Events Calendar
Past Events › Family
Events List Navigation
February 2023
Hands-On Historic Skills: Preparing the Garden
Get ready for garden season with this hands-on workshop presented by Marty Montague, OSU Extension agricultural educator. Marty will share information on preparing and amending the soil, crop selection and timing, and provide take-home information for guests. Participants will get their hands in the soil as they learn how to mark rows in the garden. This class is presented FREE as a partnership with Oklahoma Historical Society and OSU Extension. On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Fort Towson…
Find out more »March 2023
Auto Show lunch at the Oklahoma History Center
On Thursday, March 2, the Oklahoma History Center and the 2023 Oklahoma City International Auto Show invite the public to have lunch outside the museum from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A beautifully restored 1946 Flxible Clipper Airporter will be parked on the museum grounds for car enthusiasts to enjoy. The motor coach was restored by Jerry Jones. Clippers were used as intercity coaches, used by smaller bus companies, and typically seated 30 passengers. See the classic Airporter while enjoying…
Find out more »1840s Encampment
On Friday, March 3, Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5, the Fort Towson Historic Site will host an 1840s Encampment on its grounds. This three-day living history event will give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. The historic site will be open and free to the public each day of the encampment, holding historic skills demonstrations throughout the day. Tents will dot the grounds, and the fort will be brought back to life with reenactors…
Find out more »Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival
The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will hold the Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival on Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. This FREE, community-wide fair highlights historic and modern farm life to demonstrate how food and household items travel from their sources to our homes. Families will experience perspectives from Colonial America to the modern day with hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. Admission is free to the public, and the event will be held primarily outdoors on the OHC grounds…
Find out more »Nature Journaling class
On March 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to learn about the practice of nature journaling—recording and sketching one’s natural surroundings. Artist Jim Mullenax of Rocky Pond Pen and Ink in Prairie Grove, Arkansas will be visiting Hunter’s Home in Park Hill to teach the importance of making a nature journal. The class will help to teach how to be inquisitive about the world around you by making simple sketches in a journal which can become…
Find out more »Chuck Wagon Gathering
Visit the Chisholm Trail Museum Saturday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day filled with cowboy fun! The Chuck Wagon Gathering is a great way to see a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as the cooks prepare some of their favorite dishes. Activities include live music with Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road, Straka longhorns, cooking demonstrations, gunfights, Wild West Show performers, medicine man shows, and more. The daytime activities are free! Please…
Find out more »“Hands-On Historic Skills: Dutch Oven Cooking”
On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Fort Towson Historic Site welcomes visitors to take part in the Hands-On Historic Skills series of demonstrations.
Every month, guests can try their hand at using period artifacts and tools with the guidance of Fort Towson staff members and historical interpreters. Hands-on demonstrations allow individuals to experience the past by touching, using and gaining an appreciation for historical objects while in the Fort Towson setting.
Updates on monthly programs and special events can be found on the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.okhistory.org. For more information, email [email protected] or call 580-873-2634. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located north of U.S. 70 near Fort Towson.
Find out more »April 2023
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
On Saturday, April 8, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt. The Egg Hunt is cosponsored by the local Pawnee Lions Club and the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce. The hunt will begin promptly at 10 a.m., at the ranch's picnic pavilions. The Egg Hunt is spread out over many acres of the historic site. Thousands of eggs will be hidden, including gold and silver prize eggs containing money and vouchers for treats. Pawnee Bill…
Find out more »Spring Bake Day
On Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the smell of fresh-baked bread will once again permeate Fort Gibson Historic Site. Bake Day is a unique and delicious experience for the public to enjoy. Staff will operate the oven all day Saturday, and the fresh loaves will be available around noon and 3:30 p.m. from the tent in front of the bakehouse. There is no cost to sample the fresh-baked bread, but donations are appreciated. Fort Gibson coffee…
Find out more »Sunrise Service
On Easter Sunday, April 9, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual nondenominational Sunrise Service. The service will begin at approximately 7 a.m. on Blue Hawk Peak, the highest point on the ranch grounds. The service is led by the Pawnee Ministerial Alliance and is a community-wide tradition. Participants are asked to bring their own seating and dress appropriately for the outdoors. Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Road in Pawnee.
Find out more »Hands-On Historic Skills: Genealogical Research
On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Fort Towson Historic Site welcomes visitors to take part in the Hands-On Historic Skills series of demonstrations.
Every month, guests can try their hand at using period artifacts and tools with the guidance of Fort Towson staff members and historical interpreters. Hands-on demonstrations allow individuals to experience the past by touching, using and gaining an appreciation for historical objects while in the Fort Towson setting.
Updates on monthly programs and special events can be found on the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.okhistory.org. For more information, email [email protected] or call 580-873-2634. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located north of U.S. 70 near Fort Towson.
Find out more »May 2023
Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences in Oklahoma: A Historical Journey
An event at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will highlight the history, heritage and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to Oklahoma. “Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences in Oklahoma: A Historical Journey” will take place on Wednesday, May 10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May is AAPI month in the United States. Special honorees of the event will include current State Representative Cyndi Munson, a Korean American; Dr. Thanh Van Anderson of Vietnam; Dr. Jordan Tang…
Find out more »June 2023
Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the lives of Major Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie, his wife May Lillie, and their famous Wild West Shows with a one-day celebration on Saturday, June 10. Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the original historic ranch site. Stagecoaches will roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill, May, and their cohorts, as the talented performers…
Find out more »Hands-On Historic Skills: “Chicken, Newspapers, and Pencils: Union Camp Life during the American Civil War”
Have you ever wondered what camp life was like for 19th-century soldiers, especially during the American Civil War?
On June 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Fort Towson Historic Site will be hosting a come-and-go program to teach visitors about the camp life experiences of Union soldiers. Visitors will get to view various reproduction items that will provide them with an understanding that military life in that era was comprised of much more than fighting, marching, and drilling.
This program is free with the price of general admission to the site.
Find out more »July 2023
Hands-On Historic Skills: Choctaw Nation’s “Growing Hope” Program
On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Fort Towson Historic Site welcomes visitors to take part in the Hands-On Historic Skills series of demonstrations.
Every month, guests can try their hand at using period artifacts and tools with the guidance of Fort Towson staff members and historical interpreters. Hands-on demonstrations allow individuals to experience the past by touching, using and gaining an appreciation for historical objects while in the Fort Towson setting.
Updates on monthly programs and special events can be found on the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.okhistory.org. For more information, email [email protected] or call 580-873-2634. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located north of U.S. 70 near Fort Towson.
Find out more »Career Night at the Museum
On Thursday, July 27, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will host Career Night for K-12 students and their families. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with professionals from a variety of fields, explore exhibits, and enjoy fun activities! This event is free, but registration is required. Register for Career Night.
Find out more »August 2023
Family Fun Day
Experience “Family Fun Day” at the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School in Perry on Saturday, August 5, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring the whole family to enjoy this free admission day full of cake walks, apple peeling, sack races, rope-making demonstrations, living history gunfights, and live banjo music. The Rose Hill schoolmarm will hold short class sessions, a petting zoo will be on-site, and a fun photo station will be set up at the jail. The Blacksmith’s Shop…
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip *canceled*
The History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip previously scheduled for August 19 has been canceled.
Find out more »STEAM Night at the Museum
On Thursday, August 31, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will host a STEAM Night for K-12 students and their families to explore the wonders of learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. The event will focus on the history of STEAM in Oklahoma, the STEAM industry today, and how to get involved with more hands-on learning activities to boost educational experiences of young learners! Visitors are encouraged to explore the Oklahoma History Center’s exhibit galleries open until 5 p.m. that…
Find out more »September 2023
Ice Cream Social
The Friends of the Fred and Addie Drummond Home are happy to announce that the annual Ice Cream Social will be held at the home on Saturday, September 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. The family-friendly event will be held out-of-doors. Special guests will include author Rosanne McKee, who will be holding a book signing of her books The Arabella Effect and Oklahoma Roses. Osage storyteller Diane Fallis will also join the festivities. After visitors tour the late Victorian-style three-story…
Find out more »Parks On The Air (POTA) Activation event
From September 10 to 24, the Kay County Amateur Radio Club in Ponca City will activate a special event call sign W5R. The club will hold a Parks On The Air (POTA) Activation event at the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue (K-8646) on Saturday, September 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (weather permitting). The club will show members of the public their equipment and have them listen in to their communications, which they consider “old-school social media.” In addition,…
Find out more »Hands-On Historic Skills
On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Fort Towson Historic Site welcomes visitors to take part in the Hands-On Historic Skills series of demonstrations.
Every month, guests can try their hand at using period artifacts and tools with the guidance of Fort Towson staff members and historical interpreters. Hands-on demonstrations allow individuals to experience the past by touching, using and gaining an appreciation for historical objects while in the Fort Towson setting.
Updates on monthly programs and special events can be found on the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.okhistory.org. For more information, email [email protected] or call 580-873-2634. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located north of U.S. 70 near Fort Towson.
Find out more »October 2023
Family Farm Day
On Saturday, October 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrate Oklahoma’s proud agricultural heritage at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Family Farm Day allows families to experience hands-on activities like shelling and grinding corn, churning butter, planting seeds, and milling wheat. In addition, guests can visit a farm animal petting zoo, participate in pumpkin decorating, watch a blacksmith at his trade, and much more! The event will take place at the Humphrey Heritage Village. The museum will also…
Find out more »Dewey Western Heritage Day
The town of Dewey will celebrate Dewey Western Heritage Day on Saturday, October 14, from noon to 11 p.m. Celebrate the pioneering heritage of the city founded in 1899 by watching a parade of longhorn cattle, stagecoaches, and trick roping. Enjoy vendors, music, bounce houses, a petting zoo, a mechanical bull, a Western market, food trucks, and much more! Be sure to visit the Tom Mix Museum, which will be open for free all day Saturday!
Find out more »2023 Oklahoma Folklife Festival
The 2023 Folklife Festival will be held inside the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. This festival is designed to engage visitors with opportunities to experience other cultures and traditions. Visitors are there to participate in the activities, not just observe. This community-wide event will celebrate and recognize what the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has called “the everyday and…
Find out more »“History Never Dies” Halloween carnival
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie will host its “History Never Dies” Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will have a haunted house with the gang from Scooby Doo theme. Families can enjoy carnival games, treats, prizes, and a cake walk at the two-hour event. Hotdogs and nachos will be served free to all guests. Enjoy Halloween-themed activities inside the museum—all ages and costumes are welcome! The Oklahoma…
Find out more »Ghost Stories Tours
Visit the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum for Pawnee Bill Ghost Stories Tours on Saturday, October 28, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Guides will lead guests on outdoor tours around the ranch site and its buildings, the big barn, log cabin, blacksmith shop, and the mansion. Guests will hear spine-tingling, ghostly tales about Oklahoma, the surrounding area, and the Pawnee Bill Ranch. Tours will leave the museum every 30 minutes, so bundle up for cold weather. The ghostly tales will be…
Find out more »Heritage Hills Halloween Festival
The Heritage Hills Halloween Festival will be held at the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion on Sunday, October 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. A number of fun activities are planned, including face painting, bike and scooter decorating, pumpkin painting, and a bounce house.
Find out more »Halloween Night at the Museum (moved indoors)
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host Halloween Night at the Museum on Tuesday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. This event combines indoor trick-or-treating with an opportunity for children and their families to visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Due to the cold temperatures, area businesses and individuals will share treats inside the museum. There will be a costume contest with prizes for the best costumes. Halloween Night at the Museum is free and open to all ages.…
Find out more »November 2023
Will Rogers Days and Motion Picture Festival
Since the opening of the Will Rogers Memorial in 1938, Claremore has celebrated the birthday of its most famous resident, Will Rogers. Continuing this grand tradition, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host Will Rogers Days November 1-4. The festivities include the 2023 Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival, whiskey tasting event, wreath laying, parade, and birthday party. The Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival features G- and PG-rated films from artists worldwide. The festival entries will be screened daily in the…
Find out more »Battle of Honey Springs Education Day
On Friday, November 3, beginning at 9 a.m., Honey Springs Battlefield will host the Battle of Honey Springs Education Day. On this day, students from schools across the state and the general public will have the opportunity to explore numerous education stations teaching topics related to the Civil War in Indian Territory and The Battle of Honey Springs. Living historians will demonstrate various military drills, cooking techniques, and other everyday activities for soldiers. There also will be numerous sutlers selling…
Find out more »The Battle of Honey Springs Civil War Demonstrations
Honey Springs Battlefield near Checotah will host biennial demonstrations of the Civil War Battle of Honey Springs on Saturday, November 4, and Sunday, November 5. On both days, special living history stations will open at 10 a.m., and the Battle of Honey Springs Civil War demonstrations will take place at 1 p.m. Visitors will see military drills, demonstrations, and living history programs while also getting the chance to tour Confederate, Union, and civilian camps, and explore “Sutlers’ Row,” featuring vendors selling…
Find out more »Pawnee Bill’s Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival
On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host Pawnee Bill’s Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival, presented by the Old Time Saturday Night Car Club.
The fall community event will include a car show where the public will see a variety of classic cruisers, custom cars and trucks, antique vehicles, hot rods, farm trucks, tractors, and motorcycles parked on the grounds of the historic home of Pawnee Bill and May Lillie. There is a $15 vehicle charge to enter the car show. Tractor pulls, and mini bike drag racing will take place throughout the day, along with the car show.
A host of family-friendly activities are planned for the festival, including a hay maze, hayrides, a bounce house, cornhole, and horseshoe games. Guests can watch a blacksmith at work, cowboy whip tricks, and the art of rope making. Live music will be performed throughout the day by Kenny Bond. Concessions and food trucks will be available throughout the event.
Admission to the event is $10 per car. All activities are included with paid admission except pumpkin painting. For more information, please call 918-762-2513.
This event is sponsored by the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association, the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce and the Old Time Saturday Night Car Club. All proceeds will help purchase a new team of draft horses and help maintain animal programs at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum.
Find out more »December 2023
Guthrie Distinctive Homes Tour and Wassail at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will be part of a tour showcasing some of Guthrie’s most distinctive homes and historic buildings on Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will hear tales of the early days of Oklahoma’s first capital. Wassail will be served at the Carnegie Library to warm the hearts and hands of tour participants. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online from the Guthrie Territorial Christmas Foundation. To learn more about…
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »Fort Gibson Christmas Candlelight Tour *sold out*
The Fort Gibson Historic Site Christmas Candlelight Tour taking place on Saturday, December 9, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. is fully sold out! If you would like to be added to the waiting list in case of cancellations, give us a call at 918-478-4088. Bundle up to take in the sounds of music, smells of mulled cider, and laughter of people readying for the coming winter at the Indian Territory frontier post. Staff and volunteers will lead visitors through several…
Find out more »Christmas Open House
On Sunday, December 10, from 1 to 4 p.m., Hunter’s Home will host its annual Christmas Open House. The historic home will be decorated as it would have been at Christmas time in the 1850s. This is a chance to make new Christmas memories as visitors will join the festivities with Hunter’s Home staff and volunteers. Admission to Hunter’s Home will be free on December 10. Hunter's Home will be closed on Saturday, December 9, and will reopen for the…
Find out more »Christmas Tea
On Sunday, December 10, the Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry will host a Christmas Tea from 1:30 to 4 p.m. This event coincides with the Christmas Tour of Homes in Perry when the museum opens its doors to the public. The museum, the gazebo, and Rose Hill School will have festive holiday decorations to set the mood for an old-fashioned Christmas. Historical interpreters in Victorian dress and 3rd- and 4th-grade carolers will add to the seasonal splendor. A station will…
Find out more »“A Night of Christmas Music” live performance starring acclaimed vocalist Darla Z
Christmas is a magical time of the year. It’s a time when people come together, and smile more, and it’s a time to celebrate music. On Friday, December 15, at 7 p.m., singer/songwriter Darla Z will perform “A Night of Christmas Music” live at the Oklahoma History Center in a benefit concert for the Center. Sure to be a night filled with your favorite Christmas tunes, Darla Z will perform some of the season’s greatest hits, including “O Holy Night,”…
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »