The city of Oxford celebrated America’s 250th birthday with a party that lived up to the occasion.
Oxford Parks and Recreation had the Oxford Civic Center and Liberty Park decked out in red, white, and blue as the 2026 Freedom Festival got underway on July 4, 2026.
PARD events director Pam Harris marked her 30th year guiding the festival and took the lead in introducing everyone at the opening ceremonies following the traditional parade of vehicles.
Girl Scout Troop 20136 raised the American Flag and led the Pledge of Allegiance before the National Anthem was sung by Matthew Pointer.
The Cheaha Winds Community Band provides the patriotic soundtrack for the morning, and were joined by WVOK 97.9’s Steve Stephens for one special mix of music and narration entitled, “I Am the Nation.”
All the favorites of the annual event remained popular, including the tricycle and bicycle races, pet show, petting zoo, swim races, and free carnival games and prizes.
Members of the Oxford High School Mountain Bike team put on a special show of athletic skills, celebrating the special day and the first anniversary of the Oxford Jump Track.
One room of the Oxford Civic Center was filled with the artistry and creativity of local students who formed the themes of the day into many tapestries of colors and emotions.
Cicis Pizza and WVOK co-sponsored The Piezilla Challenge with five teams attempting to finish a 28-inch pizza in an hour. The pizzas took home the trophy for the inaugural race.
The fireworks show brought a loud, booming close to the day as the show increased in size using more than 4,500 shells during the 23-minute extravaganza.
Special thanks go to the Oxford Police Department, Oxford Fire Department, Oxford Health Systems Paramedics, Oxford Public Works, Oxford Marketing Department, and Oxford Parks and Recreation for all their work in providing this safe and special day for the city of Oxford.