Oxford Summer Events of 2015 Offer Fun for All Ages

Fourth of July Fireworks at Swayze Field are one of Oxford’s summer highlight events.
Photo courtesy UM Communications

Most of the students have left town and another great baseball season has ended, so Oxford seems rather quiet. But if you’re hanging around town over the summer, you’re in luck! There are plenty of great events, both at the University of Mississippi and around town to enjoy.

Summer Sunset Series

Each Sunday night in June, residents can enjoy an evening of free music on campus at the Grove stage. The event is free and open to the public, so bring a blanket and end your weekend with some music. The fun begins this weekend (June 7) with the Black Water Trio and continues with The Valleymen on June 14, Jake Xerxes Fussel on June 21 and Bryan Hayes on June 28.

Oxford Art Crawl

The Oxford Art Crawl continues throughout the summer on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. and the exhibits are free! The next art crawls will be held June 23, July 28 and August 25.

Two-Man Scramble

The Two-Man Scramble Golf Tournament will help raise money for the LOU Ole Miss Club Scholarship Endowment. So if you’re into golf and love Ole Miss, sign up! Registration is $175 and the event will be held June 27 and 28 at the Ole Miss Golf Course.

Fourth of July Celebration

Oxford celebrates freedom the right way. Fourth of July weekend will include a 5-K run on the Square to benefit the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society and a children’s parade.

Activities will continue in the Grove on the Fourth with children’s activities beginning at 4 p.m., an Independence Day ceremony at 6 p.m. and live music on the Grove stage at 6:30 p.m.

Then, head over to Swayze Field at 9 p.m. for an impressive fireworks display to cap off the day. For a full schedule of all the weekend events, click here.

Oxford Blues Festival

The Sixth Annual Oxford Blues Festival will be held this year July 18 on the grounds of the Walton-Young House at the University Museum. Headlining the festival is Dwayne Burnside and the Jeff Jensen Band. General admission tickets are $10. For more details, visit the festival’s website.

Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference 

This year’s conference theme is “Faulkner and Print Culture” and is set for July 19-23. The event is organized by the Ole Miss Department of English and Office of Outreach, and will include many keynote speakers as well as guided day tours through north Mississippi and the Delta and a dinner on the grounds of Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak. For conference details, click here.

Author Appearances

Several authors will promote their books this summer around town. Here are some of the events on the calendar for June:

June 9 – Ron Borne, “Troutmouth,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

June 11– Caitlin O’Connell, “Elephant Don: The Politics of a Pachyderm Posse,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

June 15– Marja Mills, “Mockingbird Next Door,” noon at Off Square Books

June 16 – Martin Clark, “The Jezebel Remedy,” 5:30 p.m. at Off Square Books

June 17 – Harrison Scott Key, “The World’s Largest Man,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

June 18 – Amy Sara Carroll, “Fannie + Freddie,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

June 24 – Amy Connor, “Million Dollar Road,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

June 25 – Jim Shepard, “The Book of Aron,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

July 9 – Joe Ricker, “Walkin’ After Midnight,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

July 10 – Susan Crandall, “The Flying Circus,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

July 21 – Ace Atkins, “The Redeemer,” 5 p.m. at Off Square Books

Courtesy UM Communications