Fiddy-one festies for fun-time folks
Read: 51 festivals you won’t want to miss this summer
Great Raft Race
Dust off that wide-brim hat and pop on some sunnies; it’s festival season. The summer months are stacked with opportunities to get out, cut loose, and immerse oneself in the culture of shared experiences. With festivals celebrating the diverse heritage of our community—showcasing music and art of all kinds—the fun is just beginning.
May
Oklahoma Renaissance Festival
The Castle of Muskogee, $5–$70, okcastle.com
Each weekend through June 3, escape to a realm of kings, queens, knights, and ladies.
3–5 Green Country Jam
Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park, $65–$210, greencountryjam.com
The inaugural Green Country Jam will feature two stages of country and Americana acts including Big and Rich, Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, and Randy Houser.
4 International Jazz Fest
Guthrie Green, tulsajazz.com
Tulsa Jazz presents this official International Jazz Day concert featuring performances by The TEG Swing Band, Cynthia Simmons, NSU Jazz Ensemble, Union HS Jazz Band, and Was Nun!, a sextet from Celle, Germany.
4 M-4 Festival
VFW Post 577, $10-$18, facebook.com/SaberAcademyTulsa
May the Fourth be with you! Get geeky and celebrate the galaxy’s greatest fandom with live saber duels, cosplay, and more.
4–6 Cinco de Mayo Festival
River West Festival Park, facebook.com/tulsahispanicchamber
The eighth annual Cinco de Mayo Festival will feature live music, authentic Mexican food, arts and crafts, rides, and other activities.
5 Rose Festival
Rose District, Broken Arrow, rosedistrict.com
This festival features a rose show and garden experts, as well as live music, art, food, kids’ activities, and more.
10–13 Rooster Days
Central Park, Broken Arrow, roosterdays.com
Now in its 87th year, Rooster Days features carnival rides and games, an indoor/outdoor marketplace, 15K run, and the annual parade and Miss Rooster Days Pageant.
11–12 Latin Fest
Hatbox Field Airport, Muskogee, $15-$40, omhof.com
This festival presented by the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame will feature a tribute to Santana by Caravanserai, Bachata sensation Voz a Voz, and more.
11–13 Germanfest
German-American Society of Tulsa, gastulsa.org
Celebrate German culture with traditional food, song and dance, art, and other activities.
12–13 Tulsa Wind Riders Festival of Kites
Tulsa Wind Riders Kite Field, facebook.com/tulsawindriders
This 25th annual festival promises to be the kite fly of the year.
13–17 Tulsa International Balloon Festival
Tulsa Raceway Park, $20/car, tulsaibf.com
TIBF features spectacular hot air balloon glows and flights, as well as a carnival with rides, shopping, and food.
17–20 Tulsa International Mayfest
Deco District, tulsamayfest.org
Mayfest boasts works by more than 100 artists in indoor and outdoor exhibits and booths, family-friendly fun, and dozens of music, dance, poetry, and comedy performances on several outdoor stages.
18–20 Blue Dome Arts Festival
Blue Dome District, bluedomearts.org
Celebrate local art in the Blue Dome District, where more than 250 local artists will display works, local food trucks will fill the air with delicious scents, and local bands and performers will take the stage all day and night.
20 Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival
Tulsa Arts District, thehopjam.com
The beer: more than 75 breweries from 14 states and five countries. The music: Manchester Orchestra, Nada Surf, Ra Ra Riot, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, and others. The verdict: Hanson knows how to throw a party.
24–27 Rocklahoma
Pryor, $119–$596, rocklahoma.com
The hard-rockin’-est festival in the state will feature performances by A Perfect Circle, Cheap Trick, The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots, Clutch, Andrew WK, and many more.
26 Route 66 Patriotfest
Historical Route 66 Village, rt66patriotfest.com
This fourth annual festival includes a cruise down The Mother Road from one side of Tulsa to the other and an outdoor festival with live music and entertainment, a patriotic pet show, military museum, pin-up contest, and more.
26–27 Habit Mural Festival
Gateway Building, habitfestival.com
20 artists, both local and from around the country, will once again transform the Gateway Building with new larger-than-life works of art.
31–June 4 World Culture Music Festival
Soundpony and The Yeti, wcmfestival.com
Last year, this annual showcase of local and regional talent became the biggest hip-hop festival in the state. Growth continues this year with dozens of performers across three stages, including Mr. Burns, Written Quincy, Steph Simon, Jabee, and many more.
June
1 Real Okie Craft Beer Festival
Hangar #1, Hatbox Field, Muskogee, $20–$40, friendsofhonorheightspark.org
This beer festival exclusively features breweries from the great state of Oklahoma.
1–2 Tallgrass Music Festival
Skiatook, $10–$20, tallgrassmusicfestival.com
This 14th annual bluegrass festival will feature performances by The Cleverly Trio, Special Consensus, The Baker Family, and more.
1–3 Tulsa Pride
East Village District, tulsapride.org
Oklahoma’s largest Pride celebration features a two-day festival in the East Village and a parade—and concludes with Pride Picnic in the Park at Guthrie Green.
1–29 SummerStage Tulsa
Tulsa Performing Arts Center, prices vary per performance, summerstagetulsa.org
There’s a little something for everyone in the twelve SummerStage shows taking place throughout June: drama, comedy, dance, jazz, funk, and even a bit of magic.
7 Brookside Rumble and Roll Parade and Street Festival
Brookside, rumbleandroll.com
This party begins on the street, with a parade of hundreds of motorcycles from TU to the street party on Brookside, which features live music on an outdoor stage. The event benefits Make-A-Wish Oklahoma.
7–10 deadCenter Film Festival
Oklahoma City, $12–$200, deadcenterfilm.org
Oklahoma’s largest film festival features over 100 feature, short, and student films.
8–10 Saint Francis Tulsa Tough
Blue Dome District, Tulsa Arts District, and Tulsa River Parks, tulsatough.com
A weekend of bicycle races. (Read: any excuse to drink in (well, near) the street.)
9–15 OKM Music Festival
Bartlesville, okmmusic.org
Formerly known as OK Mozart, this festival has its roots in classical music and also features jazz, pop,
and country acts.
13–17 Juneteenth
Greenwood District, tulsajuneteenth.org
Celebrate black culture and heritage with cultural programs, film, jazz, R&B, gospel concerts, and more.
22–23 Soul Fest
Hatbox Field Airport, Muskogee, $25–$40, omhof.com
Part of Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame’s Summer Concert Series, this festival will be two days of soul and R&B.
29 Bixby Freedom Celebration
Bentley Park Sports Complex, Bixby, bixbyfreedomcelebration.com
For those who just can’t wait to celebrate our nation’s independence, Bixby offers this earlybird patriotic fest, with family-friendly activities, guest speakers, and a spectacular fireworks show.
July
4 Folds of Honor Freedom Fest
River West Festival Park and Veterans Park, riverparks.org/freedomfest
Celebrate our great nation by enjoying one of the biggest fireworks displays in the region.
11–15 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival
Okemah, ticket price TBA, woodyfest.com
Woody Guthrie’s annual birthday party in his hometown will feature performances by John Fullbright, Jason Mraz, Willis Alan Ramsey, Carter Sampson, Annie Guthrie, and more.
12–13 Tulsa Funk Fest
The Yeti, facebook.com/tulsafunkfestival
Two stages, one funky time. Featuring Henna Roso, Dane Arnold & The Soup, Move Trio, TFM, and more.
13–15 Tokyo in Tulsa
Cox Business Center, $50–$185, tokyointulsa.com
Oklahoma’s largest celebration of Japanese pop culture includes guest speakers and panels, gaming, cosplay, music, manga, and more.
14 Dodgebrawl
BOK Center, $35/person, free for spectators, tulsadodgebrawl.com
This one-day dodge ball tournament allows teams to play for a charity or non-profit of their choice.
19–21 Porter Peach Festival
Porter, porterpeachfestivals.com
Celebrate and enjoy the delicious peaches of Porter, OK, with arts & crafts, live music, dessert contests, and free peaches and ice cream for all.
26–31 Exchange Choreography Festival
Tulsa Performing Arts Center, thebellhouse.info
This dance festival will feature performances as well as master classes led by David Parsons, Beijing Dance Theatre, and Doug Varone.
27–28 Gospel Fest
Hatbox Field Airport, Muskogee, price TBA, omhof.com
This weekend dedicated to the glorious sound of gospel music is part of Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame’s Summer Concert Series.
28–29 I AM Yoga Festival
Tulsa Garden Center, $10–$109, iamyogafestival.com
I AM Yoga returns with a weekend of yoga classes, meditations, hikes, marketplace shopping, seminars, and community-building activities.
August
11 Will Rogers/Wiley Post Fly-In
Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, Oologah, willrogers.com
Over 100 planes will fly around Oologah Lake for this day of remembrance for Okie legend Will Rogers. There will also be a classic car show and family-friendly activities.
25 Wild Brew
Cox Business Center, $50–$165, wildbrew.org
Sample beers from dozens of breweries from Oklahoma, around the country, and around the world, and food from over 30 local restaurants, all while benefitting The Sutton Aviary Research Center.
25 Utsav India Fest
Expo Square, iagtok.org
Celebrate Indian culture with traditional food, dancing, and crafts.
31–Sept. 2 POSTOAK Wine and Jazz Festival
POSTOAK Lodge and Retreat, ticket price TBA, postoaklodge.com
This festival begins with a jazz dinner, followed by a day-long concert featuring sets by Grady Nichols and Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer, and concludes with jazz brunch.
September
3 Great Raft Race
Arkansas River, tulsaraftrace.com
What’s the boat equivalent of a jalopy? Well, that’s what the brave, river-faring folk will be captaining during this race for the ages.
6–8 Bluegrass and Chili Festival
Claremore Expo Center, bluegrasschilifest.com
The lineup is still TBA, but this Claremore event is well worth a late-summer road trip.
7–9 WizardWorld Comic Con
Cox Business Center, price TBA, wizardworld.com
Comic Con comes back to Tulsa with celebrity panels, signings, and
much more.
14–15 Tulsa Overground Film and Music Festival
Multiple locations, tulsaoverground.com
Other than the move from spring to fall, little is known about events planned for the 20th anniversary of this film/music/weird goodness spectacular. The festival will continue to take film, band, and VR submissions on their website through June 11.
14–16 Oklahoma Scotfest
River West Festival Park, $5-$250, okscotfest.com
Don a kilt and celebrate Scottish heritage with music, dancing, highland games, and some hot, steaming haggis.
15 MisFEST
River West Festival Park, $15–$65, misfest.com
Co-founded by local musicians Casii Stephan and Amira Al-Jiboori, the second annual MisFEST will celebrate women in music.
15 The Big Om at Home
Centennial Park, price TBA, bigomyogaretreat.com
This one-day event features several yoga workshops, vendors, and live music.
20–23 Tulsa Greek Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, $5, tulsagreekfestival.com
Celebrate Greek culture with traditional food, dance, art, and more.
22 MOJO Fest
East Village District, facebook.com/mojofesttulsa
Co-founded by Jamie Oldaker, the third MOJO Fest will feature performances by John Fullbright, Ann Bell & Friends, The Beckham Brothers, and The Subdudes