Oklahoma is home to numerous festivals - many of which focus on the arts, music or food. And although music and arts are great, we set out to find the ones with delicious fare. From barbeque to seafood to burgers, these 12 festivals in Oklahoma are a must-visit for food lovers. Check them out!
1. Jenks America Food Truck Festival, Jenks
The Jenks America Food Truck Festival is the perfect way to spend a day exploring downtown Jenks while enjoying great food and music. This event will feature more than a dozen food trucks offering an eclectic mix for diners, as well as some of the top musicians and artists from the Tulsa area. The festival is is open to the public and free to attend.Festival Details: Saturday, May 7, 2016
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Downtown Jenks Main Street, Jenks, OK.
2. Rush Springs Watermelon Festival, Rush Springs
Held each year on the second Saturday in August, the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival celebrates the local crop of watermelons with watermelon-themed activities, carnival rides and plenty of old-fashioned, family friendly entertainment for all. The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival, held continuously since 1948, has grown to become one of the most popular festivals in Oklahoma, attracting over 20,000 visitors each year and serving upwards of 50,000 pounds of juicy, ripe melon to festival-goers.Festival Details: August 11-13, 2016; Jeff Davis Park
Rush Springs, OK 73082
3. Fried Onion Burger Day Festival, El Reno
The Burger Day Festival is a tribute to the fried onion hamburger, cooked daily in El Reno since the early 1900s. It was decided that this Fried Onion Burger Day Festival would revolve around the cooking of the World’s Largest Fried Onion Hamburger - 850 lbs. This El Reno festival, which attracts over 30,000 visitors each year, also includes carnival rides, games, live entertainment, an evening concert, the annual Bun Run and more. If burgers are not your thing, enjoy a wide array of fair food from multiple food vendors. Smoked turkey legs, Indian tacos, funnel cakes, deep-fried Twinkies, cotton candy, barbecue sandwiches, cinnamon rolls and more will be available.Festival Details: May 7, 2016; Downtown
El Reno, OK 73036
4. Smokin' the Fort - BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, Fort Gibson
Get ready to taste delicious smoked meats and enjoy festive bluegrass music at the Smokin' the Fort BBQ and Bluegrass Festival in historic downtown Fort Gibson. This Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned event brings in locals and professionals to showcase their barbecuing skills and compete for cash and other prizes. The festival kicks off Friday night with a celebration that is guaranteed to bring thousands together in downtown Fort Gibson. Purchase a taster kit and you'll become one of the judges in the Taster's Choice Competition. Additional food vendors will be on hand at Smokin' the Fort BBQ and Bluegrass Festival. Festival Details: October 21-22, 2016; Historic downtown Fort Gibson.
5. Bixby BBQ'n Blues Festival, Bixby
Every year on the first Friday and Saturday of May, Washington Irving Memorial Park in Bixby is transformed into the largest BBQ festival in all of Oklahoma. It is two days of the state’s best barbeque and music all rolled into one and is a community fundraiser created by the Rotary Club of Bixby.Festival Details: May 6 5pm-11pm and May 7th 10am-11pm; Washington Irving Memorial Park, 13900 S. Memorial, Bixby, OK 74008.
6. Tuttle Ice Cream Festival, Tuttle
Attention ice cream lovers! Join the community of Tuttle as they celebrate their 24th Annual Ice Cream Festival in the downtown Tuttle area. This family-fun festival will feature live music and performances, a classic car show, an antique tractor show, a homemade ice cream contest, an Ice Cream Princess Pageant, kid's games, food and vendor booths, crafts and more! Be sure to mark your calendars for this sweet, ice cream-themed extravaganza. Don't forget to enter the ice cream eating contest to see how much of the sweet treat you can handle.Festival Details: June 18th, 10am.; 221 W. Main St. Tuttle, OK 73089.
7. Chandler Hog Wild BBQ and Chrome Fest, Chandler
Get ready for some great bbq when you attend Hog Wild BBQ & Chrome Fest in Chandler. Take part in the Oklahoma State Championship barbecue contest and two days of wholesome family fun. The event will have a wide variety of vendors, as well as the People's Choice Tasting and plenty of games and activities for children and other entertainment. Stick around for the fireworks show on Friday evening. People of all ages will find something of interest. Vendors, artists, a kids' play area, lots of food, fun and entertainment will all be available at this summer festival.Festival Details: June 24-25, 2016; 1113 Joe Long Dr, Chandler, OK 74834.
8. Tulsa International Mayfest, Tulsa
Tulsa International Mayfest is an annual tribute to
art and music in the heart of beautiful downtown Tulsa. Although it is an art and music festival, you will also want to attend for the fabulous food. From traditional festival food like corndogs and funnel cakes to more unique dining options like bbq parfaits and chocolate-dipped cheesecake, Mayfest offers fun food options for the whole family.Festival Details: May 19-21, 2016 11am-11pm, Sunday, May 22, 2016 11am-6pm; Downtown Tulsa, on Main Street from 3rd to 6th Streets.
9. Guthrie 89er Celebration, Guthrie
For a mix of history and delicious food, head to the Guthrie 89er Celebration Festival. The annual 89er Days Celebration commemorates the Land Run of 1889 and the birth of Guthrie. The 89er Celebration kicks off Tuesday with the annual Chuckwagon Feed. A delicious Western-style dinner, including brisket, beans, cole slaw and all the trimmings will be catered and will include plenty of live music. Don't miss the huge carnival, which starts on Wednesday. Enjoy a themed midway filled with rides and games of all skill levels. Get your thrills, enjoy your favorite fair food and watch your family and friends have a great time. The carnival is available through Saturday night. The event also includes an arts and crafts show, rodeo, parade and more. Enjoy funnel cakes, corn dogs, roasted nuts, kettle corn, turkey legs and so much more. Festival Details: Apr 19-23, 2016; Downtown
Guthrie, OK 73044.
10. Strawberry Festival, Stilwell
Held since 1948, as a way to promote the strawberries grown in the area, the annual Strawberry Festival in Stilwell has become one of Oklahoma's most-loved hometown festivals. The Stilwell Strawberry Festival attracts over 20,000 visitors each year to the "Strawberry Capital of the World," with games, live entertainment and free strawberries and ice cream. So come ready with your sweet tooth because these strawberries are the best around. There will be plenty of food and vendor booths as well.Festival Details: May 14th, 2016; Downtown/Division Street
Stilwell, OK 74960 .
11. Chisholm Trail Round-Up Crawfish Festival, Yukon
Enjoy a taste of Louisiana at the Chisholm Trail Crawfish Festival in Yukon. This annual outdoor event celebrates Cajun culture with food, history and music. The festival is family-friendly and features numerous activities for all age groups. Visitors will get a glimpse into the past through historical demonstrations, including authentic chuck wagon cooking, live re-enactments of gunfights and plenty of cowboys, mountain men and blacksmiths roaming the festival grounds. Witness living history encampments, browse through booths of prairie crafts and sample delicious Cajun food or festival fare at one of the Chisholm Trail Crawfish Festival's numerous food booths.Festival Details: June 4, 2016; Kirkpatrick Family Farm - 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd, Yukon, OK 73099.
12. Eat Street Tulsa Food Truck Festival, Tulsa
Sample some of Tulsa's best cuisine via food trucks at the third Eat Street Food Truck Festival. Held in the Blue Dome Entertainment District, this one day festival will feature tons of delicious food, as well as live music, a small farmers market and local art market. Come hungry and enjoy fare like hot dogs, pizza, Vietnamese kimchi fries, gyros, barbecue, tacos, tamales, and more. Over 30 food trucks will be on site, and choosing what to eat is sure to be a delicious and difficult decision.Festival Details: Oct 15, 2016; 2nd & Elgin Tulsa, OK 74120.
Have you ever been to any of these festivals? If so, which one is your favorite?
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