Check Out What’s Happening in Oxford, MS

Courtesy of the Chicory Market

Oxford, MS, is a great place to live for many reasons – caring neighbors, outstanding sense of community, new developments, quality education, and so much more. Looking to keep up with the latest in the region? Here is a brief look at what’s happening in Oxford and Lafayette County.

Find Local Food (and Community) Here

The owners of Chicory Market, a full-service grocery store with a low-waste kitchen, built upon a community staple that’s existed since the 1990s – first as a produce stand, then as a farmers market.

“It’s a community space where people have always come to get local food,” says co-owner John Martin. “When we (Martin and his wife, Kate Bishop) took it over in 2017, we wanted to take it to the next level.”

So, they opened a kitchen, which allowed the market to support local farmers in a sustainable and significant way by buying more and reducing waste. “It’s a big way to not only sustain our business, but the businesses that are connected within the market,” Martin says.

Chicory Market partners with close to 100 local farmers and food makers, including some that operate within the store. For example, Johnston Hill Creamery runs the market’s fine cheese department, while Home Place Pastures supplies the butcher counter.

“We’ve been able to create this seamless experience within the market that helps other businesses thrive,” Martin says. “All these local businesses were operating in their own silos, which required a consumer to go out of their way to shop local. Now, we can offer the convenience of a one-stop shop.”

The kitchen, which prepares fresh sandwiches, entrees, salads and baked goods, utilizes the local ingredients offered throughout the market to provide customers with healthy, fresh meals. It also serves as a space for events, cooking classes and food tasting pop-ups.

“A place like Chicory Market is about community,” Martin says. “Customers, local farmers, food makers and our staff come together, and it makes for a much more connected experience.”

Supporting the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

The University of Mississippi is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs, embracing the national trend toward increased emphasis on entrepreneurship education within business programs.

The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, located on the Ole Miss campus, was founded in 2014. In its first decade, the center has assisted students in launching over 65 businesses. The center operates out of Holman Hall and features an incubator where up to 12 student entrepreneur teams have spaces to work on their startup ideas and products.

“We support entrepreneurs and want to keep as many of them as possible in Mississippi once they graduate,” says Clay Dibrell, co-director for the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “We also want to make Oxford similar to a city like Austin, Texas, with Oxford growing its own reputation for having a major entrepreneurial focus.”

Dibrell says the center hosts several entrepreneur competitions every year, with more than $350,000 in prizes and $90,000 in scholarships awarded over the years.

In 2023 alone, the center awarded $130,000 to winning individuals and teams.“Recent prizes have been awarded to startups including Rumie and SellVNTG and to Julien Bourgeois, a freshman computer science student at Ole Miss. Bourgeois created an Apple Watch motion sensor app called Automatic: Basketball Trainer that helps players get better at basketball. The app allows users to practice their basketball shots and get instant feedback on their Apple Watch, with metrics on release angles, shot forces, shots taken during a workout, shots made during a workout, shots made in a row, dribbling skills and more.

“The importance of entrepreneurship is getting more and more recognized these days all over the country,” Dibrell says. “We want the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Ole Miss to be a major player.”

Coming Soon: An RV Park and Water Resort

Opening in 2025, Roundabout Oxford RV & Water Resort is being billed as a fun place “where families, friends and Ole Miss fans can come together to enjoy nature, entertainment and fellowship.” The $22 million, 85 acre development is off Highway 6 and 3 miles west of Oxford’s city limits.

Accommodations will include 150 RV spots and 20 luxury cottages. Other attractions include a swimming pool, splash pad and lazy river for water enthusiasts. Guests can also enjoy fishing in the ponds, working out in the fitness center, or playing pickleball, basketball, mini golf and more.

The resort also features a dog park, walking trails and a bonfire area. Developers have also taken steps to minimize environmental impact during construction by preserving much of the surrounding landscape, including existing trees, vegetation and habitats.

Get Moving With These Events

The Dragon Fly Sprint Triathlon will celebrate its 35th anniversary in September 2025 as athletes of all ages compete in a half-mile swim, 18 mile bike ride and 4 mile trail run. Activities take place in Sardis at Cypress Point on the shore of Lower Lake.

Lace up your shoes and join the fun every spring as part of the annual Double Decker Spring Run. The 10K kicks off at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 7:45 a.m., with a Kids Fun Run rounding out the morning at 9 a.m. All races start on North Lamar Boulevard next to the Oxford YMCA.

Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo is a noncompetitive bicycle ride that takes you through scenic open roads. Choose your challenge with distances of 20, 45, 62, or 75 miles. Conquer the longer routes and earn special climb badges to commemorate the achievement.