Weekly Events Calendar: November 25-December 1, 2024

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 Kiersten Stone
If you like to get in the Christmas spirit early or if you just enjoy holiday lights, head down to Ardmore’s Regional Park any time between now and December 30 to meander a mile and a half of brilliant, vibrant Christmas lights. The Ardmore Festival of Lights is one of the largest in southern Oklahoma, and even includes more than 150 animated displays. You can set your music to your favorite Christmas tunes as you cruise and soak in all of the holiday cheer in this winter wonderland. Admission is free for all, however donations are welcome.
Through December 30. Donations encouraged. [exploreardmore.com](external:https://www.exploreardmore.com/attraction/ardmore-festival-of-lights/

Those who visit Ardmore's Festival of Lights might finally have time to catch up with the Gingerbread Man. Photo courtesy Ardmore Festival of Lights

By Ben Luschen
To quote Neil Diamond in a song about a noodle-necked, bioluminescent extra-terrestrial, “Turn on your heartlight / Let it shine wherever you go / Let it make a happy glow / For all the world to see.” Now, the tradition of putting up and admiring festive lights during the holiday season is very much of this world, but that doesn’t diminish the cosmic joy of it all. That’s why I can confidently say Purcell’s Lights from the Heart display is out of this world. Opening on Thanksgiving Eve, November 27, and remaining through the end of 2024, this two mile drive around Purcell City Lake features bright tunnels of light and bright displays depicting toy soldiers, snowflakes, candy canes, penguins and all the joyous winter symbology we crave this time of year. Santa even makes time in his busy schedule on Saturdays for photo ops--now that’s something to phone home about! The Lights from the Heart route opens daily at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
November 27-December 31. Donations encouraged. purcellok.gov

By Megan Rossman
Thanksgiving is a day of choices. Who’s hosting? Who’s bringing what? Who’s going to dredge up an ancient family argument or create a new political one? You can eliminate at least a few of these questions by handing the cooking over to the professionals at Tellers restaurant at the First National Center in downtown Oklahoma City. In the splendor of an ornate former banking hall, guests will feast on a three-course prix fixe menu. They’ll begin with Caesar salad, burrata, or honey nut squash soup before moving on to a main course that consists of wood-fired heritage turkey with fancy stuffing, Duroc pork chops, or Verlasso salmon accompanied by Brussels sprouts, baked polenta, and grilled broccoli. And for the grand finale, guests can choose from pumpkin pie, hazelnut pecan bourbon tart, or apple crumble pie. With the stress of cooking and hosting removed, perhaps the arguments will be at least more lighthearted.
November 28. Registration, $75. tellersokc.com

There might not be a more ornate holiday setting than inside Oklahoma City's First National Center—yet another reason to enjoy the Tellers Thanksgiving prix fixe menu. Photo courtesy Lori Duckworth / Oklahoma Tourism

By Karlie Ybarra
If you've ever coveted princess powers—say the ability to attract animals with your beautiful singing voice, heal people with your golden locks, or fit into the most impossibly tiny glass slipper—you might be in luck. On November 30 and December 1, Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma City is hosting the Princess Holiday Ball, where girls and boys can participate in sing-alongs, photo ops, and etiquette classes. And, if one of the radioactive royals bites you, you'll have new powers for the holidays.
November 30-December 1. Admission starts at $25 for adults and $40 for children. thecharacterco.com

Make precious moments with your young one by attending one of the Princess Holiday Balls this weekend at Oklahoma City's Gaillardia Country Club. Photo courtesy Character Connection Co.

By Nathan Gunter
It’s the holidays, so it’s time for nog. And none of that knock-off nog—no corn nog, no beef nog, no kale nog. Give me the one and only nog that matters: Eggnog. And suddenly you’re wondering, what is nog, anyway? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, nog was a kind of strong ale brewed in East Anglia in England. The name also might come from noggin, which was either a wooden stool used to serve alcohol or a kind of wooden mug from which to drink it. Or maybe it comes from the Scottish nugged ale, which was a term for ale that had been warmed with a hot poker.
However it came about, it’s a holiday must at our house: We pour great big mugs of Braum’s eggnog and watch A Christmas Story while we put up our tree. I add some bourbon to mine.
Like I said, I’m partial to Braum’s eggnog, but if you want to really dive in to your nog enthusiasm, Living Arts of Tulsa is hosting the annual First Lady Nog and Glögg Off at 6 p.m. Sunday, December 1. This is the twelfth annual event, and it brings together a dozen restaurants to compete to see who has the best eggnog and mulled wine, or glögg, in Tulsa. Proceeds benefit the Art Department at Emerson Montessori Elementary School, and in addition to nog and wine, there’ll be an assortment of holiday drinks and hors d’ouvres. Tickets start at $50 per person.
December 1. Admission starts at $50. facebook.com/nogofftulsa

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.