Oxford Celebrates Ron Shapiro with Jazzy Parade
OXFORD, Mississippi – The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council is set to wrap up its annual Hoka Days event series with a lively jazz street parade and art showcase in honor of the late arts supporter Ron Shapiro on Friday, August 30. Hoka Days began in 2019, following Shapiro’s passing, and has become a staple of cultural celebration in the Oxford-Lafayette community.
A Celebration of Community and Culture
Wayne Andrews, director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and a friend of Shapiro, shared his reflections on Shapiro’s contribution to the community. “Ron was a champion of culture as a builder of community,” Andrews said. He emphasized how Shapiro encouraged everyone to explore artistic, cultural, literary, and musical opportunities present in Oxford and beyond.
Jazz Parade and Art Showcase
The Second Line and Art Showcase is designed to close out the Hoka Days festival, kicking off at 6 p.m. The second line is a tradition that originated from New Orleans funerals. It celebrates the life of those passed by allowing musicians to perform and parade through the streets. According to Andrews, musicians paid tribute to Shapiro with a second line following his death, and this event has been featured every year since.
The parade will start at the historic Square and flow to the Powerhouse, a popular venue for community events. Once the parade wraps up, attendees will have the chance to view local artwork displayed throughout the Powerhouse, accompanied by live music from local artists.
Bringing Back Engagement
This year’s events aim to revive community interest and participation in local art. Andrews mentioned efforts to include more interactive experiences alongside art showcases to attract a wider audience to the visual arts community. Interested artists can apply for future exhibits through the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s gallery series, open to all skill levels and available online at oxfordarts.com.
Community Participation
Hoka Days has seen various activities leading up to the final celebration. For example, on August 9, local champion Jordan Jones Higginbotham represented GRIT from Taylor, Mississippi, in the Iron Bartender event, where participants sampled drinks from different restaurants. Higginbotham described the experience as “chaotic, fun, stressful and a heck of a good time.” Winning the event provided her with a confidence boost she needed.
Other activities included a hot sauce-making workshop on August 11, where locals learned to craft their own sauces under the guidance of saucier Aaron Harris. Families also came together on August 17 at the Old Armory Pavilion to enjoy a screening of “Trolls Band Together,” presented by a local Girl Scouts troop.
Performance Arts and Community Growth
The Hoka Days series also showcased various performance arts, ranging from an improv show by Anubis Improv to butoh, a type of traditional Japanese dance. Higginbotham expressed that events like Hoka Days create invaluable spaces for people in the community to connect and interact in ways they may not usually have the chance to do.
“These events provide a space for our community members to come together that otherwise may not,” Higginbotham stated. It allows residents to learn more about their local area and discover new places and activities they might not know existed.
Looking Forward
The Hoka Days finale promises to be a vibrant celebration of life, community, and the arts, successfully honoring Ron Shapiro’s memory while enriching Oxford’s cultural scene. As the diverse activities come to an end, there’s a sense of fulfillment and excitement for what future Hoka Days will bring.
