Holiday Festival
The uptown Pavilion is crowned with a wreath & holly, twinkle lights are adorned on the trees lining either side of High Street, which can only mean one thing: the holiday season is upon us and winter is around the corner in Oxford, Ohio!
And with winter comes our town’s beloved Holiday Festival. This year the event is on Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 2023. This day-long event starts at the Oxford Community Arts Center and then makes its way further up the street to the park. You’ll enjoy live performances, activities for kids, carriage rides for the whole family, hot chocolate, and more. Oh, and the big man in red is obviously going to be making one or two camera-ready appearances.
The full lineup for the 2023 Oxford Holiday Festival and more is below.
‘Twas the Night Before Holiday Fest Event
Friday, Dec. 1st, 2023
Are you ready for all of the holiday fun to begin? Oxford is kicking December off nice and early to get the spirits up. On Friday, December 1st, the night before Holiday Fest, ‘Twas the Night Before Business Holiday Walk will take place in Uptown Park! Here, you can get a start on all of your holiday shopping while supporting our local businesses. Holiday shopping will take place from 5-8 PM.
Oxford Community Arts Center Events
Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 2023
The fun starts at the OCAC (10 S. College Avenue)! Please check back later for a full itinerary of activities!
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Talawanda Band Boosters Artisan Craft Market in the Brant Ballroom, where you can choose from a variety of locally made goods and crafts, perfect for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts.
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Santa visits outside on the porch
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Kids activities in the north parlor
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Dance performances by Flowing Grace School of Dance
Uptown Park Events
Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 2023
After a busy afternoon at the OCAC, head up the street to the Uptown Parks where the festival will pick right back up from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
4:30 PM – 5:15 PM Live entertainment begins featuring the Oxford Community Band, Oxford Music Academy, and performances by talented Miami University student groups and others! Check them out on the pavilion stage. Full schedule coming soon!
4:30 PM – 8:30 PM Mechanical Bull- but wait it’s actually Reindeer? Crazy! Mechanical Snowboarding- whoa! (We hope for a little snow, but this makes it optional!) Whatever the temperature, this guarantees to be really fun. Make sure to have your camera ready for when anyone gives it a try. And too much sugar for the sugar plums? No problem with the Snowman Bounce House fueled by the sugar rush (you’re welcome, parents, teehee).
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Horse-drawn carriage rides around the uptown streets.
5:30 PM Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa’s back and this time he’s arriving by carriage! He’ll pull up on High Street right by the pavilion. He’ll then get on stage to join the Mayor as they flip the switch to turn on all the holiday lights up and down the street!
5:30 PM Let your eyes be amazed by the wonderful sights of Light Up Oxford, as all the wonderful holiday lighting will be turned on! This truly is the cherry on top to make Uptown feel like it is right out of a holiday movie scene.
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Complete your night by taking a picture with Santa. Line up outside the Enjoy Oxford office (14 W. Park Place, Suite C). You’ll then enter the Fey Building foyer, and walk up, where you’ll see Santa sitting on a mighty holiday throne, looking picture-perfect.
Community Chanukah Celebration 2023
In honor of Chanukah 2023, there will be a beautiful menorah in Martin Luther King Park uptown. The menorah will be lit to celebrate each day! Come see it for yourself, and celebrate with friends and family.
