Weekly Events Calendar, December 13-19, 2021

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.

Put your feet to the street at Mitch Park in Edmond for the 5K and 10K Merry Mitchmas races and receive an ornament medal to celebrate. Photo courtesy Pixabay

Run For It!

The following are ways lazy people get ornaments for their trees: receiving one from a school-age child, buying them online and having them delivered, just giving up and hanging anything with a string attached. For the less lazy, there’s a new way. Head to Edmond’s Mitch Park for the Merry Mitchmas 5K and 10K races where participants will receive an ornament medal that will let Santa Claus know the reason the cookies are all gone is because you earned them. December 18. Registration, $35. redcoyoterunning.com/merrymitchmas.html

Claus Out

Laughter is the best medicine and there’s sure to be a lot of it at Medicine Park’s Santa Parade and Christmas Carnival. Guests can enjoy hours of fun at the carnival before sneaking off to watch Santa and Mrs Claus lead a parade through Medicine Park as they toss toys and candy to the crowds. The parade starts at 2 p.m., but the carnival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to get your jollies. December 18. Admission, Free. facebook.com

Adorn yourself in fancy foliage for the March of the Trees through Oklahoma City's Automobile Alley as the crowd enjoys the longest night of the year. Photo courtesy Factory Obscura

The Long, Long Night

It’s not your imagination; the days really have been getting shorter. But never fear! The trend will soon reverse itself as the Winter Solstice passes on December 18. To mark the day, Factory Obscura and Oklahoma Contemporary are teaming up for March of the Trees. Put on your best deciduous cosplay and join other tree-people for activities and refreshments outside the Oklahoma Contemporary Studio School before everybody begins marching at 6:30 p.m. to Factory Obscura Mix-Tape in Automobile Alley. All the outdoor events are free, but MixTape and Doorways will be open late in case you’d like to plant some roots inside. December 18. Admission, Free. factoryobscura.com

Spooky Santa

Fans of the Oklahoma Today podcast, or the cool kids as they’re known throughout the world, already heard our interview with Tulsa Spirit Tours owner Teri French last week, but you can listen to it here. For those who missed it, they can join French for the Creepy Christmas Light Tour and hear about the ghoulish Christmas legends and traditions from around the world while taking in some of Tulsa’s most spectacular light displays. December 16-19. Tickets, $38. tulsaspirittour.com/creepy-christmas

Hop on the Tulsa Spirit Tours bus for a Creepy Christmas tour of the prettiest lights in Tulsa while listening to the scariest Christmas stories around. Photo courtesy Teri French

Probably Pecans

2002 doesn’t seem like that long ago until you realize the first Tobey McGuire Spider-Man film and Ozzy Osbourne’s reality show both debuted that year. It was also when Kelly Clarkson won American Idol, so it’s been a minute. All that to say, that was also the year The Oklahoma Nutcracker by Norman Ballet Company first graced the stage and it’s become an enduring holiday tradition ever since. Watch as the Tchaikovsky classic is reimagined for historic Oklahoma characters. December 19. Tickets, $15-$25. normanballetcompany.org/oklahoma-nutcracker

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.