More than 2,000 people are expected at the 12th annual Oxford Wine & Craft Beer Festival at Martin Luther King Jr. Park uptown on Saturday, June 1.

Hosted up by the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, the festival seeks to stimulate local commerce the weekend after a huge part of Oxford’s usual customer base—Miami University students—has left town for the summer.

“We want our businesses to succeed,” said Kelli Riggs, the president of the chamber. There will be wine from local wineries, craft beer from 10 regional breweries, more than 10 craft booths featuring local artisans and five places to chow down on great local food, she said.

The festival runs from 3-10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $25 online until 5 p.m. Friday and for $30 at the event. Each ticket gives the customer a souvenir wine glass and five beer or wine tastings. Additional tasting tickets can be purchased at the festival for $10.

In addition to the food, drink and crafts, there will be four live musical performances during the event from the Jake Roberts Band, Linus Tate, Jay Jesse Johnson and Thunder Bay.

This event is an important fundraiser for the chamber, Riggs said. Part of the ticket sales will go to trade school scholarships for four Talawanda High School seniors.

With an expected 2,000 visitors, local businesses will be able to use the festival to showcase  themselves and network with other businesses and members of the community, Riggs said.  

That is exactly what Ann Kamphaus said she plans to do. She and husband Neil plan to open Books & Brews at 107 E. Church Street, later in June, and they are setting up at Saturday’s festival to introduce themselves to potential customers. Books & Brews is a restaurant, bookstore, and coffee shop all-in-one. The Kamphauses are opening the Indiana-based company’s first Ohio franchise.

“Our goal is to get the name out there and market” said Ann Kamphaus.