By LINDA ROSS ALDY
OAKLAND — Throughout 2023, the town of Oakland will be celebrating as it recognizes 175 years since its incorporation in 1848. There will be a variety of events and activities open to the public.
An Oakland Day is being planned by a special committee and will be announced soon.
Dates already set include:
» March 18 — Movie Night in Downtown Oakland. Bring your lawn chairs or watch from your car. Refreshments available. Family friendly movies will be shown each month by the Oakland Beautification Committee. Watch Facebook for times.
» April 1 — Friends of Cossar Easter Egg Hunt. The Cossar State Park Egg Hunt tradition goes back at least 40 years. The Egg Hunt starts at 10 a.m. with games, prizes and the Easter Bunny! Bring your own Easter Basket! Rain date is April 8.
» April 22 — Movie Night in Downtown Oakland
» April 29 — The Oakland Area Chamber hosts an Elected Officials Appreciation Reception from 4-6 p.m. at the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery at Enid Lake. All elected officials who represent Oakland in any capacity are invited to join the townspeople in this event. The Chamber will also be honoring longtime town employee Daniel Jenkins during the event.
» May 6 — The second annual Yalo-Ribbon Festival and Giant Cakewalk is back from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with vendors, food trucks, music and an amazing cakewalk! New this year will be a Track Side celebration of Oakland’s railroad history.
» May 27 — Movie Night in Downtown Oakland
» June 16 and 17 — The Oakland Beautification Committee hosts the second annual Oakland Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Oakland, with food, speakers, music, vendors and more.
» Oct. 7 — The Chamber once again recognizes the work of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department with the Vroom, Vroom Big Trucks event. Fire trucks, school buses, ambulances, bucket trucks and more are all available for climbing, blowing horns along with games, food trucks and community bake sale — all benefiting the Oakland Fire Department. The event will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in downtown Oakland.
» Dec. 9 — Oakland’s Downhome Christmas returns with Oakland’s 60-foot-tall, 60-year-old Christmas tree, Santa Claus, vendors, food and kids activities.
Follow Oakland Area Chamber, Oakland Beautification Committee and Cossar State Park Friends on Facebook for more information or watch this newspaper for details closer to event dates.
