Weekly Events Calendar, May 30-June 5, 2022

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.

A Well-Known Stranger

Nicknames tend to stick and the great ones almost never fade away, but you'll forgive us for wondering if maybe it's time to retire "The Red Headed Stranger" for Willie Nelson. After all, the king of Outlaw Country has been making records since 1956, appears in TV and movies, and has written a number of books. We all know Willie by now, which is one more reason to grab tickets for his show at the Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City with guests Lukas Nelson and Charley Crockett. Don't be a stranger, you hear? June 1. Tickets, $39.50-$125. thezooamphitheatre.com

Visit the Magnolia Festival and find out that there's more than flowers to love in Durant. Photo by Felix Mittermeier

Stop and Smell The . . .

There's a delicious scent wafting up from southeastern Oklahoma this week as Durant hosts its annual Magnolia Festival in the Choctaw Events Center. Enjoy carnival rides and games, plenty of tasty fair food, and a big fireworks spectacular on opening night. But even if you can't make it for the first day, there's plenty of reasons to go, including a bike tour, a 5K, and the Choctaw Princess Pageant. June 2-4. Admission, free. magnoliafestival.com

If you're having trouble identifying anything in this picture, you really need to go to Tulsa VegFest this week. Photo by Jill Wellington

Veg Out

These aren't your mother's vegetables. Well, maybe they are. Let us ask you a question: Is your mother taking part in Tulsa VegFest at Guthrie Green? If so, then forget what we said before. Regardless of your mom's involvement, everyone should make their way to the Tulsa Art District for a plant-based food gathering that is as full of fun as it is full of fiber. Watch food demos, meet health coaches and personal trainers, or just wander around the 100 percent plant-based food court and discover just how tasty the greens you've been avoiding all these years really are. June 4. Admission, free. tulsavegfest.org

Vroom Vroom

Do you remember when your cousin Ed started calling himself "E-Money" and insisting that everyone do the same? Well, let's put that aside for a moment and talk about the lovely town of Hartshorne and its excellent event for gearheads, the H-Town Throwdown Street Races. This one-day-only happening has tons of racers competing to see whose machine reigns supreme as well as tasty food and a fun community atmosphere. June 4. Admission, $10. facebook.com

Hit several roads with a bike tour that traverses the state during Oklahoma Freewheel. Photo by Brent Olson

Pedal Power

We like to think we've done away with folks considering Oklahoma part of "fly-over country," but the forty-third annual Oklahoma Freewheel aims to make our great state a "bike-through destination." This week-long bicycle tour begins near the Red River and travels north just past the Kansas state line for a tip-to-tail tour of Oklahoma. Each day ends in a different Oklahoma town for camping, food, and local entertainment as riders learn more about what makes Oklahoma such a great place to be. June 5-11. Registration, $25-$450. nodroptours.com/the-tour

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.