Holiday Festival
With winter comes the city of Oxford’s beloved Holiday Festival, taking place on Saturday, December 6th, 2025. The festival begins at the Oxford Community Arts Center, and then moves outdoors at Uptown Parks (directions). During this full-day celebration, enjoy live performances, activities for kids and adults, free carriage rides, and cozy garden igloos, and so much more to make your holiday magical. And don’t forget—Santa will be stopping by both locations for memorable photo opportunities!
Take a stroll through Uptown Oxford, OH, where the pavilion is adorned with festive lights and seasonal decorations, and trees line both sides of the path to welcome Santa as he arrives to Light Up the Town.
(Download the 2025 Holiday Fest schedule)
Letters to Santa!
Would you like to have Santa Claus send a personalized letter to your child? Let Oxford Parks and Recreation handle the long-distance North Pole communications. We will make sure Santa receives all requests and mails a personalized note back to your little one(s).
Free Registration: November 1st – December 7th
Holiday Walk Window Decoration Contest
Nov. 29th – Dec. 6th, 2025 | All Day
Getting a start, or finishing up your holiday shopping list? Support a dream while you browse Oxford’s local businesses. Cast your vote in the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, ‘Twas the Night Before Business Holiday Walk, and vote for the business with the best-decorated window! Voting begins on Nov. 29th – Dec. 6th, and prizes will be awarded to the winners on December 8th, 2025.
Holiday Walk voters will be entered to win a gift card of your choice to any chamber member retail store or restaurant that participated: 1st place $100, 2nd place $50, and 3rd place $25.
Oxford Holiday Festival 2025 – Part 1
Saturday, Dec. 6th, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Oxford Holiday Festival begins at the Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) with a visit from Santa, performances, kids crafts, and more!
(9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) Talawanda Band Boosters Artisan Craft Market featuring a variety of locally made crafts and goods perfect for holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.
NEW TIME (Noon – 3:00 PM) North Pole Workshop for Kids
NEW TIME (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) Visits with Santa
(1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) Dance performances by Flowing Grace School of Dance
Holiday Festival Uptown – Part 2
Saturday, Dec. 6th, 2025 | 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM
After your afternoon visit at the OCAC, take a short walk to the Uptown Oxford Memorial Park where the Holiday Festival will continue with festive outdoor fun. Main Street will be closed during this event.
(4:30 PM – 5:15 PM) Live performance by the Miami University Dance Corps
(4:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
- Mechanical… Reindeer! – How long can you stay on until you’re kicked off?
- Mechanical Snowboarding- Whatever the temperature, here’s your chance to test your skills!
- Horse-drawn carriage rides throughout Oxford’s Historical Uptown District
(4:50 pm – 5:30 pm) Live music performance by the Oxford Community Band.
(5:30 PM) Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa will arrive by carriage on High Street at the Oxford Memorial Park pavilion. Watch as Santa joins the Mayor of Oxford to light up the town on the historic brick streets! Enjoy this magical moment Uptown, only found in your favorite holiday movie scene. If you missed Santa at the first part of Holiday Fest, don’t fret! Take the family for photos with Santa at Enjoy Oxford’s office (14 W. Park Place, Suite C).
(6:00 PM – 8:30 PM) Live music by Natalie Michael & Soul Kin Band.
(Download the 2025 Holiday Festival schedule)
Community Chanukah Celebration
In honor of Chanukah, a beautiful menorah will be set up at Martin Luther King Jr. Park uptown at the beginning of December. The menorah will be lit to celebrate each day beginning December 15th! Come see it for yourself, and celebrate winter holiday fun in Oxford, Ohio.
{More Holiday Cheer in Oxford}
But wait…. there’s more fun to be had this holiday season. Check out these upcoming events to spread the holiday cheer with loved ones. Check out what’s coming to town!
Paint with Santa | Dec. 15th, 6-7pm | You’re Fired!
Your child will LOVE this opportunity to paint with Santa, and the You’re Fired elves! It is absolutely our favorite event of the season. Enjoy some holiday treats and spend quality time chatting with our best friend from the North Pole! Included with your ticket: Kids will paint a Holiday Plate (you can even have Santa add his handprint if you wish!) OR choose 2 Ornaments from a wide variety.
Hueston Woods Hometown Holi-day | Dec. 13th, 9am | Hueston Woods State Park
This year, the park is partnering with the lodge to create an entire day of Hometown Holi-day fun!
Kickstart the morning by having Breakfast with Santa, enjoy festivities all day long, plus enter the gingerbread house competition. Then top the day off with the annual drive-in movies at the beach! *See if you can guess what this year’s two movies will be.
Shademaker’s Holiday Market
The former location of the Whistle Stop, now the Shademakers Garden Center, transforms into an Oxford Fir Stop for the holiday season. Bring the family to pick out the perfect Fraser fir tree at Shademaker’s, ranging from 3′-10′ (large trees sell out fast!). While you’re walking through the selection of trees, take a selfie with the beautiful backdrops of foliage, or with your tree, and share your holiday memories. Once you’ve picked out the perfect fir, warm up inside and shop for locally handmade crafts, indoor plants, and more. Pro tip: Must stop for DIY wreaths!
Oxford Christmas Light Contest by Oxford Music Academy
Let’s make Oxford shine brighter this season! Spread holiday cheer by sharing your favorite Christmas light displays using the form below. Your submissions will be added to our interactive map for everyone in the community to enjoy!
How to enter? Sign up to enter the contest by Dec. 6th, 2025: oxfordmusicacademy.com/oclc
How to vote? Visit the website to vote for your favorite display from Dec. 7 – 27th. Winners will be announced on New Years Day!
First place: $300 Amazon gift card or OMA lesson certificate. Second place: $200 Amazon gift card or OMA lesson certificate. Third place: $100 Amazon gift card or OMA lesson certificate
Special Holiday Lodging
Check in with these local hotels for a special holiday room rate!
 The Elms Hotel | 20% OFF Centrally located Uptown, ideal for shopping and restaurants. 75 S. Main St. Oxford, OH |
 Fairfield Inn & Suites Oxford | 25% OFF Located near campus and campus venues |
 Hueston Woods Lodge | 25% OFF Booking until Dec. 6 Cozy up by the fireplace at this historic lodge for easy access to Hueston Woods State Park’s outdoor activities. 5201 Lodge Rd. College Corner, OH |
