All Music with Dent May
- 4-8PM, live music in the “Blue Delta Blues Alley:” Grammy-nominated Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
- Saturday, April 24
- 2-6PM, live music in the “Blue Delta Blues Alley:” Joe Austin & The Tallahatchies
- 5-7PM, Tunes Around Town, 4 locations around town
- Tunes Around Town will continue to pop throughout a couple of big weekends in Oxford this spring:
- May 1: University of Mississippi 2021 Commencement weekend
- May 8: University of Mississippi 2020 Commencement weekend
4. Ride on a Double Decker Bus
If you want to pretend like you’re in Oxford, England, hop on an authentic open-top double decker bus for a tour of the town. Local historians will show you the sights, including Oxford and the Ole Miss campus, including William Faulkner historic sites.
- When: Friday afternoons before SEC baseball games + the two Commencement weekends (Apr. 30 + May 7).
- Tickets: adults $10 | children 12 + under $5
For more information or to reserve a seat, call the Visit Oxford office at 662.232.2477.
5. Experience the thrill of the game—baseball, softball or football—April 23-24
Sports fans will have plenty of choices the first weekend of Pop Up Oxford: Spring Edition:
- Ole Miss baseball is hosting Louisiana State University (LSU), 7PM.
- Ole Miss softball is hosting Auburn.
- The annual Grove Bowl spring football game is taking place Saturday afternoon, April 24.
Even if you’re not in town that particular weekend, you need to stop by an Ole Miss baseball game in the spring to really get the vibe of Oxford. You’ll love the atmosphere—especially the lively right-field student section.
Source: 5 ways you’ll fall in love with springtime in Oxford, MS, Apr. 22-May 26 | Bham Now
