Weekly Events Calendar: May 20-26

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
Roots music is a blend of so many styles—blues, country, folk, jazz, rock—and it was influenced by so many different places—the Appalachians, the British Isles, the Caribbean, the American South—that it's almost impossible to define. But whatever you want to call it, you’ll know it when you hear it at the Roots Ball in Medicine Park. On Memorial Day weekend, visitors can explore the beautiful cobblestone streets and unique shops of the area while they listen to dozens of local performers and bands. There also will be plenty of food, crafts, and art for sale, so it’s not just your ears that get to have all the fun. And admission is free.
May 24-26. Admission, free medicinepark.com

By Nathan Gunter
When I was a kid, one of my favorite things was any time we’d get to come to Oklahoma City and visit what then was known as the Cowboy Hall of Fame. I loved the Western and Native art, and if my parents had let me, I’d have permanently moved into the little Wild West village they have, which at that time was located in the basement.
So if you’ve got some kiddos in your life—even the one who still lives inside you and occasionally suggests ice cream for dinner—then you need to take ‘em to the Chuck Wagon Festival at the Cowboy Saturday May 25 and Sunday May 26. There’ll be chuck wagons and Native cooks serving cowboy and Indigenous food, plus a slate of live music performances that include Oklahoma Western greats like Kyle Dillingham. There’ll be a ladies’ frontier fashion show, a live interpreter telling stories as Bill Pickett or a Buffalo Soldier, a Seminole and Cherokee fur trader camp, and a class on Dutch Oven cooking, to name only a very small percentage of all the fun there will be at this two-day chuckstravaganza. Plus, you get to wander the whole museum! Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, $10 for students with a valid ID, $5 for kids six to twelve, and free for those cowpokes five and under. For more information, call (405) 478-2250.
May 25-26. Tickets, $5-$15. nationalcowboymuseum.org

Feast 1800s style during this week's Chuck Wagon Festival at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Photo by Lori Duckworth / Oklahoma Tourism

By Ben Luschen
Do you all know what the best kind of weekend is? A three-day one. Unless, you know, there’s a four day one. Thanks to Memorial Day, a day meant to honor those who have lost their lives in service to our country, this week features just such a weekend. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time for that day trip you always want to do but never have time for normally. Why not take the opportunity to visit the Panhandle? You have the perfect excuse, because Black Mesa State Park and the Camp Works convenience store and gift shop are once again partnering for their annual Customer Appreciation Memorial Weekend Event. There is not a better time to go check out the beautiful surroundings of Black Mesa, the state’s highest point of elevation. A full slate of activities is planned at the Camp Works shop in the park, including star gazing, reptile presentations, guided hikes, giveaways, lawn games, a pulled pork lunch, and even commemorative T-shirts from Jodie Blonde Creations. The celebration is all day both Saturday and Sunday, but closed on Memorial Day Monday. If you plan on heading out, I strongly advise calling ahead to check on what will be going on at the time you plan to be there. Call Black Mesa State Park at (580) 665-8396. You can also find Camp Works by searching for it on Facebook.
May 25-26. Admission, free. facebook.com/BlackMesaStatePark. Camp Works Facebook page

Camp Works and the Black Mesa State Park welcome visitors to the Panhandle during the Customer Appreciation Memorial Weekend Event. Photo by Kim Baker / Oklahoma Tourism

By Megan Rossman
No one in Oilton really is sure why they call it Old Timers Day, but that doesn’t stop anyone from celebrating this auspicious occasion. Load the truck up with seniors, even if it’s just your own aging body, and set your sights on this tiny town about forty-five minutes west of Tulsa on May 25. You can start the day at 8 a.m. with a 5K run or a pancake breakfast—which seems like an easy choice for an oldster to make. After that, check out a pageant, balloon toss, parade, turtle races, and other activities.
May 25. Admission, free. oiltonchamber.org

By Kiersten Stone
With art for everyone, the Paseo Arts Festival is one of the largest art festivals in the state. Hosted every year on Memorial weekend – this year being May 25-27 – guests can browse original works from artists all over the country. You can also enjoy a variety of live music and dancing being performed at two different stages, as well as at a third stage showcasing spoken word and standup comedy. Don’t forget to bring the whole family either as there is a kids area where they can tap into their creative side and explore the arts in their own way. And not to be left out, the festival will feature 20 different food and drink vendors. For more information call 405-525-2688.
May 25-27. Registration, $50-$65. thepaseo.org

Live music, irresistible fair foods, and lots of art vendors make the Paseo Arts Festival in Oklahoma City an annual favorite for many. Photo by Lori Duckworth / Oklahoma Tourism

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.