New Year's Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31. Holly Jolly Holidays runs through Jan. 3, Ole Miss women's basketball plays that day and the Miracle pop-up closes.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Events come from each organizer’s listing on the Visit Oxford events calendar and Visit Oxford’s Holly Jolly Holidays pages. Visit Oxford: 662-232-2477.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, and New Year’s Day is Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. As of Oct. 12, no Oxford restaurant, bar or music venue had announced a New Year’s Eve party, and no public fireworks show was on the calendar. Here is what is confirmed, and we will add parties and dinners as venues post them.

At a glance

  • Holly Jolly Holidays: Walk of Lights and Oxford on Ice at mTrade Park, through Sunday, Jan. 3
  • Ole Miss women’s basketball vs. Oklahoma: Thursday, Dec. 31, SJB Pavilion
  • Miracle pop-up bar: last night Thursday, Dec. 31, Rhythm & Rye
  • Getting home: see getting around Oxford

What is on, Dec. 31

Event When Where
Holly Jolly Holidays: Walk of Lights and Oxford on Ice Through Sunday, Jan. 3 mTrade Park, 4259 Old Sardis Road
Ole Miss women’s basketball vs. Oklahoma Thursday, Dec. 31 SJB Pavilion, 762 All American Drive
Miracle Christmas cocktail bar pop-up Nov. 20 to Dec. 31 Rhythm & Rye Rooftop Tavern, 305 E. Jackson Ave.

Skating into the new year. Holly Jolly Holidays stayed open with extended daytime hours over the New Year’s holiday last season: noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 31 to Jan. 3, with the Walk of Lights opening at 5 p.m. and no entry after 8:30 p.m., according to its 2025 schedule. The 2026 hours are not posted yet.

Miracle, the Christmas cocktail bar pop-up, takes over Rhythm & Rye for the season with twinkling lights, kitschy decor and cocktails in holiday mugs, and its run ends Dec. 31.

Restaurants and bars

The Square is the center of Oxford’s nightlife, Visit Oxford says, and most of the town’s bars and late-night restaurants are within a few blocks of it. None had posted New Year’s Eve menus or parties as of Oct. 12. For venues, see our live music and nightlife guide and date night guide.

Fireworks

No public New Year’s Eve fireworks show was announced as of Oct. 12; Oxford’s public show is on the Fourth of July (see Fourth of July fireworks). Before setting off your own, check the Oxford Code of Ordinances or call City Hall at 662-236-1310; rules inside the city limits can differ from those in the county.

Getting home

  • Visit Oxford lists about a dozen local taxi companies on its transportation page.
  • Parking on the Square is paid until midnight Monday through Saturday, except holidays, according to Visit Oxford’s downtown parking page.
  • More options, including Oxford-University Transit, are on our getting around guide.

New Year’s Day

  • Trash: the city’s 2027 holiday schedule is not out yet. On New Year’s Day 2026 there was no collection, Thursday routes ran a day early and the transfer station was closed, according to the 2026 schedule (PDF). See trash and recycling for updates.
  • Schools: Oxford School District students return Tuesday, Jan. 5, and Lafayette County School District students Wednesday, Jan. 6; see our schools guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do on New Year’s Eve in Oxford, Mississippi?

Holly Jolly Holidays, with the Walk of Lights and the Oxford on Ice rink, runs through Jan. 3 at mTrade Park. Ole Miss women’s basketball hosts Oklahoma on Dec. 31, and the Miracle holiday cocktail pop-up at Rhythm & Rye runs through Dec. 31.

Are there New Year’s Eve fireworks in Oxford?

No public New Year’s Eve fireworks show had been announced as of Oct. 12. Check the city’s fireworks rules before setting off your own.

Is trash picked up on New Year’s Day in Oxford?

The city has not published its 2027 holiday schedule yet. For New Year’s Day 2026, there was no collection on the holiday and Thursday routes ran a day early.