Five Free, Fun Things at Miami in May
compiled by Susan Meikle, university news and communications
Miami Matters brings you five free, fun things to do at Miami each month from events listed on the Miami Events and Oxford community calendars. We've highlighted five activities for May on Miami's Oxford, Middletown and Hamilton campuses.
Spring semester classes end May 6; Final exams end May 13; Commencement is May 13. June 1 is the first Summer Orientation session on the Oxford campus.
Sundays, May 7 and 14: Wildflower Walk at Silvoor Biological Sanctuary
1 p.m. Peffer Park Shelter, 915 Chestnut Lane, Oxford
Join Holly Wissing and Miami botanists Jack Keegan and Mike Vincent on a Wildflower Walk that will highlight the extensive wildflower garden at Silvoor Biological Sanctuary.
More than 60 species are on display. The walks will begin at Peffer Park shelter.
Tuesday, May 9: Professor Knowitall’s Trivia Challenge: Middletown Edition with Richard O. Jones
6-8 p.m. Verity Lodge, Middletown
Brush up on your Shakespeare, state capitals, classic movies and other arcane knowledge of the world to take the Professor Knowitall Trivia Challenge. Hosted by local author and trivia master Richard O. Jones, the Trivia Challenge is guaranteed to give your mental muscles a vigorous workout.
Bring up to five of your friends and form a team to answer questions from the Professor's Vault of Useless Knowledge and compete for fabulous prizes — and priceless bragging rights. While an RSVP is not required, it is suggested so we have plenty of cool prizes for all in attendance. Reserve your spot on the Facebook page.
Wednesday, May 10: Bluegrass Heritage Series – Bluegrass Revival of the 1970s, with musicians Lily Isaacs and Jon Weisberger
7 p.m. Wilks Conference Center, Hamilton
Two presentations by bluegrass artists from Nashville: “Green to Bluegrass” features gospel singer Lily Isaacs, matriarch of the gospel bluegrass/country group The Isaacs.
“The Bluegrass Revival of the 1970s in Southwestern Ohio” features Jon Weisberger, songwriter, bass player, winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s first Songwriter of the Year Award in 2012. Born in Yellow Springs, he is an award-winning music journalist, co-host of the weekly radio program “The Blue Side of Town with Del McCoury,” and a columnist for The Bluegrass Situation.
Wednesday, May 10-Tuesday, May 16: Spring Cleaning or Moving Out? Donate to ShareFest Oxford
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Daily drop-off station at Chestnut Fields parking lot 
Donate your good quality furniture, appliances, housewares, clothing and nonperishable food to ShareFest, the donation drive that occurs in Oxford during Miami’s Move-out Week. ShareFest is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the collection and redistribution of items donated by Miami students and the Oxford community. Collected items benefit residents in need and social service agencies throughout the region.
Anyone with a 45056 zip code may schedule a donation pickup. Review the list of items accepted by ShareFest.
Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20 and 27: Oxford Guided Historic Walking Tours
10:30 a.m.-noon Different meeting point each week
In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, guided walking tours will be offered each Saturday in May. Tours will focus on midcentury modern and 19th century architecture.
- May 6: Meet at 212 Oakhill Drive. (Springwood subdivision, midcentury modern).
- May 13: Meet at 15 S. College Ave. (College Avenue and Collins Street neighborhood).
- May 20: Meet at 400 Church St. (Bishop and Church neighborhood).
- May 27: Meet at 100 N. Patterson Ave., Miami Inn parking lot. (Shadowy Hills neighborhood).
Guided tours are sponsored by Oxford’s Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission, Smith Library of Regional History and the William Holmes McGuffey House and Museum.
