Lyric Oxford Honored as Best Stop in Mississippi

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes perform at The Lyric Oxford. / Photo by Danny Klimetz

Huffington Post went from state to state, choosing the one thing each has to offer that you absolutely must hit, and Mississippi’s hot spot is an Oxford classic.

Photo courtesy of The Lyric Oxford

The Lyric Oxford was chosen for Mississippi’s top attraction, specifically listening to the blues at this historic building, now a music venue.

The large brick building at 1006 Van Buren has enjoyed an extremely interesting life since its construction in the late 1800s. The structure was a livery stable owned by William Faulkner’s family in the early 20th century, and during the 1920s, it was converted into a theatre for live performances and named The Lyric Theatre.

With the birth of motion pictures came the evolution of the theatre into Oxford’s first movie theater. The Lyric closed its doors in the 1970s and was abandoned for many years until it was restored and converted into office spaces and a health center in the early 1980s.

In 2007, The Lyric underwent an extensive restoration process and was returned to its original use as a theatre and began operating again in July of 2008. Now, crowds often pack the massive space and line up down the road to see popular live music acts from across the country as well as many local performances.

Beyond the dozens of concerts hosted every year, the Lyric is also a perfect rental space for any group needing an event on the Square, from large galas to a perfect Oxford wedding and reception.

Amelia Camurati is editor-in-chief of HottyToddy.com and can be reached at amelia.camurati@hottytoddy.com.