Head outdoors for festivals, events in Oklahoma
What a joy it is to get outside, especially after this past year! Getting out to explore and relax is absolutely necessary, so here are a handful of events and festivals you may want to include as you put together any travel plans within the next few weeks.
Fantastical Forest is sponsored by the National Environment Education Foundation 2020 COVID Restoration and Resilience Fund called “Helping our Public Lands Recover from COVID-19.” During the pandemic, open public spaces, including local/state/national parks and other public lands, saw astronomical increases in visitation but had limited programming, staff and facilities. The exhibit was established out of the need to create a learning and fun experience safely.
“A lot of programming I do is on trails or needs mobility,” said Angelina Stancampiano, senior naturalist coordinator for Oklahoma State Parks. “We have a 0.22 mile ADA trail in Sequoyah State Park. It’s cute, but quaint and short, and I wanted to make it as magical as any other part of the park. I wanted to create an experience.”
And learning and creating that experience are all part of the focus as this whimsical exhibit with fairy lights, wind chimes and the green of spring will concentrate on native plants and animals with signs placed on the trail.
Fantastical Forest will begin at Sequoyah State Park and run through June 10. The exhibit will then move to Boiling Springs State Park mid-June to August. By mid-August, you can find the Fantastical Forest at Osage Hills State ParkThen starting in October, it will be at Roman Nose State Park for about four to six weeks.
There is no cost associated with the exhibit, just the parking permits as they apply. But you are encouraged to book a stay at one of these beautiful parks to experience the exhibit in early morning, mid-afternoon, early evening as the light changes. Though the exhibit’s features will stay relatively the same, the setup and location will be drastically different at each destination.
Vintage Market Days provides a fun opportunity to shop for a variety of vintage and vintage-inspired collections at this open-air market, which appears in various parts of the state throughout the year. April 23-25, you can visit Vintage Market Days at Chisholm Creek in Oklahoma City.
With a New Orleans flair, live music, yard games and a ton of crawfish will highlight the annual Crawfish Festival in Tahlequah, April 23 and 24.
You have several opportunities to enjoy a winged migration by attending one of the Hackberry Flat Bird Migration Tours near Frederick. The Hackberry Flat Wetlands area spans over 7,000 acres, over which one can see migrating ducks and songbirds on one of the tours. Families can explore the vast mosaic of wetland habitats for prairie waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland-dependent birds. You do have to call ahead 405-990-4977 or email melynda.hickman@okw.ok.gov for a reservation. Upcoming tours are on April 23, 24, 30 and May 1.
Given Oklahoma’s winds, it can sometimes be a great day to fly a kite! And April 24-25, the skies above Enid will be particularly colorful with the annual Kites Over Enid event. This annual event has become quite popular over the years, and in 2009, the North American record was broken there when over 2,500 kites in the air at once! Kites Over Enid will be at the Autry Technology Center.
Another popular outdoor activity is gardening! If that is one of your interests, you should try and attend the annual Jenks Herb and Plant Festival, April 24. Vendors showcasing a variety of locally grown herbs and plants, along with garden decorations, can be found. Shopping for annuals, perennials and fresh vegetables is always a relaxing and fun adventure.
More family-friendly activities can be found April 30 through May 2 if you find yourself around the Noble area. The annual Rose Rock Music Festival takes place then at 304 S Main St. Arts and crafts, carnival rides, a car show, live music and a parade are just a few of the fun festivities going on throughout the festival.
This next event does not take place outside, but it is connected to being outside!! The Spring Home and Outdoor Living Expo will be April 23-25 at the Tulsa Expo Square. This event features a variety of vendors featuring outdoor furniture to home appliances and different things that would come in handy for any DIY home project.
As always, please call ahead before attending any event or festival to check on any changes that may have occurred due to the pandemic.
For a complete list of events and festivals coming up in the state, be sure and go to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department’s website, TravelOK.com.