A flyer warning of parking regulations for the Double Decker Arts Festival is seen on a vehicle on the Square in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, April 23, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
The 19th Annual Double Decker Arts Festival this Friday and Saturday is expected to bring in 50,000 visitors to the Square over two days. Therefore, the city of Oxford is bracing for heavy traffic and limited parking options close to the center of town.
Madison Featherston, Double Decker event coordinator, said that with the high volume of people who will be attending, the chance of finding parking near the Square is going to be very slim.
The Oxford Downtown Parking Advisory Commission’s Mary Allyn Hedges spoke about the parking limitations.
“All parking on the Square will be closed the day of the festival as well as the north and south city lots,” Hedges said.
Thomas Sharpe, another member of the Oxford Downtown Parking Advisory Commission, also commented on the lack of parking.
“The Double Decker Arts Festival brings a lot of people to Oxford, and of course, there is not sufficient parking around the Square to accommodate all those attending,” Sharpe said.
He also said parking around the Square will have the same three hour limit in premium parking areas. These will be marked by signs. There will be no limit in off street lots.
Because of the lack of parking in downtown Oxford, Featherston said there are other options offsite that should be able to accommodate the extra traffic. The Mississippi Department of Transportation lot, or MDOT lot, at the intersection of Highway 6 and Old Taylor Road will provide a shuttle to downtown Oxford at a fee of $5.
“We would suggest that visitors use the MDOT lot on campus on Old Taylor where we will have a shuttle service from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.,” Featherston said. “I highly doubt that the MDOT lot will fill up. The reason it’s being used is because of the large size.”
Sharpe noted that Visit Oxford and the University of Mississippi collaborated to provide the offsite overflow parking.
No public lots will be closed on Friday. However, North Lamar will be closed to accommodate the stage for musical performances.
Handicapped parking spaces are available in the north parking lot behind the University Club and can be accessed from Jefferson Avenue.
