Oxford’s popular Double Decker Arts Festival—a celebration of food, music, and art—returns for its 28th year this weekend, kicking off on Friday.

To prepare for the live music performances on the North Lamar Boulevard stage, drivers are reminded not to leave their vehicles on the Square Thursday night.

Beginning at 4 a.m. Friday, North Lamar Boulevard and Monroe Avenue will be closed so crews can set up the stage. Any vehicles remaining on those streets at that time will be towed.

Music begins at 5 p.m. Friday with performances by The Band of Heathens, Ole 60, and The Great Dying, leading up to headliner Charlie Crockett, who is scheduled to take the stage around 9 p.m.

After Friday night’s festivities, city crews will begin preparing the rest of the Square for Saturday’s full day of events. Vehicles parked on the Square after 4 a.m. Saturday will also be towed.

Visit Oxford, the city of Oxford, and the Oxford Police Department are regularly sharing parking information on their social media pages and distributing flyers around the Square to spread the word.

A shuttle service will be available on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for a $5 round-trip fare. Shuttles will run from Oxford High School and the South Oxford Center (the former Baptist hospital). Cash is not accepted; riders must pay via Venmo or credit/debit card.

Public parking near the Square includes:

• The Water Tower Lot (between 14th and 15th Streets, accessible from University Avenue)
• The DHS Lot (corner of Jackson Avenue and 9th Street)
• The City Parking Garage (access via Jefferson Avenue)

However, these lots tend to fill up quickly.

Saturday begins with the annual Spring Run at 7:30 a.m., featuring 5K and 10K races, as well as a Kids Fun Run. The event is sponsored by Oxford Ortho & Sports Medicine and the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.

The festival officially opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, featuring more than 140 art vendors and dozens of food vendors. Attendees are encouraged to browse the booths, shop for handmade goods, and sample a wide variety of local eats.

The Square Fair for children will be located in the Lafayette County Chancery Building parking lot. Admission is $20 per child for unlimited games and rides. As with shuttle service, no cash will be accepted—only Venmo or credit/debit cards.

A full day of live music starts at 10 a.m. with the Rust College A’Cappella Choir, followed by Cedric Burnside at 11:30 a.m., Seratones at 1 p.m., Water Liars at 2:30 p.m., Cimafunk at 4 p.m. and The Record Company at 5:30 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., art and food vendors, along with the children’s Square Fair, will close—but the music continues.

City officials are asking those attending evening concerts to bring only clear bags, similar to the policy at Ole Miss home football games. Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said this year, the focus will be on educating the public about the new rule, which will be enforced starting next year.

The evening lineup continues with Houndmouth at 7 p.m., followed by headliner Grace Potter at 8:30 p.m.

While spring weather in north Mississippi is always unpredictable, the festival will proceed rain or shine. However, some performances may be delayed due to rain. As of Monday, the National Weather Service forecasted a 40 percent chance of rain on both Friday and Saturday.

For more information, visit https://doubledeckerfestival.com.

 

Restrooms and porta-potties are located around the festival:

• Hotty Toddy Potty/ADA Restrooms: East Monroe Ave
• Porta Potties/ ADA: East Jackson by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
• Harrison Avenue, next to Landry’s
• Porta Potties on Harrison Avenue behind the Lyric
• Chancery Building Parking Lot at Square Fair
• Behind City Hall
• Restrooms: First Floor of the Parking Garage