From Norman's Medieval Fair to Guthrie's 89er Days, spring festivals bring fun to Oklahoma
The weather is getting warmer, the trees are greening up and flowers are blooming across Oklahoma.
Springs is one of the most festive times of the year in the Sooner State, with festivals of all varieties popping up like daffodils and daisies.
Since these events are happening during the springtime in Tornado Alley, be sure to check the weather forecast and the website or social media of the event of your choice before heading out.
Here are some of the festivals springing up in Oklahoma this season:
Azalea Festival, Muskogee
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays through April 30.
Where: Honor Heights Park, 1400 Honor Heights Drive, Muskogee.
Information: https://www.muskogeeparks.org.
Celebrate spring as the azaleas, tulips and wisteria bloom. Admission is free to the Butterfly Papilion gardens in the park during the month of April, and several special activities are planned during the festival.
Medieval Fair of Norman
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 7.
Where: Reaves Park, 2501 S Jenkins Ave., Norman.
Information: https://medievalfair.org.
Since 1977, the family-friendly festival has been bringing together more than 200 arts and crafts booths, food vendors, jousting knights on horseback, human chess games, costumed characters and live entertainment on seven stages. Admission is free; nearby parking managed by Lloyd Noble Center is $10.
Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt
When: Through April 7.
Where: Downtown Waynoka.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/WaynokaSnakeHunt.
The 78th annual event includes a carnival, free bean and ham lunch, live entertainment and, of course, a giant pit of vipers known as the Den of Death.
The Lights Fest, Lexington
When: 4:30 p.m. April 6.
Where: Thunder Valley Raceway Park, 10500 48 St., Lexington.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/thelightstour.
The traveling event encourages people to gather, light personalized sky lanterns with tiki torches and let them take flight.
Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup
When: April 11-13.
Where: Historic Okeene.
Information: https://www.okeenerattlesnakeroundup.com.
At least five small towns in western Oklahoma host long-running rattlesnake festivals, but Okeene's is the oldest, as it turns 85 in 2024.
Waurika Rattlesnake Hunt
When: April 11-14.
Where: Main Street Waurika.
Information: Annual Waurika Rattlesnake Hunt on Facebook.
Activities at the 62nd annual event include carnival rides, food vendors, snake shows and rattler hunts.
Artesian Arts Festival, Sulphur
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 13.
Where: Artesian Plaza, 1001 W 1, Sulphur.
Information: https://artesianartsfestival.com.
Hosted by the Chickasaw Nation, the 11th annual celebration of Native American arts and culture includes more than 100 First Americans artists and live music by Samantha Crain, Bluez Boyz, Ihullo.Art, Isaac McClung, Redman Blues Band and more.
Festival of Trains OKC
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 14.
Where: The Pavilion at OKC Fairgrounds, 3212 Wichita Walk.
Information: https://www.festoftrains.com.
The traveling fest includes free train rides for children, operating model train layouts, performances by ventriloquist Kevin Horner and more.
Oklahoma 89er Days Celebration, Guthrie
When: April 16-20.
When: Various venues across Guthrie.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/guthrieoklahomas89erdayscelebration.
Festivities include a carnival, rodeo, chuck wagon feed, food vendors and craft booths. The 95th annual parade will start at noon April 20.
Apache Rattlesnake Festival
When: April 18-21.
Where: Main Street Apache.
Information: https://www.slickhillsfoundation.org.
The 40th annual festival features more than 250 vendors, a carnival, live music, rattler round-ups and more.
Heard on Hurd Street festivals
When: 6 to 10 p.m. April 20 and May 18.
Where: Corner of Broadway and Hurd, downtown Edmond.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/heardonhurd.
Every third Saturday from March through October, the free monthly street festival showcases live, local music and a variety of food trucks and pop-up shops.
Footloose Fest, Elmore City
When: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 20.
When: Main Street, Elmore City.
Information: https://elmorecityok.com.
The Oklahoma town that inspired the movie "Footloose," which was released 40 years ago this year, celebrates its cinematic history with a day of crafts, food vendors, games, music with DJ Buff, a cornhole tournament and inflatables, plus the popular street dance starting at 5 p.m. in the community center.
Festival of the Arts
When: April 25-28.
Where: Bicentennial Park, Colcord and Couch drives, and City Hall lawn.
Information: https://www.artscouncilokc.com/festival-of-the-arts.
Last year, Arts Council Oklahoma City announced major changes to OKC's "rite of spring," particularly a new four-day, Thursday-Sunday format. The free event will still feature works by 144 visual artists, diverse fare from about 30 food vendors and trucks, a wide range of live entertainment, children's activities and more.
Woolly Weekend, Claremore
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 25-27.
Where: Shepherd’s Cross sheep farm, 16792 E 450 Road, Claremore.
Information: https://shepherdscross.com.
Take in the “shear” spectacle of sheep getting their dramatic haircuts during the annual open house at Shepherd’s Cross. Spinning, weaving, hand dying, felting, knitting and more will be demonstrated as the wool is taking from “sheep to shawl.”
Norman Music Festival
When: April 25-27.
Where: Walker Arts District, downtown Norman.
Information: https://normanmusicfestival.com.
The free, nonprofit, independent festival annually brings hundreds of acts and thousands of music fans to downtown Norman for three days of live music at several indoor and outdoor venues. The festival this year will feature headliners Moor Mother, Rocket, Alvvays, Tropa Magica , Sweeping Promises and Oklahoma acts Husbands, Jared Deck, Cliffdiver, Ken Pomeroy, Beau Jennings & The Tigers, Steph Simon and Branjae.
Wide Open Experimental Film Festival
When: 6 p.m. April 26-27 and 1 p.m. April 28.
Where: Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Noble Theater, 415 Couch Drive.
Information: wideopeneff.com.
In its third year, the free festival will showcase more than 50 titles intended to open people's eyes to alternative forms, structures and styles in filmmaking.
Red Fern Festival, Tahlequah
When: Noon to 9 p.m. April 26 and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 27.
Where: Downtown Norris Park, Tahlequah.
Information: https://www.tahlequahmainstreet.com/red-fern-festival.html.
The 16th annual event celebrates the legacy of the 1961 children's novel "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Oklahoma novelist Wilson Rawls as well as the 1974 film adaptation. Activities include hound dog field trials, 1930s era children's games, live music and more.
Mangum Rattlesnake Derby
When: April 26-28.
Where: Greer County Courthouse Square, 106 E Jefferson St., Mangum.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/shortgrassrattlesnakeassociation.
Along with the serpents, the event will include a flea market, cornhole tournament, food vendors and more.
Carney Fest, Tulsa
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 27.
Where: Outside The Church Studio, 304 S Trenton Ave., Tulsa.
Tickets and information: https://thechurchstudio.com/carney-fest-2024.
The fledgling festival celebrates the legacy Oklahoma native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell and his legendary Church Studio. The second edition of the all-day, cultural music festival will boast a carnival-like atmosphere and include circus performers, food vendors, art installations, nonprofit exhibitors and a live music lineup featuring headliners Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs.
Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, Muskogee
When: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays April 27-June 2, plus Memorial Day, May 27.
Where: Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee.
Information: https://okcastle.com.
Family-friendly activities include jousting tournaments, performances by traveling acrobats, Bird of Prey exhibitions, festive food and shopping for handcrafted items.
Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival, Muskogee
When: May 1-5.
Where: Roxy Theater, 220 W Okmulgee Ave., Muskogee.
Information: www.barebonesfilmfestival.org.
The 25th anniversary “no frills” fest features film screenings, panels, screenplay readings and more.
Tumbleweed Calf Fry Festival
When: May 2-4.
Where: Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Lakeview and Country Club roads, Stillwater.
Information: https://www.calffry.com.
The venerable festival will serve up a country music menu including Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Flatland Cavalry, Shane Smith & The Saints, Treaty Oak Revival, Kat Hasty, Lance Roark and more.
Downtown Edmond Arts Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 3-4 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5.
Where: Downtown Edmond.
Information: https://downtownedmondok.com/downtown-edmond-arts-festival.
More than 140 artists will exhibit and sell their work at this free event, which also features festive food, children's activities and live music.
El Reno Fried Onion Burger Day Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 4.
Where: Downtown El Reno.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/elrenoburgerday.
The 36th annual event celebrates the iconic version of the burger created in El Reno and will feature the frying of the World’s Largest Fried Onion Hamburger.
Prague Kolache Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. May 4.
Where: 1100 block of Main Street, Prague.
Information: https://www.praguekolachefestival.com.
The Lincoln County town celebrates its founding and Czech heritage with polka music and dancing, kolaches and other authentic foods, an 11 a.m. parade, beer garden, wine tasting booths, vendors and more, including a fireworks finale at 10 p.m.
Cinco de Mayo Festival
When: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 5.
Where: Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7, downtown OKC.
Information: https://www.okchispanicchamber.org.
Celebrating a significant date in Mexican history, the free event features live entertainment, music, food and more.
Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café, Stillwater
When: May 5.
Where: Five venues in Stillwater.
Information: https://www.reddirtrelieffund.org/gypsycafe.
Oklahoma’s largest homegrown songwriter festival features acoustic song swap sets from 70 Sooner State acts, including Restless Spirit Award honoree Monica Taylor, John Fullbright, Red Dirt Rangers, Carter Sampson and Mike Hosty. The festival benefits the nonprofit Red Dirt Relief Fund.
Steamroller Print Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11.
Where: Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE 3 in downtown OKC’s Deep Deuce.
Information: https://www.1ne3.org/steamroller-2024.
The seventh annual fest draws about 200 artists, students and printmakers from across the state. Featuring live printing, local vendors, food and beer trucks and more, the free festival's highlight involves artists inking carved woodblocks that are then printed by a 5-ton steamroller. (This festival was originally scheduled for April 27 but shifted to May 11 due to the stormy weather forecast.)
OKC Flower and Garden Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11.
Where: Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W Reno Ave.
Information: myriadgardens.org/okcflowerandgardenfest.
Featuring more than 60 local vendors, the free event will showcase flowers, herbs and succulents, along with art, jewelry, soaps, food and more.
Stilwell Strawberry Festival
When: May 11.
Where: Downtown Stilwell.
Information: https://www.strawberrycapital.com.
Stilwell is known as the "Strawberry Capital of the World," and the long-running event includes games, live entertainment, a parade, free strawberries and ice cream.
Black Wall Street Rally, Tulsa
When: May 16-18.
Where: Greenwood District, Tulsa.
Information: https://blackwallstreetrally.com.
The motorcycle-inspired festival in Tulsa's historic Greenwood District, once known as Black Wall Street, includes rally tours, vendors, live music, demo rides, a bike show and more.
Paseo Arts Festival
When: May 25-27.
Where: Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey, OKC.
Information: www.thepaseo.org.
A Memorial Day weekend tradition, the 47th annual festival will showcase works by visiting and neighborhood visual artists, along with Oklahoma entertainers, food vendors, children's art activities and more.
Bethany 66 Festival
When: May 25.
Where: One-block area from NW 38, north to NW 39 Expressway, between Peniel and Asbury, Bethany.
Information: www.bethany66.com.
Free festivities include live music, a car show, children's activities and parade, arts and craft booths, food vendors and more.
Chuck Wagon Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 25-26.
Where: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63, OKC.
Information: nationalcowboymuseum.org.
This Memorial Day weekend family favorite features outdoor cooking, artisan demonstrations, Western reenactors, archery, country and Western dancing, craft stations, a petting zoo and live music. Admission is free to museum members, children 12 and younger, foster families and Blue Star families.
Stirling Classic Scottish Festival, Yukon
When: May 31-June 2.
Where: Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 S Garth Brooks Blvd., Yukon.
Information: https://www.thestirlingclassicsf.com.
The festivities include traditional Scottish athletics, live Celtic music and dance, sheepherding demonstrations, roving pipe bands, traditional Scottish food, children's crafts and games and a crafters’ village.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma festivals mean spring fun, from 89er Days to Norman Music Fest
