Oxford's Double Decker Festival rebounds after rainy Friday, draws big Saturday crowds

Oxford’s Double Decker Arts Festival shook off a soggy Friday and came back strong Saturday, filling the historic Courthouse Square with visitors, vendors and music that kept downtown moving from morning into the night.

The weather briefly slowed the opening acts Friday, but festivalgoers still showed up with umbrellas and rain gear, keeping the first night alive until conditions improved later in the evening. By Saturday, the skies had cleared, and the festival hit its stride as families, students and visitors crowded the Square for one of Oxford’s biggest spring weekends.

That turnout mattered well beyond the stage. Visit Oxford says Double Decker now draws more than 60,000 to 65,000 people, and the 2026 festival brought more than 100 art booths and 20-plus local food vendors to the Square. For merchants, restaurants and artists, that kind of steady foot traffic is the difference between a busy downtown and a quiet one. The festival’s layout kept the action centered on Oxford’s most recognizable public space, where shoppers could move from paintings and pottery to handmade jewelry, food booths and live music without leaving the block.

The festival’s staying power comes from how much it has grown since its start. Double Decker was inspired by a Double Decker bus Oxford imported from England in 1994, and it began with the bed of an old pickup truck serving as the stage and only a handful of art and food vendors. Twenty-nine years later, it remains anchored on the historic Courthouse Square and has become a spring tradition that draws a built-in audience even when the forecast looks uncertain.

The weekend also reflected the event’s broader draw. Friday night’s lineup featured Penelope Road, The War and Treaty and Shane Smith and the Saints, giving the festival a music program strong enough to pull in visitors beyond Lafayette County. The 2026 schedule also included the Double Decker Spring Run, with 5K, 10K and Fun Run options, while the Kid Zone operated in the Chancery Building parking lot with $20 wristbands for unlimited rides and games. Festival merchandise was sold at B-Unlimited Oxford and at the information booth on North Lamar, and shuttle use was recommended because parking around the Square was limited.

Even after a rainy start, Double Decker again showed why it remains one of Oxford’s most important community weekends: it brings people downtown, fills local businesses and turns a weather risk into a reminder of how deeply the festival is woven into the city’s spring calendar.