Weekly Events Calendar: April 1-7

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.

By Karlie Ybarra
For us mortals, the arrival of spring means flowers blooming, animals busying themselves raising families, and more hours of sunshine. For the Greek goddess Persephone, however, it's time to leave her home and husband for months to get back to work continuing the cycle of life. But even Hades' better half is excited about her favorite springtime happening: the Azalea Festival held each year in Muskogee's Honor Heights Park. From April 1 through 30, visitors can see more than thirty thousand of the namesake flowers blanket forty acres in almost every color of the rainbow. Blooming tulips, dogwoods, and wisteria add even more variety to the floral smorgasbord. There's also walking trails, five lakes, an arboretum, and a butterfly sanctuary to explore on the grounds. Admission is free, even if you aren't a powerful deity. Visit muskogeeparks.org for more info.
April 1-30. Admission, free. tickets.riverspirittulsa.com

In Muskogee, April is all about azaleas. This week kicks off the city's annual Azalea Festival in Honor Heights Park, pairing a month's worth of events with natural beauty. Photo by Lori Duckworth

By Ben Luschen
OK, so we're doing my event Mad Lib style:

1. A type of animal _______________.
2. Something you wouldn’t want to see in a dark alley _______________.
3. A type of weather event ________________.
4. Something symbolic of the state of Oklahoma _______________.

The reason I had you all help me complete this Mad Lib is because the Oklahoma City Dodgers announced earlier this year that they are changing their name to the very Mad Lib prompt sounding Oklahoma City Baseball Club while they focus on a new localized team brand. So I figured why not help the suits out and offer some of our own suggestions during podvents. So let me tell you all about the Oklahoma City ________ who are welcoming into town the Albuquerque Isotopes to kick off the 2024 home schedule at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Opening night is Tuesday, April 2nd, but you can catch your hometown heroes, the fearsome ________ at any night during the six game series that lasts until Sunday, April 7. Catch the game this Friday or any of the Friday night games this season for Friday Night Fireworks, a perfect way to cap off a _________ game, weather permitting. Yup, nothing says Oklahoma City summer nights like a hot dog, peanuts, and a cold beer at the Oklahoma City ________ game—a tradition unlike any other. Check out okcbaseball.com to purchase tickets and find more information.
April 2-7. Tickets, $18-$38. gcaha.com

By Kiersten Stone
What could be better than a spring day spent outdoors? Well, how about a spring day outdoors spent creating and admiring art? The annual Montmartre Chalk Art Festival hosted at USAO in Chickasha is just the place for that. The festival, which will take place April 4, will feature artwork created by students from around the state, as well as adults. And even if you’re not an artist, everyone is invited to view the chalk art while booths from local vendors and grabbing a bite to eat. The festival is also held in connection with the Droverstock music festival. For more information, call 405-574-1302.
April 4. Registration, $10. Admission, free. usao.edu

Watch beautiful murals emerge beneath your feet at Montmarte, the chalk art festival at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha. Photo courtesy University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma

By Megan Rossman
With all the color and variety, you could easily surmise that flowers are nature’s most ubiquitous form of artistic expression. So, it makes sense to put them on display at Art in Bloom at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. From April 5 through the 7, the entire museum will be filled with elaborate floral sculptures and arrangements created by local designers that were inspired by the art and architecture of Philbrook. Anyone can check out these buds with regular admission, but if you buy a VIP ticket for $13 more, you can partake in champagne, build your own stunning bouquet, and gain access to the visiting exhibit Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective. For more information, visit philbrook.org.
April 5-7. Tickets, $5-$55. philbrook.org

Tulsa's Philbook Museum of Art will be even more colorful than usual when elaborate floral sculptures move into the space for the annual Art in Bloom event. Photo courtesy Philbrook Museum of Art

By Nathan Gunter
So I hear that in order to get in to see Spamalot at the Pollard Theatre in Guthrie, it’s not enough to just have a ticket. You must answer these questions three:
What . . . is your name?
What . . . is your quest?
What . . . is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
But don’t worry: On that last question, just ask if it’s a European or an African swallow, and you’ll be able to get to your seat just fine. That’s right! Spamalot, the hilarious Broadway musical based on the comedy of British nut jobs Monty Python, is coming to Guthrie’s Pollard Theatre for pretty much the entire month of April. Shows begin April 5 and end on April 27, so you’ll have many opportunities to follow along with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they search for the Holy Grail, encountering Knights who Say Ni, killer rabbits, and more crazy, hilarious stuff than should reasonably be able to fit into a two-hour musical. For tickets or more info, visit thepollard.org or call (405) 282-2800.
April 5-27. Tickets, $10-$35. thepollard.org

Written By

Ben Luschen

Luschen joined the *Oklahoma Today*’ staff as Research Editor in 2021 and currently works as the magazine's Web Editor, managing the website and social media fronts. His past *Oklahoma Today* stories have ranged in content from the state's bee and quail industries to its vibrant art and music scenes. Not adverse to a road trip, Luschen is always on the lookout for the next big adventure. He is never out of opinions about the current state of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.