GUIDE: The best things to do in Oklahoma this weekend

by This Land

11/21/2013

A turkey trot. A feaste fit for a king. A quest of fictional proportions. Plus, Christmas comes early. This Land presents your guide to the best events in Oklahoma this weekend.

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Outdoor Ice-Skating
Cities around Oklahoma have taken cues from Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center, constructing outdoor ice rinks that open before or around Thanksgiving and entertain through the New Year. Here are the ones that are open now; look for more next weekend:

Light displays
Like the outdoor ice-rinks, some light displays are getting an early start. Here are the ones you can see this weekend; others will be on the day after Thanksgiving:

  • Holiday Lights on the Hill, Chandler Park, Tulsa. Drive through three miles of bright lights and whimsical displays in celebration of Christmas. Also, take part in horse-drawn carriage rides get a visit from Santa. Nov.22-Dec. 31. More about Holiday Lights on the Hill.
  • Chickasha Festival of Light, Shannon Springs Park, Chickasha. Nationally recognized as one of the country’s top-10 light displays. Four miles of walkway adorned with millions of twinkling lights, more than 100 displays, a 25-foot angel, carriage rides, and the centerpiece—a 172-foot-tall Christmas tree. Nov. 23-Dec. 31. More about Chickasha Festival of Light.
  • Fantasy Land of Lights, Johnstone Park, Bartlesville. A drive-thru tour of thousands of lights, a tunnel set to music, and animated displays. Now through Dec. 30. More about Fantasy Land of Lights.
  • Winter Wonderland Christmas Light Tour, Pine Lodge Resort, Ketchum. A free, drive-thru tour of more than 400,000 lights. Nov. 22-Jan. 1. More about Winter Wonderland.
  • Snowman Wonderland, Magnolia Park, Seminole. Walk or ride the tram through 90 light displays. Nov. 21-Jan.1. More about Snowman Wonderland.
  • Midwest City Holiday Lights Spectacular, Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, Midwest City. Eighty-five dazzling displays, including a 118-foot Christmas tree illuminated with 9,000 bulbs. Nov. 22-Dec. 30. More about Holiday Lights Spectacular.
  • Christmas in the Park, Yukon City Park & Chisholm Trail Park, Yukon. Four million lights, 100 displays, 100 acres. Special events include the Kris Kringle Karnival, Mayor’s Christmas Party for Kids, Ladies Library Club Christmas Silent Auction, and Sounds of the Season. Nov. 23-Dec. 31.  More about Christmas in the Park.
  • Holiday in the Park, Elmer Thomas Park, Lawton. The season kicks off with a parade and tree lighting Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. Lights on through Jan. 1. More about Holiday in the Park.
  • Twin Bridges Park of Lights, Twin Bridges Park, Fairland. A free, drive-through tour of more than 40 light displays. Appearances by Santa and free hot dogs some nights. Nov. 23-Dec. 26. More about Twin Bridges Park of Lights.
  • Crystal Christmas, Crystal Beach Park, Woodward. An annual event featuring more than 2 million lights and 130 displays. Driving tours, walking tours, a train, hay rides, visits with Santa, and more. Opens Nov. 23 with a fireworks display, lights on thru Dec. 31. More about Crystal Christmas.

More things to do:

  • Phoenix Quest. Attend a two-day Harry Potter convention in Enid, complete with behind-the-scenes film footage, a trivia challenge, a royal gauntlet of birds of prey, a costume contest, and a Quidditch match. More about Phoenix Quest.
  • Tellabration. Hear a roundup of stories at the Tom Mix Museum in Dewey, the Clark-Hobert Community Building in Apache, or Wesley United Methodist Church in OKC. More about the Tellabrations here.
  • Turkey Trot Swing Dance. Shake a tailfeather with the jazz divas of Sweet & Hot Productions: Pam Van Dyke Crosby, Rebecca Ungerman, and Cindy Cain. More about Turkey Trot Swing Dance.
  • Dickens on the Boulevard. A Victorian-themed Christmas festival in downtown Claremore, featuring food, entertainment, a Victorian street dance, and a territorial marshals reenactment. Nov. 22-23. More about Dickens on the Boulevard.
  • Downtown in December. Oklahoma City’s annual holiday celebration, featuring outdoor ice skating, snow tube rides down a 150-foot slope, afternoon visits with Santa Claus, and more. More about Downtown in December.
  • Lighted Holiday Parade. Get in the spirit a little early. Lighted and unlighted floats, antique cars, tractors, motorcycles and horse-drawn carriages travel through downtown Fairview Nov. 23. More about Lighted Holiday Parade.
  • Mama Won’t Fly. A conundrum staged by the Ponca Playhouse. Nov. 22-24. More about Mama Won’t Fly.
  • Boare’s Heade Feaste. Kick off the holiday season with a feast fit for a king at the Castle of Muskogee. The table is set Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. More about Boare’s Heade Feaste.
  • Celebrating the ‘60s. Donald Ryan plays Henry Mancini at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Nov. 24. More about Celebrating the ‘60s.

So. What are you doing this weekend?