Weekly Events Calendar, May 8-14, 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.

Take in the sights and sounds of McAlester's annual Italian Festival, including the slurp-tacular spaghetti-eating contest Photo courtesy McAlester Italian Festival

Some boots are, as Nancy Sinatra taught us, made for walking. And Okies are well aware that a lot of boots are made for roping and riding. But the city of McAlester has celebrated a different kind of boot since 1971 during the annual Italian Festival. Thousands will visit the Southeast Expo Center for two days of food, fun, and friendship in celebration of the area's Italian heritage. Take part in the spaghetti sauce contest or grab a ticket for an Italian dinner in the food tent where 900 pounds of meatballs and 800 pounds of Italian sausage will be served. May 12-13. Admission, free. themcalesteritalianfestival.org

Barbecue and chili are beginning to get an inferiority complex. Why are blues or bikes or bluegrass always tacked on? Can't it just be about the food? Muskogee listened to their plaintive cries and we all reap the benefits at the Exchange Club Chili & BBQ Cook-Off. Sample tasty 'cue and spicy chili from 100 cooking teams with a taster kit and help crown the People's Choice winner. For those who are still hungry, concessions will be available, and a kids' zone will keep any rugrats at bay with inflatables, pony rides, and face painting. May 12-13. Admission, $5-$10. muskogeecookoff.com

Enjoy the Strawberry Capital of the World with some sweet eats at the Stilwell Strawberry Festival. Photo by Roberto Barresi

The debate over whether tomatoes and watermelons are fruits or vegetables rages on, but botanists have ruled firmly that strawberries are fruits. Actually, they've ruled that strawberries are many fruits, since all those little hairs sticking off of them are considered fruits coming out of the receptacle. Don't bother bringing this up when visiting the Stilwell Strawberry Festival, as people will be too busy eating strawberries to worry about what to call them. In addition to free strawberries and ice cream, the event features a 5K run, carnival rides, and a parade leading up to the crowning of the Strawberry Queen. May 13. Admission, free. strawberrycapital.com

Located in Lincoln County is the town of Davenport, where Noah and Annie Sutton Davenport staked a claim in the Sac and Fox Opening of 1891. Less than a year later, the first post office opened in town and the postmistress was Noah and Annie's daughter, Nettie. Learn more about the town and its legacy during the annual Nettie Davenport Day Celebration. Watch bike and trike races, peruse the arts and crafts, and enjoy city-wide recognitions including "mother with the most children present" and "couple that has been married the longest." It's a slice of small-town Americana you won't want to miss. May 13. Admission, free. davenportok.org

See art, be art, make art, and more at Lawton's extremely inclusive Arts For All Festival. Photo courtesy Arts For All

Anyone can be an artist, but getting an honest appraisal of your work isn't always easy. Family and friends are too nice and strangers on the Internet can be needlessly cruel. Thread the needle at Lawton's Arts For All Festival in Shepler Park. During Southwest Oklahoma's largest free juried arts festival, artists from Oklahoma and Texas meet and compete in categories including fine art, photography, pottery, jewelry, and more. In addition to static arts, there will be two stages filled with musicians, dancers, and other entertainments. And enjoy the culinary arts at the food court, where cuisines from around the world will be available for purchase. May 12-14. Admission, free. lawtonartsforall.org/festival

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.