Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Oxford
Christmas in Oxford happens around the Square. A canopy of lights over it dates to the 1960s, a Christmas parade rolls past it, and one Oxford writer remembers lights that ran from the courthouse clock like the spokes of a wagon wheel.
2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
We are confirming this season's Christmas events in Oxford with every host. Subscribe and we'll email you the day they are released.
Free. One email a week with new events in Oxford. Unsubscribe anytime.
Already confirmed in Oxford
1 events confirmed so far; more are coming.
Holiday Village
When: Dec 4 to 16; Mrs. Claus story time Dec 5, Santa visit Dec 12
Where: Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oxford
Cost: Free
The story of Christmas in Oxford
How Oxford celebrates
The Square has been Oxford's hub since 1837, and at Christmas it is wrapped in lights. City research dates the Canopy of Lights over the Square to the 1960s, when it had large orange, green, red and blue bulbs. After a break, Mayor Robyn Tannehill brought it back in 2018 after seeing old holiday photos, and today it uses white LEDs. A Christmas parade, a Holiday Open House with Santa visits, and Holly Jolly Holidays, which began in 2020, add to the season. One longtime resident remembers store windows at Neilson's that rivaled big-city department stores.
Christmas last year in Oxford
The 2025 Oxford Christmas Parade was held on Monday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m. on the Historical Downtown Square, with a 12 Days of Christmas theme. Floats and performances brought the carol to life for families gathered around the Square. The Canopy of Lights has been turned on early in recent years, since 2020, so University of Mississippi students can enjoy the Square before heading home for Thanksgiving.
Fun facts about Christmas in Oxford
Holiday lights on the downtown water tower began in 1994, ended in 2009 because the tower needed repairs, and returned in 2019 after 10 years. In 2021, the parade limited entries to 80, allowed only one Santa on the final float, and welcomed only the Oxford Police Department's Mounted Patrol horses. In 2023, the Ford Center's Holiday Village had gingerbread houses made by the community, a miniature village with a working train, a Lego house and a mailbox for Santa. Oxford's Peppermint Trail also began in 2023.
Trains and Christmas near Oxford
Train fans in Oxford can start at the Ford Center's Holiday Village, which in 2023 featured a miniature village with a working train. For real railroad history, Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum is a short drive away, and its centerpiece is the cracked, battered bell from the train driven by Casey Jones. Farther away, the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center shows how two railroads made Corinth a prize, and the Martin and Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum in Cleveland has Mississippi's largest O-gauge layout.
- Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum: A small depot museum with the famous bell from Casey Jones's train, the closest railroad stop to Oxford.
- Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center: A National Park Service center with interactive exhibits on how two railroads made Corinth a Civil War prize.
- Martin and Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum: A free museum with the largest O-gauge model railroad in Mississippi and a 1941 caboose to visit.
Traditions today
- Canopy of Lights: Lights stretched over the Oxford Square, a tradition dating to the 1960s that returned in 2018.
- Oxford Christmas Parade: A nighttime parade on the Square with a new theme each year, such as 12 Days of Christmas in 2025.
- Holiday Open House on the Square: Shops open with music, cookies, hot cocoa, kids' crafts and visits with Santa.
- Holly Jolly Holidays: A winter festival that began in 2020, with ice skating, a tree lighting, Santa visits and the Peppermint Trail.
- Holiday Village at the Ford Center: Community gingerbread houses, a miniature village with a working train and a mailbox for Santa.
- Walk of Lights at mTrade Park: A newer light display with a tunnel of lights and displays that honor Oxford's history.
A fact for kids
Oxford's Canopy of Lights hangs over the whole Square, and once upon a time the lights on the courthouse looked like the spokes of a giant wagon wheel.
Questions about Christmas in Oxford
What is the Canopy of Lights in Oxford, Mississippi?
The Canopy of Lights is a holiday display of lights strung over the Oxford Square. City research dates it to the 1960s, when it used large orange, green, red and blue bulbs. It returned in 2018 after a break, and it now uses white LEDs.
Who brought back the Canopy of Lights?
Mayor Robyn Tannehill proposed bringing it back after seeing old Christmas-time photos of the Square. The canopy returned in 2018 after an absence. Today it uses white LEDs instead of the large orange, green, red and blue bulbs of the 1960s, a change kids can spot when they look at old photos of the Square.
Why does Oxford turn on its holiday lights so early?
Since 2020, Oxford has turned on its holiday lights earlier than the old Thanksgiving timing. Mayor Robyn Tannehill said the earlier date lets University of Mississippi students enjoy the Square before they go home for Thanksgiving. In 2022, the lighting event was on November 8 with live music, a drumline and games for kids.
Who puts up the Canopy of Lights in Oxford?
In 2019, the Buildings and Grounds Department, the Oxford Fire Department and Oxford Utilities installed the canopy together, the week before the SEC Nation show and an Ole Miss football game. City crews have also started stringing the lights weeks ahead of the lighting event, so the Square is ready.
Has the Oxford Christmas parade always run every year?
We did not find the year the parade began. It was held in 2019, canceled in 2020 and returned in 2021. In 2025, the parade took place on December 1 at 6:30 p.m. on the Historical Downtown Square, with a 12 Days of Christmas theme, so families can plan around an evening start.
What was the Oxford Christmas parade like last year?
The 2025 parade was held Monday, December 1 at 6:30 p.m. on the Historical Downtown Square, with a 12 Days of Christmas theme. Floats and performances brought the carol to life. Past parades have featured Whoville-themed floats in 2023 and a Christmas Joy theme in 2021.
What are the rules of the Oxford Christmas parade?
In 2021, entries were limited to 80 and fees were waived. Only one Santa was allowed, on the final float. Motorized vehicles not pulling a float were not allowed, and the only horses allowed were the Oxford Police Department's Mounted Patrol. Decorated antique cars could carry pageant winners.
Where does the Oxford Christmas parade go?
In 2021, the route started at 5th Street and University Avenue, moved toward the Square and ended on North Lamar at Price Street. Routes can change from year to year. For this season's route and time, see our Oxford Christmas events guide on this page.
What is Holly Jolly Holidays in Oxford?
Holly Jolly Holidays is Oxford's winter festival, with visits with Santa, ice skating, a tree lighting and the Peppermint Trail. It was in its fourth year in 2023, so it began in 2020. In 2024, the ice rink moved to mTrade Park, which became the central holiday hub.
What is the Peppermint Trail in Oxford?
The Peppermint Trail began in 2023 and ran from November 18 to January 7 that year. Peppermint markers on sidewalks led families to holiday treats like coffee and sweets around town. Kids can follow the markers like a scavenger hunt, which makes shopping around the Square easier.
What is the Walk of Lights at mTrade Park?
It is a light display in the northwest fields of mTrade Park that was announced in 2024 for November 23 to January 5. It included a tunnel of lights, hot chocolate and s'mores kits, with displays such as the Double Decker Bus and the Oxford skyline. Check the current season before going.
Did Oxford really light up its water tower for Christmas?
Yes. Holiday lights on the downtown water tower began in 1994, according to old photos and residents' memories. The city ended the tradition in 2009 because the tower needed many repairs. The lights returned in 2019 for the first time in 10 years.
What did Christmas on the Square look like in the past?
One longtime resident remembered riding to Rivers Hill to see Christmas lights on the Square, which ran from the courthouse clock to the buildings around it like the spokes of a wagon wheel. Store windows at Neilson's, designed by Olivia Lewis, were also a holiday highlight. Local girls held formal parties at the Community House.
What is the Holiday Village at the Ford Center?
In 2023, the Ford Center's Holiday Village displayed gingerbread houses made by community members and civic groups. It also had a miniature village with a working train, a Lego house and a mailbox for Santa. It is a cozy indoor stop for families on cold days.
When is the Shop Oxford Holiday Open House?
In 2023 it was held on Sunday, November 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Square, with music, shopping, cookies, hot cocoa, kids' crafts and visits with Santa. Dates change each year, so see our Oxford Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
How can I explain the Canopy of Lights to my kids?
Tell them the whole Square wears a roof made of lights. Long ago it had big orange, green, red and blue bulbs, and today the lights are white. Kids can count the strands, look for the courthouse in the middle and imagine the old lights spreading out like wagon wheel spokes.
Where can kids see trains near Oxford at Christmas?
The Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum is the nearest railroad museum and shows the cracked bell from Casey Jones's train. In 2023, the Ford Center's Holiday Village also had a miniature village with a working train. Check each museum's hours first, and see our Oxford Christmas events guide on this page for seasonal events.
Is there a model train display near Oxford, Mississippi?
Yes. The Martin and Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum in Cleveland has a 71-by-17-foot O-gauge layout, the largest in Mississippi, plus a 1941 Illinois Central caboose that visitors can enter. It is free and run by the city. It is a longer drive from Oxford, so plan a day trip.
Is there a Christmas parade in Oxford this year?
Oxford holds a Christmas parade each year on the Square, and in 2025 it was on December 1 at 6:30 p.m. with a 12 Days of Christmas theme. For this season's confirmed date, time and route, see our Oxford Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Oxford?
The Canopy of Lights over the Oxford Square is the classic place. Walk of Lights at mTrade Park added a tunnel of lights and displays honoring Oxford's history. Our Oxford Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates and times.
Sources
- Oxford's Canopy of Lights will be turned on Nov. 8, Hotty Toddy
- Canopy of Lights returns to Oxford Downtown Square, The Oxford Eagle
- Oxford Christmas Parade returning this year, The Oxford Eagle
- 2025 Oxford Christmas Parade, Visit Oxford MS
- Holiday Season is Around the Corner and Oxford is Ready to Celebrate, Hotty Toddy
- Oxford's Holly Jolly Holidays: A Season of Magic and Memories, Good Grit
- Christmas in Oxford, past and present, The Oxford Eagle
- Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, Rally Takes the Train
- Martin and Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum, Rally Takes the Train