The state of Oklahoma is a true heartland of America, with a long history and a cultural diversity that can take any visitor by surprise. This place borders some of the larger and more prominent states, including Texas and Colorado, as well as New Mexico. Although the first thing to come to mind when one thinks of Oklahoma will inevitably be country and western music, there is a lot more to this fascinating state and its cities, including Tulsa, Blanchard, and Oklahoma City itself. Below, we will look at some of the most popular festivals in Oklahoma, USA and point you towards the best that the state has to offer.
1. Oklahoma State Fair
A 10-day festival held in Oklahoma is the perfect way for locals to end the summer. Close to a million people per year attend and enjoy a range of entertainment that includes horse shows, music concerts, and fairground rides, with plenty of stalls around selling delicious - mostly fried - food. Held annually in Oklahoma City, this is a fun event that has something for everyone in the family.
Oklahoma State Fair
Address: 3001 General Pershing Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, United States
Website: Oklahoma State Fair
Takes place: September
2. Plaza District Festival
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Initially founded as a grand opening for the refurbished Plaza District in which it is held, this now-annual festival takes place in the hippest part of Oklahoma City, among the best galleries, studios, and performance venues the city can boast. The event showcases the district in all its glory, with live performances from the state’s best and brightest, as well as the chance to sample some food from the many excellent restaurants you’ll find in the area. With drinks supplied by local craft brewery Anthem Brewing, this event ends September with a full bloom of civic pride.
Plaza District Festival
Address: NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Website: Plaza District Festival
Takes place: Usually held in September
3. Tulsa International Mayfest
Mayfest, which takes place every year in Tulsa, is the city’s premier art festival and offers a chance for visitors to see the very best of creative works by local artists. Pieces on display include plenty of conventional paintings and installations, as well as some of the finest outsider art you are likely to see. If you’ve ever wondered what a deer sculpture made of kitchen cutlery looks like, then there is ample opportunity to see for yourself here.
Tulsa International Mayfest
Address: Downtown Tulsa, Tulsa Arts District, and Historic Greenwood, OK
Website: Tulsa International Mayfest
Takes place: May
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4. Festival of the Arts
Also known as “Six Days of Spring Fun”, Festival of the Arts takes place annually in downtown Oklahoma, at the city’s Bicentennial Park. As attendees pour into the park from around the city and beyond, Oklahoma City feels like spring has really sprung, with plenty of exhibits relating to visual, performing, and culinary arts. With thousands attending every year, and with the festival having started in 1967 and showing no signs of slowing down, it’s worth a visit to see, hear, and taste the work of some of the most talented Oklahomans.
Festival of the Arts
Address: Bicentennial Park, 500 Couch Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Website: Festival of the Arts
Takes place: Usually held in April
5. Paseo Arts Festival
Paseo is the heart of Oklahoma City’s art scene, with innumerable galleries and studios where artists of the city work, as well as plenty of indie boutiques and boho cafes. These intellectually stimulating corners are illuminated every May when the Paseo Arts Festival gets going, as it has for more than 40 years now. For three days in May, the work of some of the most skilled creators who call Paseo home gets its time in the spotlight, including potters, embroiderers, face painters, sculptors, and many more besides.
Paseo Arts Festival
Address: Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Website: Paseo Arts Festival
Takes place: May
6. Chuck Wagon Festival
As you may have noticed by now, for all its country reputation, Oklahoma is about far more than cowboys and steel guitar. However, it is also a bit about those things, and the annual Chuck Wagon Festival is where that is best exemplified. Held over a weekend in May at OKC’s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, this festival is the perfect place to see a Wild West show or to luxuriate in the tastes of delicious cowboy comfort food such as biscuits and stew or beans and cobbler. There are plenty of kid-friendly attractions, allowing the little ones to learn about Wild West life, as well as covered wagon rides that can be enjoyed by all.
Chuck Wagon Festival
Address: 1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Website: Chuck Wagon Festival
Takes place: May
7. deadCENTER Film Festival
Founded in the early part of the 21st Century, deadCENTER Film Festival has steadily grown to be one of the most appreciated festivals for movie buffs in all of America. It is so named because, from its location in Oklahoma City, it is in the “dead centre” of the United States. This event showcases local filmmakers and independent artists, but has attracted a wide range of international filmmakers and has, in the past, been attended by Spike Jonze and actress Rinko Kikuchi. With regular screenings of both mainstream and indie movies, classic and cutting-edge, and even an open-air cinema, deadCENTER is a haven for movie buffs.
deadCENTER Film Festival
Address: 701 W Sheridan Ave #110, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, United States
Website: deadCENTER Film Festival
Takes place: June
8. Rooster Days Festival
Held in the town of Broken Arrow, Rooster Days Festival is a local event that offers a little bit of everything, playing the part of a traditional carnival with fairground rides, sumptuous food stalls, and live music performances. It takes place in early May and includes a large, open marketplace and a wine garden, along with plenty of fun tournaments. The centrepiece of the whole festival is Saturday’s Rooster Days Parade, an event that kids will particularly enjoy, given that it involves mascots passing out free candy.
Rooster Days Festival
Address: Central Park, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Website: Rooster Days Festival
Takes place: Usually held in May
9. Norman Music Festival
About half an hour’s drive from Oklahoma City, the town of Norman is an ideal destination for fans of alternative music, with the annual Norman Music Festival offering the chance to see bands and artists from the area and beyond. Former headliners include Polyphonic Spree and Electric Six, while unsigned artists can also showcase their music and get noticed. This is an atmosphere that encourages musical experimentation.
Norman Music Festival
Address: Downtown Norman, Oklahoma
Website: Norman Music Festival
Takes place: April
10. Oklahoma Renaissance Festival
Although it was built in the late 20th century, the Castle of Muskogee looks the part of a venue that hosts events that will take you all the way back to 1569 and Renaissance-era England. The Oklahoma Renaissance Festival includes attractions as falconry, jousting, acrobatic tumbling, and plenty of dining options. The event is guaranteed to be great fun for both adults and kids and takes place in one weekend in late April each year.
Oklahoma Renaissance Festival
Address: The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W Fern Mountain Rd, Muskogee, OK 74401
Takes place: Usually held in May
Oklahoma is better than OK
There is no shortage of things to love about Oklahoma, but the state offers so much when it comes to festival enjoyment that you’ll really appreciate visiting at these special times. Whether you’re looking for country and western music, something a little more cutting-edge, or one of the country’s most in-demand film festivals, you’ll find plenty to enjoy about a trip to Oklahoma.
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