Annual Events & Festivals
There's a reason Bob Wills kept singing "Take me back to Tulsa," and it's probably because this town is full of annual events and festivals that keep locals and visitors alike coming back for more year after year.
From downtown Lucha libre block parties to the nationally recognized Tulsa Oktoberfest, there's always a good time to be had in T-Town. Check out some of our favorite annual events below, or dive into what's coming up this fall and winter.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY STREET FESTIVALS
Tulsa takes St. Patrick’s Day seriously. With annual festivals boasting decades-old legacies, you’ll find street closures in the Blue Dome District, Cherry Street, and other parts of town (depending on which day the holiday falls) as Irish pubs like Kilkenny’s and McNellie's set up tents to handle excess traffic and host live entertainment, yard games and more.
TULSA INTERNATIONAL MAYFEST
Mayfest is a family-friendly outdoor arts and music festival that takes place annually in early May in the Downtown Tulsa Arts District. The event features hundreds of artists from around the world, including many local vendors.
TULSA JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL
Tulsa hosts one of the largest annual Juneteenth festivals in the nation. This important festival lasts for several days in the heart of Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District. Juneteenth festivities include live entertainment, food trucks, arts and clothing vendors, games and more while our community highlights a rich history of perseverance including celebrating the resiliency of the thriving Greenwood community.
TULSA TOUGH (& CRY BABY HILL)
A three-day bike festival that energizes the whole city, the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough draws hundreds of bikers from across the United States to compete for our amusement show that they’re “Tulsa Tough.” All weekend long, friends, family and locals cheer on these incredible athletes as they ride through town. Day 3 of the event includes the infamous “Cry Baby Hill” where the 21+ crowd engage in a pseudo-Mardi Gras spectating spectacle that’s [beginning in 2021] complete with food trucks, live music and biergarten.
FESTIVAL AMERICAS
Taking place in the downtown Guthrie Green, Festival Americas is Oklahoma’s premier Hispanic and Latino cultural festival. The family-friendly event celebrates the rich culture of Latin America with live music, dancing, food trucks, vendors and more.
TULSA STATE FAIR
The Tulsa State Fair provides educational experiences and entertainment during an 11-day span beginning the fourth Thursday after Labor Day, annually. Find live music, thrilling rides, agricultural expos and more all beneath the watchful eye of the Golden Driller at Expo Square.
TULSA OKTOBERFEST
Modeled after Oktoberfest Munich, Tulsa Oktoberfest features authentic German food, music and (of course) beer–which you can find in around a dozen biergarten tents. Along with carnival rides, games and gorgeous views of downtown Tulsa, it’s no wonder why this festival continually receives recognition as one of the best outside of Germany. To that–and all the Oktoberfest-themed events that take place in conjunction with this festival–we say, “Danke!”
TULSA RUN
Taking place the last Saturday of October, the Tulsa Run is always close enough to Halloween for you to see a storm trooper jogging down Boston at some point. Hosted annually by the Tulsa Sports Commission, the Tulsa Run includes 2K, 5K and 15K options.
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS ARTS FESTIVAL
Celebrate Día de Los Muertos in the Tulsa Arts District at this annual festival that showcases Tulsa’s Hispanic and Latino communities. Try your hand at decorating candy skulls and enjoy live music surrounded by food trucks, vendors and local art galleries like Living Arts of Tulsa who join in on the festivities.
ROUTE 66 MARATHON
Race through the streets of downtown Tulsa and through the scenic parks along the Arkansas River in the Route 66 Marathon. Featuring course options from fun runs to the full marathon, this event brings the city to life.
PHILBROOK FESTIVAL
Explore a romantic Italian villa turned art museum turned temporary light display each holiday season. Philbrook Festival includes daytime activities and evening fun beneath hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights adorning their stunning gardens.
BOTANIC GARDEN OF LIGHTS
Head to the Tulsa Botanic Garden for a magical evening sipping hot cocoa (or something stronger) as you stroll through their illuminated winter wonderland. This festival is such a popular choice for date night and wedding proposals that they offer packages for both.
WINTERFEST
Enjoy skating through a 9,000-square-foot outdoor ice rink, admire what is known as the state’s tallest Christmas tree (decorated with more than 35,000 lights), listen to live entertainment, or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or take the Winterfest Express train.
