Oxford's 29th Annual Double Decker Arts Festival Returns to Courthouse Square in April

Courthouse Square will transform into Oxford's largest spring gathering on April 24–25, when the 29th annual Double Decker Arts Festival fills downtown with more than 60,000 visitors, a ten-act music lineup headlined by Wilco, and tasting stations from some of the city's most recognizable restaurants.

The festival, free and open to all ages, traces its name to a vintage English double-decker bus Oxford imported from England in 1994. What began in 1996 with a handful of vendors and a flatbed truck for a stage has grown into one of the region's signature events. "What began as a fairly small event in 1996 has evolved into something people truly look forward to each year, drawing visitors from near and far," said Lee Ann Stubbs, Double Decker Arts Festival Coordinator at Visit Oxford. "During the festival, you can see the impact throughout Oxford, with hotels, restaurants, and local businesses welcoming an influx of guests."

Programming kicks off Friday afternoon, April 24, with art demonstrations around the Square followed by an evening concert featuring Shane Smith & The Saints, The War and Treaty, and Penelope Road. Saturday is an all-day affair: Chicago-based Wilco tops the bill, joined by Margo Price, The Dip, The Heavy Heavy, Mountain Grass Unit, The Animeros, and Annie and the Caldwells. The festival has previously hosted Brett Young, Jason Isbell, The Avett Brothers, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and The Revivalists.

Saturday also stacks the Square with between 100 and 150 art vendors, depending on the source, selling exclusively hand-made goods: paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and home decor. Tasting stations encircling the Lafayette County Courthouse will feature cult-classic vendors including Taylor Grocery, Sunday's Best, Sleddog's, MemPops, and Moe's BBQ, alongside newer entrants Oxford Creamery, Casa Mexicana, and The Tea.

Families will find a dedicated kid zone with bouncy houses and a rock-climbing wall. Runners can participate in the Double Decker Spring Run, which draws more than 2,500 participants through the university campus and downtown in a 10K, 5K, or Kids Fun Run.

The festival has earned Mississippi Tourism Association's Best Large Festival in Mississippi (2009), an ADMEI Best Public Event award (2013), and Mississippi magazine's Best Fair or Festival (2017).

For lodging and general planning information, contact Visit Oxford at 662-232-2477 or leeann@visitoxfordms.com. Full festival details are available at DoubleDeckerFestival.com and VisitOxfordMS.com.