BY HANNAH EDMONDSON
TRAVELING TASTEMAKERS
Lifelong friendship and local roots can be traced across the features of OK/ LA, a seasonal exhibition at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Showcased together for the first time, Oklahoma-born artists Patrick Blackwell, Joe Goode, Jerry McMillan, Ed Ruscha, Paul Ruscha, and Mason Williams intertwine their works at the Norman museum. These Okie artists grew up in the Sooner state in the ’50s and ’60s and made their way to Los Angeles in pursuit of distinct artistic careers, each achieving his own success. The artists’ visions merge together for one spectacularly nostalgic display.
PUMP UP THE ’KINS
The Shepherd’s Cross Pumpkin Festival in Claremore promises dozens of games, a petting zoo, and plenty of pumpkins. Visitors can stroll on foot or take advantage of the all-new drive-through pumpkin patch, which sends guests home with toys, games, and crafts to enjoy without leaving the car. Those seeking a more exotic mode of transportation can try a wagon ride through the hay meadow, or maybe even a sheep-drawn covered wagon ride. Visitors are entertained from dusk to dawn with fall storytime and a slew of educational demonstrations. Just be sure to make it through the hay maze before the sun goes down.
A CAROLING CHRISTMAS
Lyric Theatre celebrates its diamond anniversary production of A Christmas Carol in a brand new, festive way. This year, the company’s holiday production will premiere at Oklahoma City’s Harn Homestead, an outdoor venue decked out to stage Charles Dickens’ Victorian-era classic. The Christmas village setting will transport audiences to a distant atmosphere for their favorite holiday tale. Only a hundred guests will be admitted for each performance, so be sure to reserve a front-row seat for Scrooge’s story.
ROGER THAT
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in downtown Claremore is a fitting venue to host the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival. Contemporary filmmakers from across the globe will come together to compete for the Dog Iron Award while celebrating one of Oklahoma’s most beloved film icons. The festival is an online event that begins on Rogers’ birthday and will continue through the weekend. To honor the Oologah native’s youthful spirit, log on for this virtual birthday party celebration.
FUEL UP
Get the morning started on a high note with Coffee & Cars at Chisholm Creek. This free and family-friendly spectacle is founded on the belief that automobile enthusiasm pairs best with a hot cup of coffee, which is why car junkies from across the state gather in Oklahoma City for a morning of auto admiration and fresh java. Donuts also will be provided, but guests better arrive early if they want to snag plenty of pastries. Come enjoy an event where donuts in the parking lot becomes a tasty double entendre.
CHEERS TO THE VETS
The twenty-fourth annual Ponca City Veterans Day Parade will bring barbecue, bugle boys, and even a few bagpipes to downtown Ponca City for a memorable afternoon. This celebration of the troops features airplane flyovers, performances from local cheerleading teams, and a procession to showcase the veterans at the center of the momentous occasion. After the parade, a special concert by the Fort Sill Army Band will be held in War Memorial Park, and tanks, military displays, and reenactments will fill the area with festive entertainment. In addition to these attractions, there will be a barbecue spread big enough for all to enjoy.
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE AND READY TO RIDE
Squeeze into those old bike shorts and prepare to cruise with a gorgeous view. The Hills of Oklahoma Tour in Davis promises a feast for the eyes and stomachs, as a free lunch will be provided for all riders. Participants can choose to take on a thirty-mile, fifty-mile, or sixty-four-mile route. Each journey will feature the stunning landscape of the Arbuckle Mountains—a sight pretty enough to take your mind off all the exercise.
MAKERS AND TAKERS
Check off every gift on your list this year at the Elk City Christmas Craft Show & Gift Expo. The Elk City Convention Center will abound with goods to grab just in time for the holidays. Exhibitors from several states bring more than a hundred booths stocked with ceramics, handmade jewelry, home decor, and a plethora of treats. Round out every wish list with leather goods, hunting and fishing gear, and numerous collectible items. For those willing to shop ’til they drop, fresh onion burgers and other savory snacks will be sold onsite to keep the spree going strong.
SHOP AROUND
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Past Presents
The Owasso Historical Museum documents the hometown pride of its citizens.
Revving Up
This Oklahoma venue provides a space for those who have a need for speed.
ROAD Less traveled
OKLAHOMA’S DIRT ROADS AND BEATEN PATHS OFFER VIEWS, RIDES, AND ROAD T R I P S I N AC C E S S I B L E TO M O S T. B U T HOW TO GET STARTED OFF-ROADING? WHERE TO GO? HOW TO STAY SAFE? THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU HIT THE TRAILS.
Mutually Assured Deliciousness
Peruvian and Chinese cuisine live in wedded bliss at Tulsa’s Pachac.
THE High GROUND
As the world hunkered down, one Oklahoman prepared for the toughest athletic challenge of his life. But the hardest obstacle to overcome wasn’t legs, lungs, stamina, or Oklahoma’s deceptively hilly terrain—it was losing the person who inspired him the most.
Paradise Found
This downtown Tulsa tiki bar stuns the senses and excites the palate.
Bottoms Up
Foggy Bottom Kitchen’s down-home cuisine is giving Oklahomans yet another reason to get out and enjoy their state parks.
Radio Free Tulsa
Live from Cain’s brings Oklahoma music history to the airwaves.
Highway to History
Derrick Smith Jr. is sharing Oklahoma’s rich heritage from the back of a motorcycle.
ADVENTURE BLACK BOOK
How do you feel most alive? Whether your adrenaline rushes come from death-defying feats, unusual journeys, or one-of-a-kind meals, these fifty-one Oklahoma spots will have you living life to its fullest all year long.
The RELUCTANT Convert
How the beloved author of the Chronicles of Narnia helped a struggling veteran rediscover his faith
SLAMBOREE 2020
PUTTING CORONA ON ICE IN OKLAHOMA
History of Ranch Rodeo
A working cowboy’s event, the modern-day version of a rodeo is vastly different from its predecessor, the traditional ranch rodeo. Instead of the glamorous and sometime theatrical performances of today’s professional rodeos, ranch rodeos remain dedicated to the skill and determination necessary to work a ranch. From their grass-roots evolution in the 19th century to the thousands of annual events today, ranch rodeos connect generations of cowboys and cowgirls across the country.
WATCH OUT LA: FEDS CALCULATE RISKIEST, SAFEST PLACES IN US
Spending her life in Los Angeles, Morgan Andersen knows natural disasters all too well. In college, an earthquake shook her home hard. Her grandfather was affected by recent wildfires in neighboring Orange County.
Harvest Fest Event Recap: Woodstock Meets Sturgis
Just a short scenic drive east from Tulsa lies a utopia of sprawling campsites and natural beauty known as Copperhead Rally Grounds in Spavinaw, Oklahoma.
EVEN-KEELED ACE
The Angels’ Dylan Bundy has succeeded in ways that would not have been predicted a decade ago
YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE with Kal Penn
As we get closer to the election (national, state and local), we've all been thinking about the issues, what we want our next 4 years to be and who will get us to where we want to go. This month's cover is Kal Penn who we have enjoyed in House MD, Designated Survivor and of course the Harold and Kumar movies. Kal has always had an interest in civics and even took time from acting to serve during the Obama Administration as the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.
OKLAHOMA
Explore nature underwater and topside in this landlocked prairie state
GWEN & BLAKE: IT'S TWINS
SPECIAL DELIVERY! ON MOTHER’S DAY, 50-YEAR-OLD GWEN STEFANI TOLD FAMILY SHE AND BLAKE SHELTON ARE EXPECTING.
Ride & Train
BEING ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY ask your horse to slow down from a faster speed is an important maneuver in an event like reining where you’re required to go from fast to slow multiple times and make it look effortless. Outside of the showpen, it’s a great way to see how well your horse is listening and responding to your cues.