Known as one of the best college gameday towns, Oxford Mississippi sits in northern Mississippi, a quick 80 miles south of Memphis, and is the home of the University of Mississippi, affectionately known as “Ole Miss.” This idyllic college town was built around and for the University, offering vibrant nightlife and culinary scenes, as well as a significant historical presence and several noteworthy festivals.
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Fast Fact: The Great William Faulkner Called Oxford Mississippi Home
In addition to being one of the best gameday towns, Oxford is also the home and inspiration for one of the great American authors. The great Nobel prize-winning author William Faulkner made Oxford, Mississippi his home for over 40 years, owning a beautiful estate south of the Square. The estate, which he named Rowan Oak, still exists as Faulkner left it, and is open year-round for tours. Use this link to Rowan Oak to learn more.
THREE points of interest that make Oxford one of the best college gameday towns:
Ole Miss, gamedays!
On game day this beautiful grove of magnolia trees is overrun with popup tents adorned with chandeliers, endless food and drink buffets, and thousands of people dressed in their Sunday best partying before Ole Miss takes on their rivals. Known as a party experience that should be on every college football fan’s bucket list, gameday at the Grove is a premier tailgating experience and a big reason Oxford is one of the best college gameday towns.
The Square
A short one mile from the Grove, is the Square, the central point in Oxford to experience the town’s amazing culinary scene, bar scene, and large variety of shopping experiences. There’s St Leo for Italian, the South Depot Taco Shop, City Grocery for Southern fare, Ajax Diner if you’re in the mood for fried food, Moe’s BBQ, YaYa’s Frozen Yogurt, and these just scratch the surface for foodies.
You can also try Proud Larry’s for a chill vibe for food and events, Blind Pig for pub style eat and drink, the Growler for craft beer lovers, and The Lyric for concerts and events.
Slightly off the Square, the fun continues with the famous Big Bad Breakfast, Snackbar, and if you’re in the mood for Greek, Volta is right there too.
The list of great food experience opportunities is almost endless, so come prepared to spend your day eating, drinking and shopping on the Square.
Double Decker Arts Festival
Every Spring the Square in Oxford hosts the Double Decker Arts Festival, which is most accurately self-described as a “two day celebration of food, music, and the arts.” This award-winning festival is one of the South’s best; use this link to explore this year’s entertainment offerings at this one-of-a-kind festival.
FIVE Things to Know Before You Go:
- Keep your phone handy for picture taking, celebrity sightings are the norm in the picturesque Oxford and at the University of Mississippi sporting events. A-lister Morgan Freeman frequents Ole Miss basketball games, and sightings of other celebrities like Katy Perry, Vince Vaughn, and James Franco are not unusual.
- If you’re staying for a weekend, which I highly recommend, hotels can be hard to find and/or very expensive on gamedays, so make sure to make your arrangements before you go. You can also try nearby Tupelo, New Albany, or Batesville for overnight accommodation options for your trip.
- In true Southern style, many establishments are closed on Sundays, Mondays, and sometimes Tuesdays, be sure to check online before you go if you have a specific place in mind to eat.
- Many (or most) of the restaurants in town don’t take reservations, especially on the Square, so be prepared to wait on busy game weekends. You can use this link to check the University’s athletic calendar to see what’s going on over your dates.
- The South Campus Rail Trail is a popular 5-mile round trip, mostly shaded, gravel path for walking, running, or biking. It’s a great place to get your steps in and work off some of the calories from the amazing culinary scene you’re sure to enjoy in Oxford!
- Parking can be adventurous in Oxford. Since it is one of the best college gameday towns, a lot of people come in for sporting events. Oxford is doing its best to keep up but be prepared to search.