Oxford welcomes the holidays with a festival

Santa+Claus+was+available+for+pictures+and+wish+lists+last+year.+He+will+be+back+this+year%2C+at+the+Oxford+Community+Arts+Center+from+noon+to+2+p.m.%3B+when+he+arrives+at+the+park+pavilion+on+a+fire+truck+at+6%3A30+p.m.%3B+and+for+more+photos+and+lap+sitting+from+6%3A30+p.m.+to+8+p.m.%2C+on+his+throne+in+the+Enjoy+Oxford+office%2C+14+W.+Park+Place%2C+suite+C.+Photo+provided+by+Enjoy+Oxford.%26nbsp%3B

Ron Hautau

Santa Claus was available for pictures and wish lists last year. He will be back this year, at the Oxford Community Arts Center from noon to 2 p.m.; when he arrives at the park pavilion on a fire truck at 6:30 p.m.; and for more photos and lap sitting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on his throne in the Enjoy Oxford office, 14 W. Park Place, suite C. Photo provided by Enjoy Oxford. 

By Mallory Hackett

Oxford will celebrate the holiday season Saturday, Dec. 7, with an all-day festival uptown. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 9 p.m.

The event is entirely free and will start at the Oxford Community Arts Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then move to Memorial Park uptown from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A lineup of the activities includes:

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Talawanda Band Boosters craft market will take place at the community arts center, 10 S. College Ave. Browse through handmade trinkets that make the perfect gift this holiday season.

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. An assortment of local musicians will play each hour at the arts center. The performers will be announced soon on Enjoy Oxford’s website.

noon – 2 p.m. Snap a picture with Santa Claus when he arrives at the arts center to visit!

noon – 3 p.m. Create an array of holiday crafts and enjoy activities at Kids Corner located at the arts center.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Get down to more live music and enjoy appearances from Miami University student groups in the uptown park. A new performer will take the stage every 20 minutes. 

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Bundle up and zip around the outdoor skating rink that will be set up in the park.

Patrons at last year’s holiday festival, seen here, enjoyed riding through uptown Oxford in horse-drawn carriages. The carriages will be back this year. Photo provided by Enjoy Oxford

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Catch a ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages that will be doing rounds around the uptown streets.

6:30 p.m. Welcome Santa back as he arrives by fire truck to assist the mayor in lighting up Oxford’s holiday lights from the pavilion stage in the park. 

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pop into the Enjoy Oxford office, located at 14 W. Park Place, Suite C, to get a picture with Santa on his holiday throne.