Falling for Tulsa
44 autumn festivals
Tulsa State Fair
As the summer sun sinks below the horizon, Green Country will soon give way to vibrant autumnal hues of yellow, orange and red. That means one thing: it’s time to gear up for fall festival season. The Tulsa area offers plenty of opportunities to celebrate the season, from homegrown music fests to cultural extravaganzas and craft beer blowouts. Here are 44 fall festivals you won’t want to miss.
* * *
Maker Faire Tulsa
Aug. 24 | Central Park Hall, Expo Square | Free admission | tulsa.makerfaire.com
Artists, engineers and makers of all stripes share their innovative projects
and crafty creations at the seventh
annual Tulsa Maker Faire.
India Fest: UTSAV 2019
Aug. 24 | River Spirit Expo Center,
Expo Square | Free admission |
iagtok.com
Celebrate Indian culture with delicious food, colorful clothing and henna at this event hosted by the Indian Association of Greater Tulsa.
Wild Brew
Aug. 24 | Cox Business Center | $65 (GA) | wildbrew.org
With incredible food vendors and more than 200 beers from around the world, you can get wild while giving back to the wild. Proceeds benefit the Sutton Avian Research Center.
Feel Good Festival
Aug. 25 | Guthrie Green | Free admission | facebook.com
Join jazz and blues artists for an intimate gathering at Guthrie Green featuring all duo performances.
Blue Whale Comedy Festival
Aug. 29–31 | Multiple venues | $50–$150 | bluewhalecomedyfestival.com
Headliners Michelle Wolf and Nicole Byer round out this year’s annual can’t-miss comedy bash, featuring DJ Pryor, Jackie Tohn, Rae Sanni, Matteo Lane and tons
of local talent.
Burn Tulsa Music Festival
Aug. 30–31 | Pearl Beach Brewpub
| $20–35
Pull up your beach chair and enjoy music from Mike Gilliland, Flock of Pigs, Recycled Funk and more. Vendors include Gypsy.Revival, Copesettic Crafts, and Marie’s Henna Art, plus food from
Linam Up Grill.
Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival
Aug. 30–Sept. 1 | Rentiesville | $18/day
| dcminnerblues.com
The name says it all—for three nights, more than 30 blues artists will hit the stage at the OK Blues Hall of Fame from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the historically all-black town of Rentiesville. This year’s performers include Knut Roppestadt, Kelvin ‘Mr. Guitar’ Drake, Bonnie McGee and more.
POSTOAK Wine & Jazz Night
Aug. 31 | POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat | $20–50 | postoaklodge.com
Deep Branch Winery will be pouring their Blind Luck Label wines paired with smooth jazz music, including performances from The Free Samples, Ana
Berry with the Tim Shadley Trio, and
Grady Nichols.
Tulsa’s Great Raft Race
Sept. 2 | Arkansas River, River West Festival Park | Free for spectators
| tulsaraftrace.com
Tulsa’s makeshift naval fleet will sail down the Arkansas River from Sand Springs to Tulsa’s River West Festival Park. Don’t miss the party after the race with food trucks, games, and live music from Tulsa Little Jam.
Bluegrass & Chili Festival
Sept. 6–7 | Downtown Wagoner | Free admission | bluegrasschilifest.com
Head to Wagoner for the 40th annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival with a chili cook-off and two days of music featuring Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Cleverlys, Edgar Loudermilk with Jeff Autry, and more.
WizardWorld Comic Con
Sept. 6–8 | Renaissance Hotel and
Convention Center | $35–80 (GA)
| wizardworld.com
Get your costumes ready for the return of the Wizard World Comic Con, featuring appearances from Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Westley from The Princess Bride (Cary Elwes), professional wrestler Kevin Nash and more.
Let It Be Arts Festival
Sept. 7–8 | Kiefer Municipal Park, Kiefer | Free admission | facebook.com
Handmade art, crafts and products abound at this festival in Kiefer.
Oklahoma ScotFest
Sept. 13–15 | Wyndham Tulsa | $10-30 (GA) | okscotfest.com
Celebrating 40 years in Green Country, ScotFest brings you all things Scottish, including Highland Games competitions, whiskey tastings, and music from Celtica - Pipes Rock!, Wicked Tinkers, Seven Nations and more.
MisFEST
Sept. 14 | Guthrie Green | Free (GA) – $54.50-$75 (VIP) | misfest.com
Back for the second year, MisFEST celebrates women in music and empowers artists to succeed in a ruthless industry. There will be food trucks, wine and beer and performances from KT Tunstall, Tea Rush, Yardbones and more.
Big Om at Home Yoga Festival
Sept. 14–15 | Centennial Park | $10-99 (Free GA) | bigomyogaretreat.com
This weekend event includes yoga workshops, vendors, live music and performances of acroyoga, slackline, aerial yoga and jugglers. General admission is free, with a $10 drop-in fee for yoga classes on the Main Stage. Purchase a weekend pass for $99 to access all of the workshops and classes.
Medicine Stone
Sept. 19–21 | Diamondhead Resort, Tahlequah | $150–2450 |
medicinestoneok.com
Come and stay a while at this Red Dirt camping festival. Performances include Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Robert Earl Keen, John Fullbright and more.
Tulsa Greek Festival
Sept. 19–22 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church | $5 | tulsagreekfestival.com
Opa!homa returns this year with traditional Greek dancing, music from The Greek Tycoons (with the guitar-like instrument the Bouzouki), and, naturally, a smorgasboard of delicious food.
Stone River Music Festival
Sept. 20–22 | Chandler | $30–60
| stonerivermusicfestival.com
This scenic festival takes place on private land with lots of trees and natural beauty. The weekend of Oklahoma grassroots music includes three days of performances, food trucks, arts and crafts.
Tiny Porch Festival
Sept. 21 | Owen Park | Free admission
| facebook.com
The inaugural DIY music festival was a hit last year. Back for seconds, this year’s event includes local food from KillerWail Barbecue and music from Nightingale, Beach Friends, Rachel La Vonne, CLIFFDIVER and more.
Festival Americas
Sept. 22–23 | Guthrie Green
| Free admission | guthriegreen.com
Celebrate the rich cultures and heritage of Latin America with dancing, art, food trucks, a tequila garden and music—including a performance by three-time Grammy Award-winners Ozomatli.
Illinois River Jam
Sept. 26–28 | Peyton’s Place, Tahlequah | $60 | illinoisriverjam.com
This annual camping event on the banks of the Illinois River brings local live music to nature’s backyard. Performances include Steve Poltz, Samantha Crain, Beau Jennings & the Tigers, and more.
Tulsa State Fair
Sept. 26–Oct. 6 | Expo Square | $8–12
| tulsastatefair.com
Hands down the best place to people watch, the Tulsa State Fair is back and better than ever. Can we interest you in deep-fried cookie dough, a dipped paddlecake, or deep-fried bacon mashed potatoes?
Halloween Festival
Sept. 27–Oct. 26 | The Castle of
Muskogee | $3–15 per attraction
| okcastle.com
Fun for the whole family, The Castle of Muskogee is open Fridays and Saturdays with fun and spooky attractions like the haunted hayride, the labyrinth of horror, and the torture chamber.
Turkey MTB Festival
Sept. 28–29 | Turkey Mountain
| Free admission | facebook.com
Trail riders hit Turkey Mountain for this two-day mountain biking event benefitting children at Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp, wrapping up the Tour de Dirt MTB Championship Series.
W!LD TURKEY
Oct. 3 | Turkey Mountain | $150
| riverparks.org
Bluegrass, bonfires, barbecue and more—don’t miss this one-night event that benefits River Parks and Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness.
Wine, Jazz & World Fête
Oct. 3–5 | Guthrie Green & Duet
| Free admission | okrootsmusic.org
The second annual celebration brings jazz, reggae and folk to the Tulsa Arts District. There will be wine tastings, a Latin food fair and performance art as well.
Bartlesville Oktoberfest
Oct. 5 | Downtown Bartlesville | $15–50
| facebook.com
Festivities and fall beer are in the cards for our northern neighbors. The $50 ticket gets you entry with unlimited drinks and a free pretzel.
MOJO Fest
Oct. 5 | Studio Row | $25–95
| eventbrite.com
Head on down to Leon Russell Road in the Pearl District for an event with live music, local art and delicious food. Proceeds benefit The Day Center for the Homeless and The Church Studio Music Foundation.
National Indian Taco Championship
Oct. 5 | Downtown Pawhuska
| Free admission | facebook.com
Come celebrate the fine art of fry bread at the National Indian Taco Championship in Pawhuska. You’ll also enjoy local music, Native dance demonstrations, craft vendor booths and more.
Tulsa Pagan Pride Day Festival
Oct. 5 | Veteran’s Park | Free admission
| facebook.com
Join Tulsa’s Pagan community for a day of food, fun and education. There will be classes, a silent auction, food trucks, craft vendors and more.
McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival
Oct. 5 | ONEOK Field Concourse | $35–75 | facebook.com
What better way to kick off October than with a beer festival—and with representation from more than 80 breweries, McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival is the perfect place to try something new.
BaseCamp Camping Festival
Oct. 5–6 | Turkey Mountain | $55–70
| facebook.com
Camping at Turkey Mountain is allowed once a year during the BaseCamp Camping Festival. Stake your claim to a spot.
Tulsa American Film Festival
Oct. 9–13 | Multiple venues | Admission prices vary | tulsaamericanfilmfest.com
Celebrating its 5th year, TAFF focuses on Latino American, Native American, Oklahoma-based and student filmmakers. Catch incredible films at Circle Cinema, Gilcrease Museum and more.
Pelican Festival
Oct. 10–13 | Wolf Creek Park, Grove
| Free admission | pelicanfestok.com
The migrating American White Pelican returns to Grand Lake every fall, and you can celebrate at this annual festival. Join the festivities, which include carnival rides, a parade, free face painting and more.
Festival of Freaks
Oct. 12 | FlowerCraft Co. Event Center
| $5–10 | facebook.com
Calling all ghouls and ghosts—the first-ever Festival of Freaks is a gathering of Tulsa’s dark artists, paranormal investigators and mediums celebrating the unusual.
Cherokee Art Market
Oct. 12–13 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
| $5 | cherokeeartmarket.com
More than 150 artists representing more than 50 tribes are represented at the Cherokee Art Market. One of the biggest Native art shows in Oklahoma, the festival features jewelry, pottery, textiles, paintings, sculptures and more.
Oktoberfest
Oct. 17–20 | River West Festival Park
| $7–120 | tulsaoktoberfest.org
The Linde Oktoberfest brings a slice of Germany to Tulsa with scores of beers on tap in the BierGarten, carnival rides, fireworks and music from Dorfrocker, Grammy-nominee Alex Meixner, and a new brand of polka from Bavarski. Prost!
Will Rogers Motion Picture
Festival and Birthday
Oct. 30–Nov. 4 | Claremore
| Free admission | willrogers.com
Celebrate Will Rogers’ 140th birthday with a trip to Claremore. His films will be screened around town, and other events include the Cherokee Nation Wings Race, Pocahontas Club’s traditional wreath laying and more.
Día de los Muertos Festival de Arte
Nov. 1 | Living Arts | TBA | livingarts.org
In celebration of Hispanic heritage and in honor of loved ones who have passed away, this festival will include dancing, face painting, mariachi and salsa bands, food vendors and more.
King’s Medieval Faire
Nov. 1–3 | Black Gold Park, Glenpool
| Free admission
| kingsmedievalfaire.com
Hear ye, hear ye! Medieval times are coming to Glenpool. Enjoy fun costumes, reenactments, and vendors with all the equipment you’ll need to fit the part.
Tulsa Pop Culture Expo
Nov. 2–3 | Woodland Hills Mall
| $20–40 (GA) | tulsapopcultureexpo.com
Meet Jennifer Marshall (Stranger Things), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Cesar Garcia (Breaking Bad, Fast & Furious 4), and more at this annual pop culture blowout.
Native American Festival
Nov. 2 | Centennial Center at RSU
| Free admission | willrogers.com
Presented in conjunction with the Will Rogers Days festival, the 23rd annual Native American Festival at RSU will include Native music and dancing, a powwow singing workshop, arts and craft workshops, Indian tacos, Cherokee storytelling and more.
Wild at Art
Nov. 8–9 | Tulsa Garden Center
| Free admission | facebook.com
More than 40 artists are coming together for a two-day art show in collaboration with WING IT and Tulsa Audubon Society for wildlife rehabilitation. There will be a silent auction, gourmet food and work for sale, including fine art, photography, turned wood, handbill ceramics and
fused glass.
Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival
Nov. 10–14 | Circle Cinema | TBA
| jewishtulsa.org
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art and The Jewish Federation of Tulsa present films celebrating Jewish culture and creativity across a variety of genres. a