What could possibly be better than setting your DVR to record your favorite TV program and watching it later at your own convenience? For Oxford-area fans of BBC-TV’s popular “Downton Abbey,” the answer is a chance to view the first episode of Season Five before it airs.
The MPB Foundation and Mississippi Public Broadcasting are hosting “Downton Abbey on the Square” Tuesday (Dec. 9) in Oxford. The evening starts at 5 p.m. with a cocktail party at Southside Gallery, followed by a gourmet dinner at City Grocery, all inspired by an evening at Downton. The night concludes at the Lyric Oxford with a 60-minute preview of the new season’s first episode.
Tickets are $125 each and limited to two per person. The price includes the cocktail party, gourmet dinner and screening. Space is limited, so patrons should register and purchase tickets at http://www.mpbonline.oprg/downtonabbeyonthesquare. During the screening, enjoy a complimentary drink and VIP seats.
The doors of the Lyric Oxford open at 7 p.m., and the free screening begins at 8. For an even more memorable evening, patrons can participate in a “Downton Abbey” costume contest and create a memento at the Downton photo booth. Photos are $5 per printed picture. Tickets to the photo booth can pre-purchased online when registering, or at the screening.
Local sponsors for the “Downton Abbey” preview screening are Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, Renasant, Krutz Family Cellars, City Grocery, hottytoddy.com, “Mississippi’s Greatest Athletes,” the Lyric Oxford, the Oxford Center for Cosmetic and General Dentistry, Southside Gallery, Square Books and Visit Oxford MS.
The new season of “Downton Abbey” premieres Jan. 5 on MPB-TV. For DVDs and more, visit http://www.shopPBS.org.