Tourism officials are lauding Double Decker weekend as a tremendous success for the city of Oxford.
Visit Oxford executive director Kinney Ferris said Thursday on Mornings with Richard Cross that the 29th edition of the arts festival welcomed 111,700 visitors to the college town’s square. Festival-goers weathered a literal storm on Friday and enjoyed a warm spring Saturday, rife with art vendors selling unique crafts, restaurants and food trucks offering some of the South’s finest cuisine, and live music from a myriad of bands.
But Double Decker was not the only attraction. Ferris aptly noted that Ole Miss hosted a top-20 baseball series, that Oxford High School’s baseball team hosted a playoff game, and that roughly 110 teams were competing at mTrade Park — the city’s premier youth sports complex.
On Saturday alone, Oxford welcomed an estimated 228,000 visitors – nearly eight times its year-round population of just under 30,000.
“Just on Saturday, we had two games against Georgia in baseball. We had the Chargers’ playoff game over at Oxford High School. We had Meet the Rebels that morning. And then mTrade (Park) had 110 baseball teams,” Ferris said.
The city of Oxford has elevated to prominence as one of Mississippi’s top tourism sites, and not just due to Ole Miss athletics. While the Rebels’ football team alone has a major economic impact on the small town — a $325 million one in 2024, to be exact — it’s not the only driver of foot traffic.
Events like Double Decker, the Oxford Film Festival, Holly Jolly Holidays and Christmas Parade, and various youth sports tournaments, along with other events, have drawn in the masses. Ferris added that it helps that Oxford boasts nice and new facilities, along with a renowned restaurant and bar scene.
“We have the facilities. We have these amazing fields. We have these amazing courts,” Ferris said. “Also, we have what people want when they go visit a place. We have wonderful dining, great hotels, a really fun atmosphere for families, and a really fun atmosphere for really anybody.”
