Weekly Events Calendar, April 10-16, 2023

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.

Native American history is important, but it's not remotely all there is to the Native life experience. This year marks the fiftieth Annual Symposium on the American Indian at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah and this year's theme is forward looking: "Envisioning Indigenous Futurity." Visitors can enjoy workshops on Native American traditions, short films, traditional art vendors, stickball exhibitions, and more. It all wraps up with the NSU powwow. April 10-15. Admission, free. offices.nsuok.edu

Downtown Clinton is the place to be for cornhole competitors during Friends on Frisco. Photo by cfarnsworth

Petula Clark was onto something with her hit song, "Downtown," but we'd like to make a few addendums. You don't have to be alone or lonely to go downtown. And worries, noise, and hurry are also completely optional for a trip downtown. See for yourself at Friends on Frisco in downtown Clinton on the second Thursday of the month from April through October. This month's gathering includes the usual suspects: a farmer's market, live music, and food trucks aplenty. But if competition is your fuel, you won't want to miss this month's cornhole tournament. April 13. Admission, free. clintonok.org

Revolution-era France was not tres magnifique for everyone. Learn a little and laugh a lot during the University of Central Oklahoma Theatre Department's presentation of The Revolutionists in Edmond. Lauren Gunderson's play about four real women who tried—and failed—to live through the Reign of Terror is brutally funny and addresses many current-day issues including violence, feminism, terrorism, and how to truly change the world. April 13-16. Tickets, free. uco.edu

Using trident-like spears, fisherman will pull up some beauts at the Lake Eucha Gigging Tournament in Jay. Photo by OsiyoTV

Fishing is often considered a relaxing pastime . . . for everyone but the fish. Gig fishing is much more hands on as two-person teams use flat boats to hunt fish with trident-like poles called gigs that spear the fish. See for yourself, or grab a gig and take part at the Green Country Giggers Association's Gigging Tournament at Lake Eucha in Jay. Even those who aren't inclined to get on the water can still enjoy concessions, live music, and that small-town sense of community. April 14-16. Tickets, $1. facebook.com

Locust Grove becomes poetry central during Wonder City Wordfest. Photo by Lonnie Rickey

The charming small town of Locust Grove has plenty to recommend it, but few events are more captivating than the annual Wonder City Wordfest at the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry, aka ROMP. Every form of the written word is celebrated, including storytelling, music, and, of course, poetry. Take part in the Poet Costume Contest, listen to live music while you dance in the parking lot, and stick around for the award ceremony for the Oklahoma Poem Contest. April 15. Admission, free. rompoetry.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.