Fifty-three fall festivals

Your guide to autumn amusement

With the summer heat (almost) behind us, it’s time to look forward to the sublime joy of fall festival season. In this guide you’ll find time-honored Tulsa traditions and brand new experiences alike. The music, art, food, and communities we celebrate at these events are indicative of the rich culture we’re lucky to have. By Nov. 22, we’ll all have plenty of reasons to be thankful.

Oklahoma State Fiddlers Convention
8/16–19 | Sequoyah State Park, Hulbert | facebook.com/oklahomastatefiddlers
Oklahoma State Fiddlers come together for a weekend of traditional country and western swing.

Oklahoma Festival of Ballooning
8/17–18 | Hatbox Field, Muskogee | Free admission, $10 parking | visitmuskogee.com
At this inaugural festival, ballooners will compete for the Oklahoma Hot Air Balloon Championship Governor’s Trophy.

Maker Faire Tulsa
8/25 | Central Park Hall, Expo Square | Free admission | tulsa.makerfaire.com
This sixth-annual celebration of technology, education, science, and art is now one of just 30 Featured Maker Faires in the world.

River Rumba Regatta
8/25 | Three Forks Harbor, Muskogee | Free to spectate | xcmuskogee.com
The Exchange Club of Muskogee holds their annual cardboard boat races.

Utsav – Discover India
8/25 | River Spirit Expo Center, Expo Square | Free admission | iagtok.com
Celebrate Indian culture at this event, which showcases, artifacts, music and dance, food, and activities for the whole family.

WildBrew
8/25 | Cox Business Center | $65–$165 | wildbrew.org
It’s the 20th anniversary of this beer-lover’s dream. WildBrew 2018 will feature more than 100 beers, food from more than 30 local restaurants, and music by The Fabulous Mid-Life Crisis Band, Shelby Eicher, and Mark Bruner, and it benefits the Sutton Avian Research Center’s education and conservation programs.

Let It Be Arts Festival
8/25–26 | Kiefer Municipal Park | facebook.com/groups/letitbefestival
Celebrate art and nature at this fest, which features local artists and live performances.

Blue Whale Comedy Festival
8/31–9/1 | Cain’s Ballroom, Soundpony, Inner Circle Vodka Bar, Guthrie Green | $10–$150 | bluewhalecomedyfestival.com
Festival headliners Tig Notaro and Maria Bamford will be joined by Flula Borg, Shen Wang, Open Mic Eagle, Baron Vaughn, Jackie Kashian, Marcella Arguallo, Janelle James, Steven Castillo, and more. Read an interview with Bamford on pg. 22.

Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival
8/31–9/2 | Rentiesville | $18/day | dcminnerblues.com
True to its name, blues bands play at this festival from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. over three nights. Thirty bands will play on three stages in the historically all-black town of Rentiesville, including Johnny Rawls, the Oakland Blues Divas, and Akeem Kemp.

POSTOAK Wine & Jazz Festival
8/31–2 | POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat | $10–$500 | postoaklodge.com
Sip Oklahoma wines while listening to music from Grady Nichols, Leigh Nash, Starr Fisher, The Free Samples, Multiphonic Funk, and more.

Tulsa’s Great Raft Race
9/3 | Arkansas River, River West Festival Park | Free for spectators, $70 to race | tulsaraftrace.com
Brave souls take to handmade, non-motorized crafts to race down the Arkansas River from Sand Springs’ River City Park to Tulsa’s River West Festival Park.

Bluegrass & Chili Festival
9/7–8 | Downtown Wagoner | Free admission | bluegrasschilifest.com
The 39-year tradition will take place in Wagoner for the first time with (but of course) a chili cook-off and music from The Cleverlys, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and many more.

WizardWorld Comic Con
9/7–9 | Cox Business Center | $40–$475 | wizardworld.com
Comic Con returns to Tulsa with appearances by Hellboy (Ron Pearlman), The Fonz (Henry Winkler), and the “Rookie of the Year” (Thomas Ian Nicholas), among many others.

Gathering Place Grand Opening
9/8–9 | Gathering Place | Free admission | gatheringplace.org
It’s what we’ve all been waiting for. Tulsa’s new park opens with performances by The Roots, Hot 8 Brass Band, The Swon Brothers, and Pedrito Martinez, and demos by BMX pros Ty Morrow, Augie Simoncini, and Andrew Casteneda.

Higher Plains Jazz and Hip Hop Festival
9/14–15 | The Vanguard | $10–$100 | thevanguardtulsa.com
The third iteration of this groove-fest will feature performances by Mark Letter of Snarky Puppy, Dynamo, Steph Simon, Combsy, iamDES, Henna Roso, Sativa Prophets, Oilhouse, and more.

Oklahoma ScotFest
9/14–16 | Broken Arrow Events Park | $5–$275 | okscotfest.com
ScotFest will feature 20 bands between their traditional Celtic and Celtic rock stages, Highland Games competitions, Scottish and Irish beers, crafts, and food, whiskey tastings, and workshops.

Stone River Music Festival
9/14–16 | Chandler | $25–$55 | stonerivermusicfestival.com
This intimate camping festival is like going on a road trip with Tulsa’s roots-rock scene. Performers include Dustin Pittsley, Pilgrilm, Paul Benjaman, Wink Burcham, Brad James, Levi Parham, Seth Lee, Jones, Travis Fite, and John Fullbright.

MisFEST​
9/15 | River West Festival Park | $15–$50 | misfest.com
This second-annual festival celebrating and empowering women in music will feature performances by Katie Herzig, Faye Moffett, Lauren Barth, Nightingale, Rachel Bachman, Lincka, Brother Rabbit.

Big Om at Home Yoga Festival
9/15 | Centennial Park | $10–$150 | bigomyogaretreat.com
Big Om Yoga Retreat comes home with a day of yoga classes and workshops, vendors, and live music.

Tulsa Pearl Fest
9/15 | The Pearl District | Free admission | facebook.com/tulsapearlfest
Pearl District businesses come together for this block party, which will include art, music, food and drink, and will culminate with Neon Dreams: an immersive ultraviolet and electronic experience.

Medicine Stone
9/20–22 | Diamondhead Resort, Tahlequah | $50–$2450 | medicinestoneok.com
This Red Dirt festival will feature performances by Turnpike Troubadours, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Randy Rogers Band, The Toadies, and many more.

Tulsa Greek Festival
9/20–23 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church | $5 | tulsagreekfestival.com
Celebrate Greek culture with a wide variety of food, traditional dancing, games and contests, and shopping.

Festival Americas
9/22 | Guthrie Green | Free admission | guthriegreen.com
This multi-cultural festival will feature an outdoor art gallery and market, tequila garden, dance performances, and live music from Grammy-winners Flor de Toloache and more.

Tiny Porch Festival
9/22 | Owen Park | Free admission
Porches on homes near Owen Park will become stages for local bands at this inaugural event.

Woofstock
9/22 | Jenks Riverwalk | Free admission | animalallianceok.org
Oklahoma’s largest (and grooviest) pet adoption event. Find a new friend or bring one for pet contests, microchipping, vendors and services, and live music.

Tulsa State Fair
9/27–10/7 | Expo Square | $6–$10 | tulsastatefair.com
Go for the rides, the fried foods, and the Red Dirt Rodeo, stay to see Everclear on the Oklahoma stage.

Tulsa’s Soul Festival
9/27–28 | Guthrie Green | Free admission | guthriegreen.com
This second-annual tribute to the late Wayman Tisdale will feature performances by Musiq Soulchild, Lakeside, Ready for the World, Faye Moffett, Ms. Val, and Charlie Redd and the Full Flava Kings.

Halloween Festival
Fridays and Saturdays, 9/28–10/27 | The Castle of Muskogee | Free admission, attraction prices vary | okcastle.com
Things get spooky at The Castle where around a dozen haunted attractions will send shivers down your spine.

BrickUniverse
9/29–30 | Cox Business Center | $15 | brickuniverse.com
The ultimate LEGO fan experience returns to Tulsa with unbelievable displays and interactive building opportunities.

Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival
10/4–6 | Cottonwood Flats, Guthrie | $37–$86 | oibf.com
OIBF will feature performances by Tommy Emmanuel, The Kruger Brothers, April Verch Band, The Blueside of Lonesome, and more.

Glo Odyssey
10/5 | Location TBA | Prices TBA | gloodyssey.com
This electronic music and art festival will be entirely immersed in ultraviolet light and will feature DJs on three stages.

Wine, Jazz & World Fête
10/5–6 | Guthrie Green & Duet | Free admission | tulsarootsmusic.org
This inaugural event will feature fine wines and performances by Delfeayo Marsalis Quartet, Yemen Blues, Rio Mira, Mike Cameron Collective, Combsy, Booker T. Washington High School’s Jazz Band, and more.

Art on Main
10/6 | Main Street, Jenks | Free admission | jenkschamber.com
For the first time in its 16-year history, this juried art show opened its applications to artists from outside Oklahoma.

BaseCamp
10/6 | Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area | $55–$300 | turkeymtn.com
Turkey Mountain allows camping just one night a year, and they sweeten the deal with glow hikes and performances by local musicians.

Green Country Roots Festival
10/6 | NSU Event Center, Tahlequah | Free admission, VIP – $10 | gcrfestival.com
GCR Festival features performances by Green Country comedians, poets, dancers, and musicians, including Ahna Jennings Band, Cactus Jones Band, Dirty Mugs, and Doc Fell & Co.

National Indian Taco Championship
10/6 | Pawhuska | Free Admission | facebook.com/NITCpawhuska​
Head to Downtown Pawhuska to see whose version of this regional delicacy shines above the rest.

Tulsa Pagan Pride Festival
10/6 | Veterans Park | Free admission | tulsapaganpride.com
Celebrate and learn about Tulsa’s Pagan community and shop unique vendors.

Pelican Festival
10/10–13 | Wolf Creek Park, Grove | Free admission | pelicanfestok.com
Grand Lake celebrates the return of the migrating American White Pelican with a carnival and art fair.

Tulsa American Film Festival
10/10–13 | Circle Cinema, Gilcrease Museum, Woody Guthrie Center | Admission prices vary per screening | tulsaamericanfilmfest.com
TAFF returns for its fourth annual showcase of American features and shorts, with a special focus on Native American, Latinx, Oklahoma-based and student filmmakers.

Art Off the Hill
10/12–13 | Ne-Mar Center, Claremore | facebook.com/artoffthehill​
The RSU art festival formerly known as Art on the Hill has been revised and given a new preposition.

Illinois River Jam
10/12–13 | Peyton’s Place, Tahlequah | $45–$60 | illinoisriverjam.com
This Okie-centric music and camping festival will feature performances by Samantha Crain, Travis Linville, Mike Hosty, Tequila Songbirds, Carter Sampson, Lauren Barth, and more.

Brush Creek Bazaar
10/12–14 | The Barn | $3–$5 | brushcreekbazaar.org
Brush Creek features a market with more than 80 craft vendors, as well as live music and dancing, and a kid zone.

McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival
10/13 | 1st Street & Elgin Avenue | $50 | mcnellies.com
Enjoy more than 70 beers under the Tulsa skyline.

Cherokee Art Market
10/13–14 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | $5 | cherokeeartmarket.com
Featuring 150 Native American artists representing 50 tribes from across the country, Cherokee Art Market is one of the largest Native American art shows in the region.

Tom Skinner’s Skyline Music Festival
10/14 | Venue TBA | Prices TBA | reddirtrelieffund.org
Named for the late, great Tulsa musician and Red Dirt pioneer, Skyline benefits the Red Dirt Relief Fund, which provides financial relief for Oklahoma musicians.

Oktoberfest
10/17–21 | River West Festival Park | $7–$120 | tulsaoktoberfest.org
Zicke zacke zicke zacke hoi hoi hoi! It’s dozens of German and local bands. It’s more schnitzel, strudel, and ‘wursts than you could eat in a lifetime. It’s around 80 beers pouring from 300 taps. It’s a 40-year Tulsa tradition. It’s Oktoberfest.

Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival
10/20–25 | Circle Cinema | Prices TBA | facebook.com/OklahomaJewishFilmFestival
The Jewish Federation of Tulsa and The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art present this week of film screenings across a wide variety of genres.

Kiefer Medieval Faire
10/26–28 | Kiefer Municipal Park | facebook.com/kiefermedievalfaire​
Step back in time for historical reenactments, combat demonstrations, performances, crafts, and more at this third annual Faire.

Ghouls on the Green
10/28 | Guthrie Green | Free admission | guthriegreen.com
Trick or treat on the Green at this not-too-spooky Halloween event.

Día de los Muertos Festival de Arte
11/1 | Living Arts | $5 | livingarts.org
Celebrate Mexican heritage and honor loved ones at this annual festival, which features dozens of altars, live music and dancing, food, and children’s activities.

Art After Dark – A Nocturnal Emporium
11/2 | Guthrie Green | Free admission | guthriegreen.com
This second-annual art show for night owls will feature local artists and live performances.

Tulsa Pop Culture Expo
11/2–4 | Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center | $20–$199 | tulsapopkids.org
This convention celebrates pop culture in all forms, with appearances by celebrities from the worlds of movies, gaming, comic books, and more.

Will Rogers Days
11/4 | Claremore | Free admission | willrogers.com
Celebrate Will Rogers’s 139th birthday with a weekend of events including a parade, a Native American Festival, performances, and more.