Weekly Events Calendar, February 21-27, 2022

Each week, Oklahoma Today staffers comb through their calendars to find a handful of great events happening across the state. Get out! See Oklahoma! And be sure to let us know what you find, either here or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @oklahomatoday.

The corks will be flying at the Champagne & Diamonds Gala in Enid to help raise funds for special needs care. Photo by Couleur

Bubbles and Baubles

Do a little good, drink a little sparkling wine, and maybe walk away with a $7,500 diamond. Just another night in Enid, right? The Champagne & Diamonds Gala, benefitting 4RKids, is a night of drinking, dancing, and live music. But don’t drain those champagne flutes too fast, because there’s a gemstone at the bottom of each one that guests can have appraised by Mead Jewelers at the gala. At the end of the night one lucky attendee will take home a one carat round brilliant cut diamond, but everyone will go home knowing they helped 4RKids promote community awareness of individuals with special needs. February 24. Tickets, $75. 4rkids.com

Pop That Corn

Lovers of independent and local film have a new destination! The Simply Indie Film Festival takes place largely at ShowBiz Cinemas Theater 6 in Edmond with blocks of short films interspersed with feature presentations including Fighting for Daybreak, Human Resources, and Sakthi Vibrations. Stay late for after parties at the Edmond Railyard and Frenzy Brewing in downtown Edmond for a chance to hobnob with up-and-coming filmmakers. February 24-26. Tickets, $10-$40. simplyindiefilmfest.com

It's a movie-lover's paradise when the Simply Indie Film Festival comes to Edmond. Photo by Amit Kumar

B-E-E-R

Time to avenge that devastating loss in Mrs. May’s fourth grade class when you mistook copyright for copywrite and got bounced from the bee. And you can do it with alcohol—which was also not allowed in the fourth grade—when the Midtown Rotary Spelling Bee(r) returns to Oklahoma City’s Tower Theatre. Toss back a few local beers, munch on some heavy hors d’oeuvres from S&B Burger Joint and Poblano Grill, and really, really hope that no one asks you to spell hors d’oeuvres. February 25. Tickets, $50. okcmidtownrotary.org

Wet and Wild

It is generally unacceptable to get in the water when visiting an aquarium, so it bears repeating that the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks is not inviting you to swim with the fish during its SPLASH! fundraiser, despite the name. Instead, guests will be enjoying craft beers from local breweries, bites from beloved area chefs, and taking part in games and merriment, like riding a mechanical bull shark. Best of all, ticket sales will make a big splash into the budget of the aquarium, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating Oklahomans about the aquatic world. February 26. Tickets, $75-$200. okaquarium.org

Crowds will be masking up for a different reason during the Tulsa Mardi Gras Masquerade. Photo by Nicolette

Bead It

Much of the world got into masks in 2019, but by then it was old news to the people of Tulsa who have been masking up for at least six years, judging by the Tulsa Mardi Gras Masquerade. Profits from the Mardi Gras party filled with live music, authentic Cajun cuisine, and some outrageous costumes will all go to VFW Post 577 in Tulsa. Guests should keep their eyes peeled for burlesque dancers and flying beads. Especially that last one. February 26. Tickets, $20-$25. mardigrastulsa.com

Written By

Greg Elwell

Greg Elwell served as research editor and web editor of Oklahoma Today from 2018-2023. He also has worked for newspapers, medical research organizations, and government institutions.