The Oxford Downtown Development Authority’s annual Soup and Sweet Stroll will return from 6-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

Guests will be invited to take a stroll up and down Washington Street, sampling signature hors d’oeuvres, soups, and sweet baked goods.

Downtown Oxford retailers will be open to offer an array of gift options to holiday shoppers.

The event is meant to highlight the wide variety of food and shopping available in Oxford’s downtown area, according to DDA Executive Director Joe Frost.

“I’m hoping Oxford residents (come to realize) that downtown is a dynamic destination. We have our Scarecrow Festival in the fall, we have our Concerts in the Park series during the summer, and we have our Sweet and Stroll in the wintertime– so really, it’s a destination for all seasons. We can enjoy Oxford, not only in the summertime, but even during the holidays,” said Frost.

Other activities throughout the event will include a visit with Santa Claus, warming barrels, holiday performances by Oxford Community Schools choirs, and a petting farm for the kids.

The highlight of the evening will include a tree lighting in Centennial Park at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the event will be sold in Centennial Park from 5:45 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Prices are $5 per adult or $10 per family.

All proceeds from the event will go to the DDA, which strives to promote, develop, and preserve downtown Oxford.

This year’s event is sponsored by Oxford Bank, which donated $2,500 to the event.

“Without their sponsorship and committment to the community, this event would not be possible,” said Frost.