Celebrating summer in Oxford
As summer kicks off in Oxford, the town prepares events and festivals to keep locals busy.
School’s out in Oxford, and that means it’s time for a summer full of events.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy what local vendors have to offer or have fun Uptown with friends and family during one of the city’s many festivals, there’s plenty to keep you busy until class is back in session at Talawanda and Miami University in late August.
This week, we’re bringing you a (nonexhaustive) list to get you started!
Regular events
The Uptown Music Series is returning to Oxford this summer, with a kick-off concert by Motown Sounds of Touch on May 29. The concerts, coordinated by Enjoy Oxford and sponsored by local businesses and organizations, run 7-9 p.m. each Thursday this summer through Aug. 14. Other performers include the Miami University Steel Band, the Air Force Band and Lisa Biales.
This summer’s Red Brick Friday events are all returning staples from previous summers. On July 18, Main Street will shut down for a beach staycation, while Books on the Bricks is set for Aug. 1 and Streets and Eats, the event welcoming Miami University students back to campus, is set for Aug. 29.
Each Red Brick Friday event features dozens of local vendors, kids activities and more. This year, the festivities are set to run 6-10 p.m. for each event in the Uptown Parks. All three will close down Main Street, while Streets and Eats will also close High Street.
Festivals
Beyond regular events, summer brings a host of annual festivals to Oxford each year.
On May 31, the Oxford Chamber of Commerce will hold its Wine and Craft Beer Festival. The event, hosted in the Uptown parks from 2-10 p.m., will shut down Main Street and High Street this year. The festival will feature a beer garden, live music and dozens of vendors and artisans. Advance tickets are available at oxfordwinefestival.com.
Just north of town, Hueston Woods State Park will host its 58th annual Arts and Crafts Fair June 14 and 15. Tickets are $5 for adults or $10 per vehicle, and the fair will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Head over to tour the historic Doty Homestead and shop for a wide variety of goods made by regional artisans, ranging from jewelry to paintings to Christmas ornaments.
On July 3, Oxford will host its annual Independence Day celebration, the Freedom Festival, in the Oxford Community Park. The event starts at 5 p.m. and features fireworks at 10 p.m. The time in between will be filled with food, inflatables, games, carriage rides and more.
Car enthusiasts in Oxford have two car shows to look forward to. On June 28, the Oxford Masonic Lodge will hold its now-annual car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Uptown. Proceeds go to charity, and last year the lodge was able to donate $38,000 to Kramer Elementary for its playground equipment fund. Later, on Aug. 16, the 11th annual Red Brick Reunion Porsche Car Show will take over High Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oxford Community Arts Center
The Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) will hold dozens of events for residents of all ages this summer.
The OCAC celebrates summer with an annual movie series in addition to its regular program. This year’s Free Movie Fridays will feature “The Little Mermaid” (2023) on June 6, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” on June 27 and “Elemental” on July 25. Each movie begins outside in the OCAC Pavilion at 9 p.m., weather permitting.
Second Friday Celebrations of the Arts will also continue throughout the summer. The monthly events showcase the OCAC’s newest exhibitions and feature live outdoor concerts at 7:30 p.m. The Back Porch Hounds, a bluegrass and jazz group, will perform June 13, followed by traditional Appalachian group The Farmer and THe Crow on July 11 and soul group Angela Combs Band on Aug. 8.
Bruce Murray, a professor of music at Miami University, will also perform multiple free public concerts in the OCAC’s Brant Ballroom. “All Classical,” a June 9 performance, will feature works by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, while the June 23 performance “Almost Ambient” will feature a calming program and the July 7 performance “Salon-sih” is inspired by 19th century Parisian salons. Each concert will begin at 6 p.m.
Finally, OCAC will hold two free one-off programs this summer. On Aug. 9, adults and children alike are invited to Ox Chalks the Walk, a chalk art festival with an open chalk area in front of the center. The event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature craft vendors, food trucks and a judged art contest with cash prizes. Then, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will perform “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the OCAC Pavilion at 7 p.m. Aug. 26.
Other resources for events
Looking for something a bit more athletic? Oxford Parks and Recreation is celebrating the Aquatic Center’s season opening on May 26. Throughout the Summer, parks and rec has a variety of other sporting activities for people of all ages, from Camp POP! for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade to the adult softball league, which begins games on Aug. 6.
Check the Parks and Recreation website at oprd.recdesk.com for a full list of summer activities and sign-up details.
Oxford Lane Library is also a hub of activity over the summer. Regular events like book club meetings and Dungeons and Dragons campaigns continue throughout the summer. This year, the library will also hold nerf nights, crafting events, educational programming and more. Check lanepl.org/events for a full calendar.
Lastly, the Oxford Free Press updates its own event calendar in print every week! Make sure to pick up your print edition each Friday or make a donation online to receive it by email every week. Have an event you want to suggest? Share it with our business manager Ginny Reynolds at ginny.reynolds.com for consideration.
