Music and Movies in the Park Brings Oxford Residents Together

A good way to spend the summer in Oxford is a movie night in Avent Park.

Amidst lighting bugs and Mississippi heat, Oxford offers a family friendly experience every Friday night this summer.

Music and Movies in the Park have taken place every summer since 2010 and is held in Avent Park, boasting a good time for the entire family.

From local bands to popular PG movies, this event is put on by the Oxford Park Commission with a central goal of providing free entertainment everyone can enjoy.

Oxford Parks Commission Instructional Program Staff Mike Young said, “We get a lot of families during the summer who attend this event. We want to give them a night of free entertainment that we know all ages will enjoy.”

Music starts at 7:00 p.m. sharp and movies shortly follow starting around 8:00 p.m., just before it starts to get dark. Both music and movies are selected based on their broad likeability and ability to appeal to every age.

“A lot of people pack a picnic or bring dinner and a cooler. People will come eat dinner during the band and then by the time they’re done, they are able to watch the movie with their family,” Young said.

Local bands such as Pilot of the Clouds and Damien Wash are set to play this summer. Movies such as Big Hero 6 and Annie were shown in June, and there are two more family films set to show in July.

Friday, July 8, was the third Music and Movies in the park event held this summer with Hotel Transylvania as the featured local band that night.

Each week a projector is set up in the park as well as a large inflatable screen that allows guests to sit on the hillside and view the movie from above

“Avent Park is built on a slope that allows us to have a great seating area for people wanting to see the movie. We were also able to strategically position the projector near the playground for kids wanting to do both” Young said.

With their target audience being families, Young says the event has grown immensely over the past six summers.

“I always make time to attend Music and Movies in the Park. I really believe it has brought together all facets of the community and all ages. It’s free and fun for every age,” said Oxford resident Betsey Webster.

Shelby Warner is a Journalism student enrolled at Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She can be reached at slwarner@go.olemiss.edu.