From the First Americans Museum's first Winter Holiday Arts Market to Automobile Alley's Lights on Broadway open houses to Christmas tree lighting ceremonies across the state, the yuletide season offers plenty of occasions to get festive.
First Americans Museum's Winter Holiday Arts Market
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4-5.
Where: First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd.
Information: https://famok.org and https://www.facebook.com/store.famok.
Event entry will be free to the new museum's first indoor holiday market, where more than 20 indigenous artists will be set up in the Hall Of The People in addition to the offerings in the museum store. The Arbor Café will be selling hot chocolate and cookies, and the festivities will feature book readings, including of the "Native American Night Before Christmas."
Holiday River Parade
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4.
Where: Oklahoma River.
Information: https://www.riversportokc.org/events/holiday-river-parade.
After skipping 2020, this holiday season will see the return of skiing elves, decorated boats sparkling on the Oklahoma River and fireworks, plus a new laser light show and more in the Boathouse District. This year's parade will honor event founder Mike McAuliffe, who died in 2020 of COVID-19.
A Dog Day in December
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2.
Where: Midtown Mutts Dog Park, 407 W Park Place.
Information: https://downtownindecember.com.
The holiday party for pets and their people includes photos with Santa printed on-site, snacks and drinks for humans, complimentary “puppuccinos” and more.
Holiday Stuffed Animal Sleepover
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 3.
Where: Edmond Historical Society & Museum, 431 S Boulevard, Edmond.
Information: https://www.edmondhistory.org.
Participants can participate in a craft and story time, then leave their stuffed animals to explore the museum. Staff will take photos of their explorations and send them via Flickr, and stuffed animal pick-up will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4. Cost is $2 per stuffed animal. Space is limited and advanced registration is required, or people can participate virtually in the event.
Automobile Alley’s Lights on Broadway
When: 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 and 11.
Where: Broadway Avenue between NW 4 and 10.
Information: https://www.automobilealley.org.
On these Saturdays, shops and restaurants will feature seasonal window displays, along with to pop-up activities, live entertainment, photos with Santa in a Snow Globe and more.
The historic downtown OKC district dazzles this time of year, with more than 230,000 kaleidoscopic LED lights curtaining the buildings along 10 blocks of North Broadway and its side streets.
Scissortail Lights
When: 5 p.m. Nov. 28.
Where: Scissortail Park's Love's Travel Stops Stage and Great Lawn, 300 SW 7.
Information: https://scissortailpark.org.
Chabad of Oklahoma City Community Center presents this free, family-friendly Chanukah celebration. Marking the first night of Chanukah, or Hanukkah, which is Nov. 28-Dec. 6, the event will include a giant menorah lighting, dreidel man, traditional food, treats for children and a performance by Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road.
American Banjo Museum's Candy Cane Christmas
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5.
Where: American Banjo Museum, 9 E Sheridan.
Information: https://americanbanjomuseum.com.
The building that houses the museum was once a candy factory that made candy canes during the holiday season, so its premier yuletide event features live music, children's craft activities, a visit from Santa and, of course, candy canes and other goodies. Admission is free for children 15 and younger and for adults who bring a new, unwrapped toy to support the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner.
Tahlequah's Cookie Stroll
When: 11 a.m. Dec. 4.
Where: Downtown Tahlequah.
Information: https://www.tourtahlequah.com.
Christmas cookie aficionados can buy a special box and make the rounds to participating downtown Tahlequah merchants, collecting two dozen gourmet cookies as they go.
The Cherokee County seat also will celebrate the holiday season Dec. 3 with its community Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. in Norris Park, 400 N Muskogee Ave., followed by its Christmas parade at 6 p.m. in downtown.
Science Museum Oklahoma's 'SMO 21: Home for the Holidays'
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 10.
Where: Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place.
Information: https://www.sciencemuseumok.org.
Part of the museum's SMO21 programming for adults age 21 and older, the event will have attendees chose the kids' table, where activities range from playing with their food to participating in gravy boat regattas, or the grownups' table, where they can create an ugly Christmas sweater and learn emergency bottle-opening techniques.
Chickasha's December at the Depot
When: 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25.
Where: Rock Island Depot, downtown Chickasha.
Information: https://chickashafestivaloflight.org.
This new event will include pop-up shop vendors for Christmas shopping, food trucks, Santa photos and amusement park-style rides for children at the historic depot on Chickasha Avenue. Weather permitting, look for the 40-foot inflatable Chickasha Leg Lamp, inspired by the beloved movie "A Christmas Story." Chickasha Public Schools will provide $2 per person shuttle rides from the depot to Shannon Springs Park for the famous Chickasha Festival of Light.
Christmas at The Cube
What: 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
Where: Council Road Baptist Church's The Cube, 7903 NW 30, Bethany.
Information: https://www.councilroad.church/advent.
The free community Christmas festival will include hayrides, snowball fights, pony rides, a ride-along Christmas story, inflatables, karaoke and more.
Saints Santa Run
When: Dec. 4.
Where: SSM Health St. Anthony, 1000 N Lee Ave. in Midtown.
Information: https://downtownindecember.com.
Folks who prefer to run like Rudolph through the holidays should check out the merriment of this 5K race, one-mile Fun Run and free Kids' Dash where festive garb is highly encouraged.
Christmas at the Overholser
When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and 11.
Where: Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, 405 NW 15.
Information: https://www.preservationok.org/shop.
The historic home will be decorated for the holiday season and for this ticketed come-and-go event, with last entries at 7 p.m. Preservation Oklahoma Executive Director Chantry Banks will tell Victorian Christmas ghost stories on the half-hour beginning at 5:30 p.m., and attendees can partake of hot chocolate, cider and cookies.
Enid Lights Up the Plains
When: 4:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 26.
Where: Downtown Enid.
Information: https://www.mainstreetenid.org.
The festivities will include live music, a parade, food trucks, horse-drawn wagon rides and the lighting of the towering Christmas tree deemed "The One" at 7:30 p.m., which will be followed by fireworks.
'The Polar Express in Concert' with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
Where: Oklahoma State University's McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, 705 W University Ave. Stillwater.
Information: https://mcknightcenter.org.
The Tulsa Symphony performs Alan Silvestri’s iconic score live along with a screening of the beloved 2004 movie starring Tom Hanks.
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