16. Skiatook Bluegrass Festival
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (918) 261-3443
Description: This annual June event, which began in 2004, is small but growing, and features both nationally and regionally recognized talent. The first event starts on Thursday night with gospel music. In addition to the bluegrass groups, fans look forward to bluegrass karaoke and the junior fiddle contest, plus arts and crafts exhibitors. You won’t get hungry—there are plenty of food vendors.Bring blankets or lawn chairs, and, for daytime concerts, hats and sunscreen. There are some shaded spots, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get one. Tent campers and RVers are welcome, and hookups are available. Festival grounds are behind the Sports Complex. See the Web site for a map, schedule of events, and ticket prices.
17. Tulsa Pride And Diversity
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 1028 E. 6th St.
Description: Since 1980, Tulsa’s LGBT community has been united in support of diversity. The Pride Festival is a two-day event featuring the Open Arms Youth Project talent show, theater presentations, music and other live entertainment, a pancake breakfast, an interfaith worship service, vendors, and even a dog show. The highlight is the evening Pride Parade, which starts in the Brady Arts District and winds through downtown to the park.In 2009, over 23,000 people joined in the festivities.
18. Zebco “Take Me Fishing” Day
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 494-3224
Description: Held during Oklahoma’s Free Fishing Days, Zebco sponsors this great family event. They buy thousands of “eating-size” catfish and bluegill and release them in specified park ponds. Six hundred of the fish are tagged and can be turned in for prizes before noon, when the event ends. The average-size catfish is about a pound and a half. The event is for children with accompanying adult(s). Bring your own tackle; a cooler and ice for transporting fish, drinks, and snacks (no concessions available); lawn chairs; insect repellent; and sunscreen.
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 1924 Riverside Dr.
21. Oklahoma Scottish Festival
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 717 S. Houston Ave.
Description: Grab your sporran and sgian dubh and head for the hills—of west Tulsa—to celebrate Scottish traditions. Games galore, including caber tossing and the Braemar stone toss, a parade of Scottish-breed dogs, whiskey tasting, music, and more are featured. The Kids’ Glen has mini-games along with make-and-take crafts, races, and storytelling. And there are interesting animals like Dexter cattle and Clydesdale and gypsy horses. This is fun for the whole family—except maybe the whiskey part. The admission fee is slight, so come watch or even participate. How about the Farmer’s Walk—women carry 75 pounds in each hand, men 175 pounds, and participants who walk the farthest win.The festival runs from Friday evening through Sunday.
22. Art On Main
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (918) 299-5005
Description: This popular outdoor street festival attracts more than 8,000 people annually. Over 115 of the state’s best artists—painters, sculptors, potters, jewelry makers, and photographers—display their works. Local wineries set up tasting booths and food vendors provide a variety of goodies. And you can count on some great music—from jazz to salsa.
23. Green Country Wine Festival
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (918) 482-5655
Address: 24145 E. 191st St. South
Description: Wine tasting, winery tours, food, music, arts and crafts, entertainment, and a children’s area are featured at the Wine Festival. Admission is charged but parking is free.
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 2100 S. Jackson Ave.
25. Tulsa Run
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: The largest and oldest of Oklahoma’s runs—if you don’t count the Land Runs—the Tulsa Run features 15K, 5K, and 2K events. In 5K, there’s also a wheelchair race. The 2K is a fun run. Over 10,000 runners participated in 2008’s event. The racecourse is a classic urban course, laid out through some of Tulsa’s most scenic areas. Preceding the races is a Fitness Fair, and on race day bands play along the route. There’s a party at the finish line, with inflatables for kids and medical and massage tents for runners.
26. Tulsa State Fair
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (918) 744-1113
Description: Dating back to 1903, the Tulsa State Fair has been a staple on the city’s calendar, running from the fourth Thursday following Labor Day through the second Sunday of Oct. It features all the standard fair fare—animal exhibits and competitions, music, entertainment, rides, rodeo, big-name acts—everything from racing pigs to roses.One of the most spectacular contests is the Oklahoma State Sugar Arts Show, the largest judged sugar arts show in the United States. Stroll by elaborate wedding cakes and clever cupcakes. Many of these creations look too good to eat!While there is a gate charge to enter the fair, most events are free—even the big name musical entertainers. There is a charge for rodeo or ice show tickets, but that includes admission to the fair.
27. Dia De Los Muertos (Day Of The Dead) Arts Festival
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (918) 585-1234
Address: 307 E. Brady St.
Description: There’s a nominal fee for this festival, which features live music, dancing, and Mexican food. Family altars are displayed in the gallery, and there’s a kids’ area where youngsters can create their own altars and make sugar skulls. After dark, there are fire dancers and a skeleton parade.
28. Pso Holiday Parade Of Lights
City: Tulsa, OK
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (918) 583-2617
Description: This wonderful nighttime parade is a longstanding holiday tradition. It features marching bands, dance teams, entertainment, floats, and giant helium balloons—the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade kind. Always the second Saturday evening in Dec, it’s a season highlight. And, of course, it’s free.