Food, music (see lineup below) and the arts will take center stage at the 19th annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival presented by C Spire on April 25-26, 2014. The Oxford Tourism Council revealed the music lineup, artwork to be used for the festival poster, and other details today.
Taking its name from the town’s authentic double decker bus imported from England in 1994, the festival brings together visitors and residents alike for a celebration of music, food, and the arts held on the picturesque Courthouse Square.
Music and Entertainment
This year’s event will again feature a two-day format that includes a special edition of Thacker Mountain Radio (at 7 p.m.) on Friday evening and a free concert (a free 6 p.m. pre-show). Saturday activities include art, food and more music, including a day of eclectic music on Caterpillar Stage (see listings below).
In addition to music, there are over 150 art vendors from around the region selling creative wares for the anticipated 55,000 festival attendees. Selected by Oxford’s Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, the vendors include potters, glass craftsmen, woodworkers, painters, and self-taught artists working in a variety of mediums.
Food and Fun
Attendees also can troll through the “Taste of Oxford” food court featuring a sampling of culinary treats from 25 local restaurateurs.
The Children’s Square Fair will be organized again by the University of Mississippi Hospitality Management department and will offer activities for children of all ages. This year’s Square Fair will take on a country carnival theme. Activities for children include face painting, games, and arts activities. The highlight of the afternoon is anticipated to be the Best Dressed Pet Contest when participants, hoping to win the coveted first prize, parade their dogs, cats, rabbits, and even chickens dressed in elaborate costumes. An extra hour is added this year, running from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. “Our students are coming up with a lot of really good ideas that we hope to share soon,” said Jeremy Roberts, event management coordinator in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management.
Spring Into Action
Saturday activities kick off at 8 a.m. with the Chamber of Commerce 5k walk and 10k run, winding through the University of Mississippi campus and nearby Oxford neighborhoods. “We like to think we add a fourth element to the festivities—in addition to food, music, and arts, we add a health element,” said Pam Swain, vice president of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce. Swain said last year’s event brought around 1,200 runners from 21 states. “It really attracts people.”
“We’re very excited about this year’s event. We hope each year we can evolve to improve programming and make the festival more fun, but still maintain the event that everyone loves so much,” said Mary Allyn Hedges, festival director.
For more information, visit www.doubledeckerfestival.com.
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2014 MUSIC LINEUP
Friday April 25, 2014:
6:00pm – Rosco Bandana
7:00pm – Thacker Mountain Radio (feat. Rosco Bandana and The Bo-Keys)
8:00pm – The Bo-Keys
Saturday April 26, 2014:
10:00am – Morgan Pennington
11:30am – Garry Burnside
1:00pm – Dent May
2:30pm – T-Bird and The Breaks
4:00pm – The Infamous Stringdusters
5:30pm – The Wild Feathers
7:00pm – Preservation Hall Jazz Band
8:45pm – Charles Bradley
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