University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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For the younger crowd, a children ' s Square Fair was held on the lawn of the First Presbyterian Church with a packed schedule of activities such as face painting, magic shows and storytelling. With smiles and laughs from onlookers, children were encouraged to indulge their creativity with a pet show. From the conventional pets of cats and dogs to the more un- usual pets of rabbits and chickens, each pet ' s elaborate cos- tume had been designed in the hopes of winning the prize for best dressed. The Double Decker Festival also consisted of a 5K walk and 10K run through the scenic landscape of Oxford. The route took joggers past historical antebellum homes and through the Ole Miss campus, as well as by Rowan Oak, Wil- liam Faulkner ' s home, before concluding at the Baptist Health Plex. Runners were divided into groups according to age, and prizes were given for first, second, and third place winners. As a whole, the Double Decker Festival is extremely successful in promoting Oxford and the best it has to offer. DOUBLE DECKER IS A TRUE PERSONIFICATION OF THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT CHARACTERIZES OXFORD-THE SMALL TOWN FEEL Ashley Church, a sophomore from Germantown, Tennessee, cited the crowd as a big contributor to that success: Even though it rained almost the whole time, it was great to feel like you were a part of the event. People from all over Oxford as well as University students really came together to show their support for the arts. ABOVE LEFT Three time Grammy award winner MARTY STUART performed on the main stage. ABOVE RIGHT Oxonians board the authentic British bus for a tour of the town during the Double Decker festivities. THE OLE MISS l 7

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eked BY LAYSON LAWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNY ANDERSON The annual festival receives its name from the town ' s authentic double decker bus that was imported from England in 1994 and has been delighting townspeople and tourists ever since. A true personification of the sense of community that characterizes Oxford— the small town feel— is displayed at its finest during the daylong celebra- tion of music, food and the arts. Held on Saturday, April 29, 2006, in the pictur- esque Courthouse Square, the Double Decker Festival fea- tures artwork for sale by one hundred local artists. This portion of the event was sponsored by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. Artwork in a variety of mediums was on dis- play, including pottery, painting, woodwork, photography and ceramics. Local artists also gave interactive demonstra- tions of their techniques. As shoppers browsed through the artwork and lo- cal shops that surround the square, they enjoyed the me- out Iodic sounds of all kinds of musical groups, from regional bluegrass and gospel to country and rock-and-roll. Local musicians such as Sanders Bohlke and Drew Holcomb found appreciative audiences despite the less-than-per- fect weather. With two stages on either side of the historic courthouse, attendees were hard-pressed not to get up and dance. After working up an appetite from shopping and dancing, visitors were irresistibly drawn to the enticing smells and tastes from local vendors. The festival ' s food court, aptly named A Taste of Oxford, included sam- plings of some of what the South, and more specifically Oxford, does best— concoct sumptuous treats to tickle the taste buds. From mouth-watering baked goods from the Bottletree Bakery to delectable fried green tomatoes from Downtown Grill, only the best from local restaurateurs was offered. FROM THE FOOD TO THE ART TO THE ATMOSPHERE, THE OXFORD DOUBLE DECKER FESTIVAL OFFERS SOMETHING TO ENTERTAIN EVERYONE 16 THE OLE MISS

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HEATH STEVENS LOCAL ARTISTS PERFORMED LIVE IN THE UNION UNPLUGGED SERIES AS REBEL RADIO COMMENCED LIVE BROADCASTS. 18 THE OLE MISS