Bit of the Sipp’ Drink and Food Festival begins Thursday

Published 9:18 am Monday, August 4, 2025

Oxford is heating up this week with a packed weekend of food, drinks, and community-centered events designed to highlight Lafayette County’s vibrant culinary scene.

Building upon the success of past pop-up dining experiences, cocktail classes, and the increasingly popular Iron Bartender competition, The Bit of the Sipp’ Drink and Food Festival aims to showcase the economic and cultural contributions of local food and drink establishments.

The culinary-focused series, which spans from Thursday through Sunday, includes diverse offerings from restaurant fundraisers and wellness conferences to mixology showdowns and farm-to-table tastings.

One of the weekend’s anchor events, the Iron Bartender competition, will be held on Friday at The Powerhouse. The high-energy contest brings together bartenders from across Mississippi to battle it out behind the bar, crafting original cocktails to win over judges and the crowd alike. The event has become a regional draw for both industry talent and food-lovers, attracting participants from neighboring states.

Other weekend highlights include “Dining for a Cause,” a local dining fundraiser benefiting Lafayette County food charities, Chillin’ at the Pavilion, Fields to Frames farm tours, cheese tastings at Chicory Market, and a unique pairing of cigars, bourbon, and ice cream at Spring Street Cigar.

In addition to these flavorful events, attendees can start their Saturday with a yoga session and bites from Byrd House during Flow and Fuel, and wind down with a sober social event at the Snackbar during Sunday’s Sneaky Tiki featuring Forklift.

Visit https://oxfordarts.com/ for a full schedule of events, to purchase tickets and for more information.

Thursday, August 1

• Dining for A Cause
  Dine at local restaurants that are donating a percentage of sales to Lafayette County food charities and food system projects.
• Square Table 20th Birthday at the Farm Market
  3–6 PM at the Arena
  Celebrate the Square Table cookbook with samples, recipes, and more.
• Knead Your Cure Wellness Conference
  August 7–9 at the Oxford Conference Center

Friday, August 8

• Iron Bartender
  7–9 PM at The Powerhouse
  Bartenders from across the state compete in a cocktail showdown.
• Chillin’ at the Pavilion
  3–7 PM at Old Armory Pavilion
  Frozen treats, live music, yard games, and family fun.

Saturday, August 9

• Flow and Fuel with Byrd House
  9 AM at the Old Armory Pavilion
  Morning yoga with Annie, followed by snacks from Byrd House.
• Fields to Frames | Fudgetown Farm and Oxford Treehouse Gallery
  1:30 PM at Fudgetown Farm
  Tour the farm, then visit Oxford Treehouse Gallery.
• Sip and Slice | Johnston Cheese Creamery and Vine Bottle Shop
  3 PM at Chicory Market
  Enjoy wine and local cheese pairings.
• Happy Hour with Byrd House
  5–6:30 PM at Byrd House
  Mindful drinks and community mingling.
• Snackdown
  6 PM at The Powerhouse
  Local food entrepreneurs compete in a tasting event.
• Scoops & Smokes at Spring Street Cigar
  6 PM at Spring Street Cigar
  Pair cigars, bourbon, and ice cream.

Sunday, August 10

• Sneaky Tiki at Snackbar featuring Forklift
  5–8 PM at Snackbar
  Alcohol-free cocktails and education on sober living.