October in Oxford: Ole Miss homecoming Oct. 16-17, the city trunk-or-treat Oct. 22, Field Fest Oct. 24, the Witches Ride Oct. 26 and Auburn on Oct. 31.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is rebuilt at the start of each month. Events come from Visit Oxford’s events calendar and the organizers’ own pages; football times are from Ole Miss Athletics. Times are Central. Confirm with the organizer before you go.

October is homecoming month in Oxford, with Ole Miss hosting Missouri on Oct. 17 and Auburn on Halloween, plus a run of free Halloween events for kids: the Park Commission’s glow party, the city’s trunk-or-treat at mTrade Park and Hallowed Hopewell. For this weekend only, see things to do this weekend.

Plan ahead

Halloween for kids

  • OPC Halloween Black Out Glow Party, 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, Oxford Activity Center, 400 Price St. Free, no registration; wear white or neon. Details
  • City of Oxford Trunk or Treat, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, mTrade Park, 4259 Old Sardis Road. Details
  • Hallowed Hopewell, 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, Camp Hopewell, 24 County Road 231. Free trick-or-treating through decorated cabins, with First Presbyterian Church. Details
  • Oxford Witches Ride, Monday, Oct. 26, from Midtown Shopping Center: registration 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., ride at 6:15 p.m., benefiting The Pantry. Details

More in our trick-or-treat hours guide and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.

Ole Miss homecoming and home games

Parking, shuttles, Grove rules and what to bring are in our Ole Miss homecoming guide.

  • Homecoming parade, 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Details
  • Football vs. Missouri (homecoming), 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
  • Football vs. Auburn, Saturday, Oct. 31. Ole Miss lists an early kickoff window, 11 a.m. to noon; the exact time is set by the TV networks.
  • Soccer: vs. Missouri, Thursday, Oct. 15, and vs. Oklahoma, Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
  • Volleyball: vs. Georgia, Friday, Oct. 16; South Carolina, Sunday, Oct. 18; Mississippi State, Friday, Oct. 30, at the Gillom Sports Center.

Music, books and the stage

  • Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, 6 p.m. Thursdays: Isaac Fitzgerald on Oct. 15 and Micaiah Johnson on Oct. 29 at the Powerhouse, 413 S. 14th St.; Ariel Lawton on Oct. 22 at the Hendricks Building in Water Valley.
  • UM Glee Concert, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Oxford High School. Free.
  • “Clue,” the play, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, Ford Center.
  • Dover Quartet, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, Ford Center.
  • Bang Up Story Time, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the Lyric: eight stories by Oxford writers, read by local actors.
  • “The Chancellor, the Robert Khayat Story,” documentary premiere and a performance by Marty Stuart, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Ford Center. Free, but tickets are required from the Ford Center box office.
  • Off Square Books readings: Hernan Diaz on Oct. 13, Matt Kessler on Oct. 21, and Jere Nash and Andy Taggart on Oct. 28.
  • Live music most nights at the Lyric, 1006 Van Buren Ave.; Proud Larry’s, 211 S. Lamar Blvd.; and Rhythm & Rye, 305 E. Jackson Ave. Visit Oxford’s calendar lists each show.

Outdoors and family

  • Third Thursday Music in the Park, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Details
  • Field Fest 5K Trail Run and one-mile fun run, Saturday, Oct. 24, at the University of Mississippi Field Station, 15 County Road 202 near Abbeville, about 10 miles northeast of Oxford, with food trucks, music and science activities. Details
  • “This Fickle Vessel,” an exhibition at Gallery 130 at Ole Miss, runs into November.

Before you go

Oxford’s big annual events

Each has its own page, updated every year at the same address: Oxford Film Festival (March), Oxford Conference for the Book (spring), Double Decker Arts Festival (April) and the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference (July).

Frequently asked questions

When is Ole Miss homecoming 2026?

Ole Miss plays Missouri in the homecoming game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Visit Oxford lists the homecoming parade at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16.

When is the City of Oxford trunk-or-treat?

5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at mTrade Park, 4259 Old Sardis Road.

What is there to do in Oxford on Halloween 2026?

Ole Miss hosts Auburn at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, with kickoff set for the early window, 11 a.m. to noon, and live music is booked at the Lyric and Rhythm & Rye that day.

When is Thacker Mountain Radio Hour in October 2026?

Visit Oxford lists Thacker Mountain Radio Hour shows at 6 p.m. Thursdays this month: Oct. 15 and Oct. 29 at the Powerhouse in Oxford and Oct. 22 in Water Valley. Check the organizer for admission.