Double Decker Arts Festival is Back
Double Decker Arts Festival is Back
By: Grace Logan
Oxford is gearing up for the biggest weekend the town has seen in over two years. With the 25th anniversary of the Double Decker Arts Festival returning this April, there are several things to get done to prepare for this iconic weekend.
The weekend begins on Thursday, April 2, on Swayze Field with Ole Miss playing Mississippi State. Your best pair of denim shorts and Ole Miss tee will be the way to go for the baseball game that kickstarts your Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
Friday kicks off the music festival on the square. Friday is a new addition to the festival this year, which, in the past, was hosted on Saturday as the main event. The lineup begins with the Wilkins Sisters at 6:15 p.m., followed by 49 Winchester, and finishing the opening night is Brett Young.
But, that's not the end of the night in Oxford. Immediately following Brett Young’s set, the 90s country cover band—the Mustache Band—will begin their set at the Lyric. Tickets for this show are currently $21. For Friday, it is essential to have your best cowboy boots on for this country-filled night.
Rise and shine on Saturday morning for a day filled with good food, great art and even better music. For the early birds, there are Double Decker 5K and 10K races in the morning. If running is not your speed, kick-off Saturday by going to hear local band Happy Landing at 11:00 a.m. Happy Landing is described as an alternative folk band from none other than Oxford, Mississippi. Buffalo Nichols follows, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Throughout the day, there will be over 100 art vendors and over 20 local food vendors set up around the square. Along with the vendors, stores on the square will have their doors open and sales going for Double Decker. The music continues with singer-songwriter Maggie Rose at 2:00 p.m. and blues, rock, and bluegrass artist Samantha Fish at 3:30 p.m. Don’t forget to take a tour of Oxford on the iconic Double Decker Buses, which will be running all day. If you need a break from the square before the night’s music kicks off, the Ole Miss and Mississippi State baseball series continues at 3:30 p.m. in Swayze.
Gospel R&B legend Mavis Staples begins her set at 5:00 p.m. followed by jazz sensation Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue at 6:30 p.m. To wrap up the day, listen to the soulful rock headliner The Revivalists at 8:30 p.m. The town will be alive with songs like “Wish I Knew You” and “Keep Going.”
Double Decker lifestyle is back and better than ever. It is a weekend to embrace a small town full of culture. The weekend is not for the faint of heart but is worth every step around the square. After a two-year absence, the festival certainly shows what we missed. Get your walking shoes and dance moves ready for the weekend.
For more information about the Double Decker Arts Festival, visit doubledeckerfestival.com. For outfit inspiration and more, read umsquaremagazine.com and follow us on our Instagram @um.squaremagazine.
Photos belong to their respective owners.
