Military tributes to fun festivals, Memorial Day weekend events planned across Oklahoma
Despite the continuing bouts of springtime storms, the unofficial start of summer has almost arrived.
From military tributes and family-friendly festivals to outdoor music and long-running rodeos, many venues across the Sooner State have special events planned for Memorial Day weekend.
With Memorial Day coming up on May 27 — and events planned throughout the holiday weekend — here are some of the festivities where Oklahomans can kick off their summer season:
Oklahoma National Guard Museum’s Memorial Day Ceremony
Previously known as the 45th Infantry Division Museum, the Oklahoma National Guard Museum, 2145 NE 36, will host its annual ceremony honoring U.S. service members at 10 a.m. May 27. Brig. Gen. Christopher Eason, assistant adjutant general of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, will be the keynote speaker. Pre-ceremony music by the 145th Army Band starts at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free. Information: https://www.facebook.com/okngmuseum.
Fort Sill National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, Elgin
The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Fort Sill National Cemetery, 2648 NE Jake Dunn Rd. in Elgin, will host a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at 10 a.m. May 27. It will include speeches, a moment of silence and the rendering of military honors. Information: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftsill.asp.
Enid Memorial Day Ceremony
The Memorial Day service starts at 10 a.m. May 27 at Woodring Regional Airport, 1026 S 66, Enid. A free meal will follow for veterans; donations are accepted. Information: https://visitenid.org/event/memorial-day-service.
33rd annual Chuck Wagon Festival
This family favorite festival features outdoor cooking, live entertainment, artisan demonstrations, Western reenactors, Native American cultural showcases, country and Western dancing and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 25-26 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63. Information: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/annual-chuck-wagon-festival.
When is Memorial Day? Here's when the holiday falls in 2024 and why its celebrated
Halloween in May
The local music organization Make Oklahoma Weirder riffs on the Christmas in July concept with its third Halloween in May at 8 p.m. May 25 at Capitol Hill’s Resonant Head, 400 SW 25. The event is a mixed-genre concert and costume contest that includes tacos, candy and stickers. This year's event will feature performances by Tulsa Indigenous doom metal band Medicine Horse, Oklahoma City hip-hop/R&B group Mars Deli, OKC glam garage rock band Bad Athlete and Norman goth cowboy club music outfit Laine's Heathen Boots. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/WeirderOK.
Bethany 66 Festival
Free festivities include a classic car show, children's activities, food trucks and live entertainment by Brian Lee Dunning, John the Franklin, Deep Fried Sequins and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 25 in the one-block area from 38th Street north to 39th Expressway, between Peniel and Asbury. Information: https://www.facebook.com/BethanyImprovementFoundation.
78th annual Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo, Claremore
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event will feature bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding and more. Gates open at 6 p.m., the preshow starts at 7 p.m., and the rodeo action begins at 8 p.m. May 24-26 at Will Rogers Stampede Arena, 13653 E 480 Rd. The festivities begin with Boots on the Boulevard, featuring food trucks, a mechanical bull, a dunk tank and live music from 6 to 9 p.m. May 23 in downtown Claremore's Lilac District. Information: https://www.facebook.com/WillRogersStampede.
GalaxyCon OKC
The inaugural GalaxyCon OKC will feature more than 150 fandom guests and 300-plus hours of programming, including photo ops, Q&As, panels, costume contests, cosplay events, workshops, parties, gaming tournaments and celebrity meet-and-greets. Celebrity guests include "Star Trek" cast members George Takei, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden and John de Lancie; "Daredevil" stars Vincent D'Onofrio, Charlie Cox and Deborah Ann Woll; "The Boys" star Antony Starr; and original "Blue's Clues" host Steve Burns. Information: https://galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-oklahoma-city.
More: AAA forecasts nearly 44M travelers for Memorial Day weekend: See best times to travel
Simmons Center Memorial 5K Fun Run and Walk, Duncan
The Simmons Center, 1330 Chisholm Trail Parkway, will honor veterans and active-duty servicemen and women at this event at 9 a.m. May 25. Information: http://www.simmonscenter.com.
'Wampum'
Tulsa-based artist Elisa Harkins (Cherokee/Muscogee) sings in a combination of Cherokee, English and Muscogee (Creek) to electronic dance music, some of which is inspired by sheet music of Indigenous music notated by Daniel Chazanoff during the 20th century, at 7 p.m. May 24 at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center's Te Ata Theater, 11 NW 11. Information: https://oklahomacontemporary.org/performance/upcoming-performances/wampum.
47th annual Paseo Arts Festival
The long-running event will feature 90 visiting artists, plus dozens of neighborhood artists, along with 50-plus Oklahoma entertainers, numerous food and beverage vendors, children's activities, free shuttle service and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 25-26, with live music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27 in the Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey. Admission is free. Information: www.thepaseo.org.
28th annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, Muskogee
The family-friendly activities include jousting tournaments, performances by traveling acrobats, Bird of Prey exhibitions, festive food and shopping for handcrafted items. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through June 2 at the Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W Fern Mountain Rd. The festival is also open on Memorial Day. Information: www.okcastle.com.
121st annual Boley Rodeo
Started in 1903, the nation's oldest African American community-based rodeo carries on its long-standing traditions May 25 with a parade at 3 p.m. and the rodeo action at 7 p.m. in the historic Black town of Boley. Information: www.thetownofboley.org.
21st annual Norman Veterans Car Show
More than 25 classes of cars, street rods, trucks and more will be displayed and judged at the long-running show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 25 at the Norman Veterans Center, 1776 E Robinson. Information: https://www.canadianrivercruisers.com.
Riversport OKC summer hours
Riversport OKC starts its daily summer hours on May 27 and continues them through Aug. 4 in downtown Oklahoma City at 800 Riversport Drive. People can participate in rafting, tubing, surfing, flatwater paddling and land adventures from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the summer. On Memorial Day, active duty and military veterans receive special $34.99 pricing on their Riversport pass. Information: https://www.riversportokc.org.
Tour de Meers Bike Ride
An annual fundraising event for the Meers Volunteer Fire Department, the May 25 bike ride offers cyclists varying lengths for their routes, including 10, 22, 36 or 60 miles, in the vicinity of Meers, Medicine Park and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Registration begins at 6 a.m., and the ride starts at 7:30 a.m. Information: www.tourdemeers.org.
OKC Baseball Club vs Reno Aces
What's summer without baseball? The OKC Baseball Club continues its home stand against the Reno Aces at 7:05 p.m. May 23-24, 6:05 p.m. May 25 and 2:05 p.m. May 26 at at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 Mickey Mantle Dr. Fireworks will follow Friday night's game. Information: https://www.milb.com/oklahoma-city/schedule/2024-05.
The Roots Ball, Medicine Park
Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Rachel Ammons, Johnny Mullenax Band, KATSÜK, Brad Fiedler Junk Band, Ozark Cobras and more will perform May 24-26 at Hitchin' Post Park in the historic resort town. Admission is free. Information: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverMedicineParkOK.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor OKC opens
The OKC water park, 3908 W Reno, opens for the summer May 25 with Memorial Day weekend hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 25-27. The park then settles into regular summer hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. Information: https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborokc.
'Mamma Mia!'
OKC Broadway is closing its 2023-2024 season with the 25th anniversary tour of the enduringly popular jukebox musical featuring the songs of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ABBA, with performances continuing through May 26 at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: https://www.okcbroadway.com/mammamia.
71st annual Barnsdall Big Heart Day
The all-day festivities May 25 include a parade, a turtle race and frog jump, children's games, a grand fireworks finale and more. Additional activities are planned throughout the holiday weekend. Information: www.facebook.com/BarnsdallChamber.
Norman's Outdoor Movie in the Park: 'Barbie'
The Outdoor Movie Series at Norman's Lions Park, 450 S Flood Ave., has begun, with a free outdoor screening of "Barbie" scheduled for May 24. Pre-show activities start at 7 p.m., and the movie will begin at sundown. Information: https://www.normanok.gov/residents-visitors/parks-recreation/recreation/special-events.
Trail of Honor Memorial Run, Fort Gibson
Designed to support efforts to create a permanent trail of American flags leading to the Fort Gibson National Cemetery, this 5K and one-mile fun run event will start at 8 a.m. May 25 at Legendary Fitness, 1121 E Poplar Street, Fort Gibson. The Fort Gibson National Cemetery, where veterans from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War are buried, is open for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, with visiting hours from 7 a.m. to sunset. Information: https://runsignup.com/trailofhonor.
Beats & Bites Festival, Norman
For the eighth year, Norman's Riverwind Casino, 1544 W OK 9, is continuing its outdoor live music series. The May 25 installment features a concert by country music hitmakers Chris Janson and Easton Corbin, plus food trucks and more. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults; children 12 and younger get in free. Information: https://www.riverwind.com/entertain/beats-and-bites.
NJCAA Division II World Series, Enid
A dozen National Junior College Athletic Association Division II teams from across the country try to navigate “The Road to Enid" May 24-June 1 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark, 301 S Grand Ave. The Enid ballpark has played host to this national championship tournament since 2009. Information: https://visitenid.org/event/njcaa-world-series.
Scissortail Park's Free Concerts in the Park with Jon Muq
A singer-songwriter born in Uganda and now living in Austin, Texas, Jon Muq will perform a free concert in the downtown OKC park, 300 SW 7, at 8 p.m. May 24 before going out on tour with The Black Keys this summer. Tulsa-based singer-songwriter Casii Stephan will open the show.
Black Wall Street Legacy Festival, Tulsa
Commemorating the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a series of free, all-ages series of events is planned from May 25-June 1 in and around the Greenwood Cultural Center, 322 N Greenwood Ave., Tulsa. Information: https://www.blackwallstreetlegacyfest.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Memorial Day weekend events across Oklahoma, from rodeos to concerts
