Weekly Events Calendar, July 17-23, 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.

There is a certain kind of joy that comes from seeing authority figures and stern finger-waggers behaving foolishly. For proof, simply head to Grove for Nunsense II: The Second Coming at Grove Playmakers Theatre. This musical comedy features five squabbling nuns of the Little Sisters of Hoboken singing, dancing, and skewering one another as they attempt to stage a variety show. Audience members are encouraged to laugh without fear of having their knuckles rapped by a ruler. July 21-Aug 5. Tickets, $8-$15. playmakersofgrove.com

Vintage ads, neon signs, and more colorful historical items will be on display at the Tulsa Antique Advertising & Bottle Show. Photo courtesy Tulsa Antiques & Bottle Club

Capitalism has brought us many things: competing streaming services, better mouse traps, and even a short-lived sitcom based on cavemen characters created to sell more insurance. But it's also been a source of art and inspiration, all of which visitors can find at Tulsa Expo Square during the Tulsa Antique Advertising & Bottle Show. Whether its classic Burma Shave signs, lunch boxes for black-and-white TV shows, or old soda bottles, collectors will be searching, trading, and buying it up off more than a thousand sales tables at this event. July 22. Admission, free. tulsaantiquesandbottleclub.com/annual-show

It's been two years since the opening of the Choctaw Cultural Center in Calera and it's time to party. The Choctaw Cultural Center Anniversary Celebration is bringing new exhibits, new interactive classes, and new ways to learn about the Choctaw Nation to visitors. Guides will take guests on a tour of the center where they can learn to play stickball, watch dances, or try their hands at making chocolate in the cooking classroom. It's a great chance for those who haven't experienced the center yet or for past visitors to see what's new. July 22. Admission, $6-$12. choctawculturalcenter.com

Celebrate the second anniversary of the Choctaw Cultural Center in Calera with events inside and out. Photo by Lori Duckworth

Oklahomans have a special place in their hearts for cowboys who epitomize a romantic view of the state's Wild West history. The truth is less glamorous, but more interesting and visitors can learn more during the National Day of the Cowboy at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan. This all-ages event includes a chance to rope a longhorn, ride a bronco, design a brand, and listen to Jesse Chisholm tell the story of the Chisholm Trail in the Campfire Theater. Live music from Missy Frye and Gaylon Blankenship will entertain the adults while the kids are busy meeting children's book authors and doing Western-themed art projects. July 22. Admission, free. onthechisholmtrail.com

Rope up some fun and learn more about Oklahoma's heritage during National Day of the Cowboy at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan. Photo courtesy Chisholm Trail Heritage Center

When new music venues open across the state, they bring with them the promise of something different. Beer City Music Hall in Oklahoma City does different better than most, as evidenced by booking Algerian desert rock quintet Imarhan. Mixing funk, disco, and rock with Tamashek poetry creates a uniquely meditative sound that opens the mind, eases the spirit, and invites listeners to chill out. On the setlist are classic hits and songs from the group's latest album, "Aboogi." Give it a listen and you might just find a new favorite sound. July 23. Tickets, $17. beercitymusichall.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.