During the summer months when the vast majority of Miami University students leave Oxford, the town still finds ways to stay lively. Two series of free events have become summertime staples, allowing residents to enjoy themselves alongside music, games and community.
Each Thursday, beginning May 29 and running through Aug. 14, the Uptown Music Series brings a new musical act each week for performances. In addition, Red Brick Fridays, occurring July 18, Aug. 1 and Aug. 29, are themed nights providing entertainment for all ages.
Both series are organized by Enjoy Oxford, the city’s primary organization focused on tourism and development. A nonprofit 501C, the group puts on many events throughout each year, with the Uptown Music Series and Red Brick Fridays being among the most well-known and popular.
Kim Daggy, executive director of Enjoy Oxford, says events like these are crucial to the town during the less-populated summer.
“They were held, as in many communities, to bring people to town during a slower period of time when our population shifts,” Daggy says. “Let’s make a bigger weekend and take that opportunity for more staycations and quick trips, because Ohio is very drivable for many cities.”
The two series are held in and around Oxford’s uptown park, utilizing the stage for music performances and the various walkways for booths, inflatables, food trucks and pop-up shops. In addition, roads are closed around the area to provide a more walkable environment.
Performances for the Uptown Music Series, now entering its 39th year, begin 7 p.m. each Thursday, and feature a wide range of styles, genres and influences. Daggy says this variety is key to the series’ success.
“We tend to focus more on family-friendly band performances, and we try to apply to all music tastes and genres and not just anything in particular,” Daggy says. “But we do have our Oxford favorites. We wouldn’t be Oxford without some of our own talented musicians.”
These homegrown talents include John Kogge & The Lonesome Strangers, playing July 10, and Lisa Biales, performing July 29, both of whom have close ties to Oxford. Other local groups include the Miami University Steel Band, performing June 12, and the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra, performing June 26.
Attendees can also expect genres like old-school R&B with Motown Sounds of Touch May 29, hip-hop and rock with the dual billing of Vu Skeen and Nextfazze for a Juneteenth celebration June 19 and grunge with White Lighter closing out the series Aug. 14.
Oxford resident Amy Clay loves attending these concerts and sees them as an important part of Oxford’s identity.
“I view them as such wonderful community events where there’s all ages and all kinds of people,” Clay says. “I love any kind of community building like that, and shutting down the roads is great.”
Meanwhile, Red Brick Fridays, now in its sixth iteration, offers more of a street fair environment, with a number of booths set up around uptown, usually centered around a specific theme or topic. July 18 is a “Beach Staycation,” while Aug. 1 is titled “Books on the Bricks” and Aug. 29 is all about “Streets & Eats.”
Unlike the Uptown Music Series, where only traffic through the uptown park is blocked, Main Street (and High Street on Aug. 29) is closed off entirely through Uptown, offering more space to walk around. This goes hand-in-hand with Oxford’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), an initiative which began in 2020 and allows open carry of alcoholic beverages in specialized containers.
Since its introduction, the DORA has slightly changed how residents interact with these events, according to Daggy.
“I think for adults you think of backyard barbecues, picnics, things like that, just to sit back, relax, visit with your community,” Daggy says. “And they definitely stay longer and linger. DORA goes until 11 p.m., concerts ends at 9:30 p.m.”
The two series show the dedication Oxford’s residents have to the town and each other, as well as how much there is to do even when Miami is out of season. They also serve to draw people into town who may not be familiar with it otherwise.
“We’re used to having people from all over the world being in a place where academics happens,” Daggy says. “We can draw people from many locations to get a slower, relaxed pace in a town that’s breathtakingly beautiful.”
