Oxford
Around Oxford
Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Mississippi · 72k people
Oxford
Where the Grove meets the South
CrimsonNavy Blue
Welcome to Oxford, where the Square hums with music and the Grove fills with friends on game days. Whether you're here for the books, the barbecue, or the big game, you'll find a warm Southern welcome.
Clubs for Oxford
No clubs for Oxford yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Oxford. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Oxford. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- The Grove Famous tailgating area on the Ole Miss campus.
- Oxford Square Historic downtown with shops, restaurants, and live music.
- Rowan Oak William Faulkner's home, now a museum.
- University of Mississippi The state's flagship university, known for its architecture.
- Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Home of the Ole Miss Rebels football team.
- The Lyric Theater Historic theater hosting concerts and events.
- Outdoors Boating and fishing at Sardis Lake
- Outdoors Hiking at Wall Doxey State Park
- With kids Visit the University Museum
- With kids Explore Rowan Oak
- Evenings Live music at The Lyric Theater
- Evenings Bar hopping on the Square
- Locals love Tailgating spots
- Locals love Barbecue joints
Through the year
- Double Decker Arts Festival April Music, art, and food on the Square every April.
- Thacker Mountain Radio Seasonal, weekly Live music and literary show, a local institution.
- Ole Miss Rebels Football Games Fall Fall Saturdays in The Grove and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
- Oxford Community Market Summer Farmers market with local produce and crafts.
- Oxford Film Festival February Independent films and panels held in February.
Oxford has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal, with mild temperatures and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Hotty Toddy”
- The university's cheer and a greeting.
- “The Grove”
- The tailgating area on campus.
- “The Square”
- Downtown Oxford.
- “Ole Miss”
- The University of Mississippi.
Getaways
- Clarksdale Blues heritage and juke joints.
- Memphis Music, barbecue, and Beale Street.
- Tupelo Elvis birthplace and local history.
- Starkville Rival college town with its own vibe.
Local flavour
Teams
- Ole Miss Rebels NCAA Division I (SEC)
Eat and drink
- Fried catfish A staple, often served with hushpuppies and coleslaw.
- Barbecue (pulled pork, ribs) Classic Southern BBQ with regional vinegar or mustard sauces.
- Sweet tea The default beverage, served over ice.
- Biscuits and gravy Comfort breakfast, often with sausage gravy.
- Cornbread A side dish, often baked in a cast-iron skillet.
- Grove tailgating dishes (gumbo, jambalaya) On game days, the Grove becomes a feast of Southern and Creole flavors.
Where people go
- The Grove The legendary tailgating grounds on campus, a social epicenter on game days.
- Oxford Square Historic town square with local shops, restaurants, and a courthouse.
- Rowan Oak
- University of Mississippi campus The heart of Ole Miss, with its iconic Lyceum and academic buildings.
- Blues clubs and juke joints Nearby and in the region, venues that keep the Delta blues tradition alive.
- Antebellum homes Historic plantation-era architecture scattered around the area.
Heritage and traditions
Oxford is proud of its deep literary heritage, from William Faulkner's legacy to a vibrant community of writers, and its spirited Southern charm centered on the historic Square and Ole Miss traditions.
This time of year in Oxford
- Football tailgating in The Grove Fall Autumn Saturdays are devoted to elaborate tailgate parties.
- Harvest festivals Fall Small towns around Oxford celebrate autumn with craft fairs and food.
- Water Valley Arts & Music Festival October A small-town celebration featuring local artists and musicians.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something
Festivals
- Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference July An annual literary conference in July, drawing scholars and fans of Faulkner's work.
- North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic September A blues and roots music festival held in nearby Potts Camp, celebrating the region's musical heritage.
- Water Valley Arts & Music Festival October A small-town celebration featuring local artists and musicians.
- Oxford Christmas Parade December A festive parade through the historic Square, with lights and community spirit.
Landmarks with a story
- St. Peter's Episcopal Church A historic church founded in the 1850s, with beautiful stained glass and a cemetery.
- Lafayette County Courthouse A historic courthouse on the Square, built in 1872, with a distinctive clock tower.
- Burns-Belfry Museum Housed in a former African American church, it preserves local black history and culture.
- Oxford Cemetery The final resting place of William Faulkner and many other notable locals.
- Cedar Oaks An antebellum home dating to 1859, now a bed and breakfast, with Greek Revival architecture.
- Water Valley Railroad Depot A restored depot from the railroad era, now a museum and community space.
Food traditions
- Boiled peanuts A Southern roadside snack, especially popular in summer, often sold from stands.
- Fried green tomatoes A classic Southern appetizer, tangy and crispy, served in many local restaurants.
- Mississippi mud pie A rich chocolate dessert with a crumbly crust, a regional favorite.
- Pimento cheese sandwiches A staple at gatherings and tailgates, often served on white bread.
- Black-eyed peas on New Year's Day A tradition for good luck, often cooked with ham hock.
Music and arts
- Hill Country blues A distinctive, hypnotic blues style rooted in North Mississippi, with artists like R.L. Burnside.
- Literary tradition From Faulkner to contemporary writers, Oxford has a thriving literary community.
- Ole Miss marching band The 'Pride of the South' performs at football games and campus events.
- Local art galleries The Square hosts several galleries featuring regional artists.
A little history
- 1848 Oxford founded as county seat
- 1864 Union troops burned much of Oxford during the Civil War
- 1848 University of Mississippi opened its doors
- 1962 Integration riot at Ole Miss, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement
- 1949 William Faulkner awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature
Rivalries
- Ole Miss vs Mississippi State The Egg Bowl is a fierce annual football rivalry.
- Ole Miss vs LSU A heated SEC matchup with passionate fans.
- Ole Miss vs Alabama Historic games often decided by a play or two.
- Oxford vs Starkville Friendly rivalry between the two college towns.
- Game day Grove tailgating
- Game day Walk of Champions
- Outdoors Paddling the Yocona River
- Outdoors Fishing at Sardis Lake
- With kids Story time at Square Books
- With kids Ole Miss Dairy Bar ice cream
Locals speak with a relaxed Southern drawl, using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' The accent is classic Mississippi, with a warm, unhurried pace.
Only here
- The Grove tailgating with chandeliers, fine china, and full-service tents.
- The Double Decker bus – a real London bus used as a campus shuttle.
- Faulkner's ghost is said to haunt Rowan Oak.
- The fictional Yoknapatawpha County, based on Lafayette County.
New here? A few tips
- Expect hot, humid summers and mild winters; pack accordingly.
- Learn the 'Hotty Toddy' cheer before game days – it's a local greeting.
- Traffic around the Square and Ole Miss campus can be heavy on football Saturdays; plan ahead.
- Try sweet tea and fried catfish at local spots – they're staples.
- Explore the small towns like Water Valley and Batesville for a taste of local life.
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Nearby
Every areaBatesvilleMississippiWhere the Delta's soul runs deepNew AlbanyMississippiWhere the hills hold stories.PontotocMississippiWhere the sweet potatoes growGrenadaMississippiCatfish and quiet mornings by the lake.TupeloMississippiWhere the music began and the hills singClarksdaleMississippiHome of the blues and the crossroadsMemphisTennesseeWhere the river sings and the barbecue smokesCorinthMississippiWhere the rails meet the pines
Oxford, MS. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.