January is anything but dreary in the City of Oxford, where a weeklong celebration of the city’s rich cultural scene will help you beat the winter blues. Don’t miss Pop Up Oxford, January 19 – 27, where you’ll find art, food, lectures, music and more!
It’s no secret that Oxford is a mecca for things that stand out – one-of-a-kind talent, a culture unlike any other and delectable cuisine – and that’s something worth celebrating! Pop Up Oxford will commence with a community reading of Letters from Birmingham Jail at Off Square Books, a songwriter’s competition, and Ole Miss basketball and softball. Throughout the week, festivities will include the MLK Day of Service, a hotel hop, an art crawl, a cocktail class, the 9th Annual Fiber Arts Festival and Thacker Mountain Radio.
Hotel Hop attendees will enjoy an evening of progressive food and drink at the unique hotels on the Oxford Square. In addition to delicious tapas and cocktails at Graduate Oxford, Courtyard Marriott, The Inn at Ole Miss and Chancellor’s House, transportation will be provided in true Oxford style – on a double decker bus.
The Southern Foodways Alliance will host a party at Big Bad Breakfast on January 22, celebrating the release of Sara Camp Milam and Jerry Slater’s Guide to Cocktails. Recipes from the book, which will be available to purchase, will be enjoyed and attendees will learn more about the history and processes of the libations served.
Pop Up Oxford will culminate with the Fiber Arts Festival, which runs from January 25 through January 27. Fiber Arts was founded through a partnership with Knit1 Oxford and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. The festival celebrates independent fiber artists who are keeping time-honored crafts alive and who are challenging the ideas behind fiber art with new, innovative work. Featuring an exhibit of fiber-related works ranging from quilts to handmade crafts and contemporary works, the festival will also include a reception, a market, classes and a fabric/yarn swap.
Pop Up Oxford was inspired by the Chautaqua adult education movement that began at the the turn of the 20th century. The movement was hailed by Theodore Roosevelt as “the most American thing in America” and inspired events, programs, and lectures where culture and entertainment could come together. In this same spirit, Pop Up Oxford will play host to a variety of opportunities to experience Oxford’s literary, musical, and cultural heritage.
“Visit Oxford is excited to collaborate with so many different organizations and events to bring people to Oxford,” said Director of Visit Oxford, Mary Allyn Hedges. “Pop Up Oxford highlights so many different things that Oxford has become known for culturally and offers something for everyone.”
With participating hotels offering special packages, Pop Up Oxford marks the perfect occasion for visitors to enjoy a week of world-renowned presentations and performances set on the backdrop of Oxford’s rich cultural heritage.
For Pop Up Oxford’s full schedule or to purchase tickets for specific events, visit PopUpOxford.com or call the Visit Oxford office at 662.232.2477.
