17th Annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival Just Around The Corner

C Spire Wireless Serving as Presenting Sponsor for 2012 Celebration of Music, Food and Arts

Oxford, Miss. (April 24, 2012) – Food, music and the arts will take center stage at the 17th annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival presented by C Spire Wireless on April 27-28, 2012. Taking its name from the town’s authentic double decker bus imported from England in 1994, the festival brings together visitors and residents alike for a celebration of music, food, and the arts held on the picturesque Courthouse Square.

This year’s event will again feature a two-day format that includes a ticketed concert on Friday night featuring music from Charlie Mars, Deertick and Iron and Wine. Saturday activities are free and include art, food and more music, including a jam-packed day of eclectic music on Caterpillar Stage and five local Oxford bands on the Oxford American Magazines’s 20th Anniversary Stage. Presenting sponsor C Spire Wireless also will bring three of its Bright Lights musicians to the stages, including George McConnell, Rocket 88 and Grace Askew. The festival will culminate Saturday evening with a performance by musical legend Mavis Staples.

In addition to music, there are over 150 art vendors from around the region selling creative wares for the anticipated 55,000 festival attendees. Selected by Oxford’s Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, the vendors include potters, glass craftsmen, woodworkers, painters, and self-taught artists working in a variety of mediums.

Attendees will also want to stroll through the “Taste of Oxford” food court featuring a mouth-watering sampling of culinary treats from 22 local restaurateurs. There will be something to satisfy everybody’s palate whether it’s a cup of spicy duck gumbo, a slice of pepperoni pizza, or a chocolate-filled croissant.

The Winchester Children’s Square Fair offers activities for children of all ages. Whether face painting, storytelling, or musical performances, there are many activities to keep children and their parents entertained. The highlight of the afternoon is the Best Dressed Pet Contest when participants, hoping to win the coveted first prize, parade their dogs, cats, rabbits, and even chickens dressed in elaborate costumes.

Saturday activities kick off at 8 a.m. with the Chamber of Commerce 5k walk and 10k run. Winding through the University of Mississippi campus and nearby Oxford neighborhoods, the two courses are fun for both beginner joggers as well as experienced athletes.

“The festival continues to grow each year, and we hope that this year will be the largest celebration ever,” said Festival Director Mary-Kathryn Herrington. “We’ve made some improvements and really stepped up our game this year, and can’t wait to share it with all the people who love this festival.”

Besides providing some of the musical entertainment, C Spire also will debut PERCS Catch, a new augmented reality game app for Android and iPhone smartphones at the festival that allows attendees to scan markers on specially designed signage to unlock the ability to earn extra points that they can redeem for amazing rewards. The free app is available from download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

PERCS is the first and only customer engagement program in the wireless industry and rewards consumers for doing things like personalizing their wireless experience with C Spire, interacting with the company and doing something new with their wireless device.

“We’re excited about supporting a dynamic and entertaining program like the Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival that combines the charm of Oxford with a first-class event that focuses on the region’s best in music, food and the arts,” said Jim Richmond, director of Corporate Communications for C Spire Wireless.

Adding to the reasons to celebrate, the city of Oxford is celebrating 175th anniversary this year, and the festival grounds will be one more place to celebrate Oxford’s history and culture.

The 17th annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival presented by C Spire Wireless will be held on Friday evening, April 27 and all day Saturday April 28, 2012. For an event schedule, go to www.doubledeckerfestival.com. Tickets for Friday night’s concert can be purchased from the Double Decker Facebook page or through the Double Decker Festival website.

About C Spire Wireless

C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company passionately committed to helping customers by personalizing wireless services designed just for them. The company is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to personalize customers’ experience by offering apps that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards for using their phone in new ways – all with seamless ease and at amazingly fast speeds. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire Wireless and its products and services, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.