The Move On Up Mississippi Foundation is hosting their inaugural Oxford and Lafayette Community Field Day on July 27.

The free event will be held at the Old Armory Pavilion from 8 to 11 a.m.

Activities for children from kindergarten to sixth grade include relay races, an obstacle course, old fashioned sack races, tug of war, hula hooping lessons, dance performances, community garden tours, art and reading activities. There will be healthy snacks and beverages available, along with prizes and a raffle.

“What we wanted to do was provide an opportunity for the kids of Oxford and Lafayette County to come out and have some healthy activities and good snacks,” Elizabeth Speed, the field day coordinator with Move on Up Mississippi, said. “When the Move on Up Mississippi board first started discussing it there weren’t any kind of field days going on. We thought it was a special thing that we could do that would be a little bit different.”

Move on UP Mississippi was founded by chef John Currence and funds educational youth initiatives focused on health, well being and physical activity. The program also recognizes the impact of obesity and other ailments as well as spreading awareness of problems and solutions in an effort to provide a healthier future for the children of Mississippi.

“Move on Up hopes to create an inclusive community-wide event that celebrates the mission of our foundation and provides healthy activities for our children through the Oxford-Lafayette Community Field Day,” Currence said in a statement. “We hope to bring people together from all walks of life in our community for an event that used to be central for summer gatherings in small American towns nationwide.”

Currence will be on hand to welcome everyone to the event as will other members of the MOUMS Board of Directors. John T. Edge, Mac Nichols, Kelly English, Janae Owens, Afton Thomas, Eleanor Green, Glenn Aquino and Mariana Jurrs make up the board.

Representatives from MOUM grantees will also be on hand to provide information about their programs, including Good Food for Oxford Schools, Oxford Community Market, Doors of Hope, Baptist Cancer Center and others.

The events are aimed for younger children but Speed noted older kids are welcomed to sign up to volunteer at the field day. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit www.givegab.com/centers/louvolunteerconnection/opportunities/becky-currence-memorial-field-day or contact Speed at 662-801-0753.