C Spire Wireless Presenting Sponsor for Award-Winning 2013 Celebration of Music, Food and Arts

Oxford, Miss. (February 27, 2013) – Food, music and the arts will take center stage at the award-winning 18th annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival presented by C Spire Wireless on April 26-27, 2013. 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.

The festival, which was recognized earlier this month with a national award from the Association of Destination Management Executives International as the best public event in 2012, will again feature a two-day format that includes a special edition of Thacker Mountain Radio on Friday evening and a free concert by Blue Mountain. Saturday activities include art, food and more music, including a jam-packed day of eclectic music on Caterpillar Stage. The festival will culminate Saturday evening with a performance by the Drive By Truckers.

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 25 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 Children’s Square Fair will be organized by the University of Mississippi Hospitality Management department and will offer activities for children of all ages. Whether face painting, games, or arts activities, 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.

“We are very excited about this year’s event. We hope each year we can evolve to improve programming and make the festival more fun, but still maintain the event that everyone loves so much,” said Mary-Kathryn Herrington, festival director.

C Spire’s presence at the festival will be focused on its suite of personalized services for wireless customers, including:

• SCOUT, a one-of-a-kind entertainment recommendations and personalization tool for apps, movies, books and music.
• PERCS, the nation’s only consumer engagement-based program that rewards customers for personalizing their wireless experience.
• CIRCLE, a unique “destination” online community where C Spire customers and prospective customers go to share ideas, opinions and actively participate in shaping and developing their wireless experience.
• NEWSLINK, a fully integrated and personalized news delivery service that finds the news and information relevant to each individual and delivers it daily.

“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, vice president of Corporate Communications for C Spire Wireless.

The 18th annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival presented by C Spire Wireless will be held on Friday evening, April 26 and all day Saturday April 27, 2013. For an event schedule, go to www.doubledeckerfestival.com.

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 or Google + or www.pinterest.com/cspirewireless