When you are wondering where to head for your winter vacation, StayInTulsaOK can lead you in our direction, especially as winter in Tulsa may look different than the winters you are used to in your hometown. It may snow, but probably not, and if it does, the snow won’t last, nor will it be that frequent, and the temperatures that do drop a little will rarely fall below 30 degrees, ensuring that any adventures you have remain comfortable ones. And because the best way to get to know the place you are visiting is by attending the special events they offer each year, we have prepared this guide to our favorite winter events in our favorite place on earth, our hometown of Tulsa.
December Shines Bright
As you may expect, Tulsa is a bright and lively place in the month of December, offering a variety of events and festivals guaranteed to enhance your holiday escape to our charming abodes and some of our favorites are listed below.
Nutcracker Festival, Early December, Tulsa Expo Center, 4145 E 21st Street
Billed as Oklahoma’s most exciting holiday festival, the month starts out strong with the Nutcracker Festival. This event is a new one, but we already love it and if you do nothing else holiday related during your December visit, THIS is the one you should attend. Offering holiday themed activities, live holiday presentations that include music and theatrical performances that are guaranteed to elevate your holiday spirit, it is also home to an exciting array of culinary delights. Featuring an ice skating rink, and indoor train, and a 30-foot LED Christmas tree, Santa will make an appearance with his reindeer and if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping, THIS will be where you finish, crossing every person off your list with a tour up and down the aisles of its holiday market. This event lasts two days, so if you miss one day, you have a second chance on Sunday.
Philbrook Festival Night, Weekends through the Middle of December, Philbrook Museum, 2727 S Rockford Road
Starting the Friday after Thanksgiving and continuing on weekends through the middle of December, attending Philbrook Festival Night is a longstanding tradition in Tulsa households. The Philbrook Museum was once just the Philbrook house, an Italian Renaissance style villa built in 1927. Today it offers a peek into the past and is also the center of many local events, with Festival Night being our favorite. The entire home and gardens are lit with a dazzling array of thousands of twinkle lights, prompting oohs and ahhs at first sight, and then when you discover all there is to do, you will never want to leave. Santa takes time from his busy schedule to appear and the museum becomes his workshop as your kids work to create a one of a kind art piece, helped along by museum elves. (Santa’s elves are rather busy right now!) Offering food, drinks, and another opportunity to shop as the shops of Philbrook will stay open throughout the event, this is another shouldn’t miss Tulsa event.
Winter on BLVD Music & Arts Festival, Mid-December, 3306 Charles Page Boulevard
Winter on BLVD Music & Arts Festival isn’t really a holiday event, but we assure you, you will enjoy it anyway. Offering a revolving show of electronic music performers, live art installations, and a variety of vendors selling their artistic masterpieces, you can cross more names off your list as you wander the aisles of vendors all offering something spectacular that you and your recipients simply won’t be able to live without. Obviously, there will be food and drink, our Southern mamas raised us right, and because it’s not a party without dancing, a silent disco is sure to be the highlight of the event!
New Year’s at Roof Sixty-Six Bar, December 31, 121 S Elgin Avenue
Christmas isn’t the only December holiday, and when it comes time to celebrate the last day of the year, a rooftop party held at Roof Sixty-Six bar promises to light up your night and lead you to a new year filled with good luck, fortune, and all the love you deserve. The views are stunning from the rooftop and the $5 cover charge ensures you can save your vacation funds for more drinks and snacks, this party is one we recommend all attend!
More Fun to Be Had in January
We admit, we ease down the drama a bit in January, spending this midwinter month trying to recuperate from the stress and chaos of Christmas, but there are still plenty of low key events to attend, including the ones we have listed below.
Hangover Ball, Early January, Cain’s Ballroom, 423 Main Street
Having begun its life in 1924 as a garage for one of our local oil baron’s automobiles, Cain’s Ballroom was purchased in 1930. Dance instructor Madison “Daddy” Cain purchased the space and its existence has been all about the music ever since. The Hangover Ball starts the new year out on the right foot, offering the opportunity to dance away any remaining aches from your New Year’s Eve hangover. 13 performers sing for their supper at this fun event and as you sing along, dance along, and forget about your headache, you will know that the 12 months ahead of you are bound to be fantastic ones!
Chili Bowl Nationals, Mid-January, Tulsa Raceway Park, Tulsa Expo Center
While most car races are held outside due to necessity, the Chili Bowl Nationals, an indoor midget car race shows that we Oklahomans are a little bit different, and we are perfectly ok with that description! Offering a week’s worth of exciting races, the floor of the Tulsa Expo Center is covered in dirt and the colorful midget cars show off their mad skills, racing round and round the dirt track that is only about 1/5th of a mile long, all hoping for victory. Nicknamed the Super Bowl of Midget Racing, the event started all the way back in 1987 with just 52 midget cars and in the 2020s, as many as 341 cars will do their thing for your amusement. Also offering a Trade Show that takes up to 20,000 square feet of non-dirt covered floors, visitors can purchase all varieties of race related paraphernalia, including apparel and race gear from over 100 vendors.
Tulsa Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 AM – 12 PM, 1 S Market
The fully equipped kitchen of your StayInTulsaOK winter sanctuary lacks one thing: the food and drinks you will need to nourish yourself and keep hydrated. Fortunately, that is an easy thing to fix with a quick trip to the grocery store. Reasors is one we recommend, but you can also make a Saturday visit to the Tulsa Farmers Market. Winters aren’t cold enough for this outdoor market to shut its gates, but they do open an hour later to increase the time for the sun to do its thing. Buying our produce, flowers, and a variety of other foods and gifts has been a local tradition since the first farmers market opened in April of 1998, back when it was held in the parking lot of Jason’s Deli. Although some things have changed, including its location, many of its original vendors still set up shop in its new location. As with most farmers markets, there may be live music playing during your visit, special events occurring at various times throughout the year and even as Tulsa continues to grow in size and in importance, the feel of a small town, the closeness of neighbors who have become friends, remains strong.
Dotting our I’s with Hearts in February
February is the month of romance, with Valentine’s Day falling in the middle of the shortest month of the year, but there is more to be enjoyed than a romantic meal at Bodean (3376 E 51st Street) or a box of chocolates from Cricket & Fig Chocolate (5800 S Lewis Avenue #129). The events listed below are sure to enhance your Tulsa adventures.
Tulsa Anime Fest, Early February, 6110 S Yale Avenue
First there was Comic Con, followed by Pop Con, and here in Tulsa in February, the exciting and colorful Tulsa Anime Fest invites people from all over the world to celebrate their love of anime in Oklahoma. Offering special guests (often the actors that provide the voices for your favorite anime characters attend), cosplay contests, anime and Japanese culture vendors, cosplay contests, and even gaming championships, this event never fails to please. Also offering panels that discuss the anime world and trivia contests, every minute of this one day event is chock full of fun and color.
Tulsa OK Vintage Show, Mid-February, Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E 21st Street
Shopping while on vacation is a time honored tradition that we know will never fade away and the Tulsa OK Vintage Show will give you the opportunity to fill up the empty spaces in your luggage. (Aren’t you glad there is a washer and dryer in your StayInTulsaOK escape, allowing you to pack light and save room for treasures?) Vintage shopping, however, is a trend that is growing in popularity, and this two-day event takes advantage of that fact while also offering some new merch for your perusal. Offering 55,000 acres of space in which over 150 vendors have taken over, setting up booths and tables that sell not just vintage clothing, but antiques, jewelry, collectibles, and all manner of fascinating wares that will demand to be chosen as your own. Also selling food and drink, you may find yourself returning for day two, as you simply won’t be able to explore everything offered in just one day!
Dark Mode Beer Fest, February, Archer Street in the Tulsa Arts District
Sometimes you just need a beer, and if one of those times takes place during your February visit to Tulsa, a visit to the Dark Mode Beer Fest will definitely satisfy your need! Our local hot spot, Welltown Brewing, is the host of this hoppy event, and as some of Oklahoma’s biggest breweries gather under the tent that will encompass this event, a good time is promised to be had by all. Live music performed by local bands will keep your toes tapping, food vendors will ensure that you don’t go too crazy, and firepits will keep you warm as you play a variety of games including cornhole and axe throwing. VIP tickets will include access to rooftop igloos for a fun addition to this event.
All Roads Lead Back to StayInTulsaOK
The fun you have during your winter visit to Oklahoma will linger in your hearts long after you return to real life, but while you’re here, our StayInTulsaOK seasonal sanctuaries will immediately feel like home. Warm your toes in front of roaring fires in our fireplaces, get off your feet and sink into plush sofas while watching your favorite shows on state of the art televisions. Offering a comfortable way to celebrate winter, we have a few suggestions for you listed below that will allow you to stay in and revel in all that our homes offer!
Stay in, stay safe, and stay cozy on New Year’s Eve, celebrating at home. Put on your comfiest jammies, pop a bottle or three, and dine on appetizers you bring out at different times throughout the night. At 11:30, turn the television over to Ryan Seacrest hosting Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and watch the crystal ball drop in Time’s Square.
Celebrate your Valentine with a takeout dinner from Juniper Restaurant and turn off the television to celebrate the love you share. Maybe you can enjoy it picnic style on a blanket spread out in front of a fire and share a box of chocolates you purchased from Glacier Chocolates in Utica Square.
Contact us to reserve your favorite StayInTulsaOK winter retreat today!
Winter adventures hit harder when traveling, and when your journey brings you to our StayInTulsaOK winter wonders, you can expect a vacation filled with exciting adventures, cozy nights, and comfortable moments that will linger in your memories for years to come. And although the winters of Tulsa are relatively mild, rarely offering severe storms, it can and does snow, offering about 4 inches on average, adding another layer of fun to your winter adventures. This ultimate guide to winter in Tulsa OK will give you a sample 7-day Itinerary, providing tips and hints on how to fill your days to the fullest and relax in comfort and style every night.
Day 1: The Excitement Begins
You’ve been waiting so long for this day to arrive and it has finally happened. You are officially standing outside the door of the StayInTulsaOK seasonal sanctuary of your choice and with a turn of the handle, all the fun you have been dreaming about will begin. This first day will be a shorter one, because, obviously, you spent much of it in transit, but these opening moments of vacation will still bring you the joy you seek.
As airplane food is a thing from the past and short layovers may have kept you from grabbing an expensive bite at the airport, the first item on your agenda is more than likely one that involves a hearty meal, and because we firmly believe that pizza is the international language of love, on this first night we suggest keeping it casual with a visit to East Village’s Bohemian Pizzeria, located at 818 E 3rd Street and open until 10 PM. Offering reasonable prices and a beautiful menu filled with Neapolitan style pizzas, it also serves classic Italian pasta dishes and features an extensive beer, wine, and cocktail menu, so feel free to order that Paloma Picasso, you’re on vacation now and it is time to relax with good food and drink. You may want to stop by Reasors, a local grocery store that can be found in various locations all over Tulsa, on your way home and pick up a few things to stock your kitchen including some wine or beer. Tomorrow is going to be a big day and you will want to go bed early tonight!
Day 2: So Many Things to See and Do
Tulsa in the winter months is such a fun and exciting town, we really don’t now how to narrow down all the things you can see and do to just a few, but we will give it the old college try.
The Big Biscuit, 8920 S Memorial Drive, Open Daily from 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and although you could make it at home with the supplies you bought last night, we know you are eager to get the adventures started and the hearty breakfasts served at the Big Biscuit will give you the energy you need for the day that lies ahead. Come back for lunch and explore their burgers and sandwiches, because honestly, this great diner is that good.
The Gathering Place, 2650 S John Williams Way, Open Daily from 7 AM to 9 PM
The Gathering Place is a park that is unlike any you have ever visited, and it offers a great way to dip your toes into the beginning moments of your winter vacation in Tulsa. Offering 66.5 acres of gardens, ponds, playgrounds, nature trails, and sports courts, as well as restaurants, boating, and so much more, you won’t be able to see everything in your first visit, but you sure will have fun trying.
Arvest Winterfest, Downtown Tulsa, BOK Center
Arvest Winterfest is an event that comes to town every November, keeping the lights on through the end of December. Offering an outdoor rink outside of the BOK Center, opportunities to meet Santa, multiple entertainment options, and the chance to hop on the Winterfest Express Train, destination North Pole. If you haven’t narrowed down your winter travel dates, we suggest December would be the perfect time! Also offering food and drink, this event will take up your entire evening, leaving you tired and ready to return home to your holiday hideaway.
Day 3: Exploring the Artistic Side of Tulsa
Maybe an unexpected snowstorm will make you happy to explore inside activities on this, the third day of your winter explorations of Tulsa, or maybe you just love art, but today, after a hearty breakfast cooked at home, we suggest you check out the beauty of the museums and galleries listed below.
Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S Rockford Road, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
The home of the Philbrook Museum of Art is a 1920s villa that once belonged to a local oil baron and today is a celebration of art, artists, and the wonder of nature as its expansive gardens are also worth visiting.
Lovetts Gallery, 6528 E 51st Street, Closed Sundays and Mondays
Lovetts is Tulsa’s oldest art gallery, having been in business for nearly 50 years, offering a wonderful selection of all genres of art from across the globe. This can be the vacation where you buy a serious piece of art, or it can be one where you pick up something lovely that fits nicely in your price range. Lovetts has items of all sizes, styles, and prices.
Dining in Style
Until today, you really haven’t experienced the best of Tulsa’s restaurants, but after a day of museum and art gallery exploration, you and your family should be ready for a really nice meal, The Hemingway, located at 1515 E 15th Street is where we recommend ending your day. This is the kind of restaurant we imagine the Rat Pack (Sinatra, Martin, Bishop) would have felt comfortable and at home. Believing that a meal should be an experience, this steakhouse affects all the senses and will be the source of your best Tulsa food memories.
Day 4: Wow, This Week Is Going by Fast!
You have officially reached the halfway point of your week in Tulsa, and we hope that every minute has been as fun and wonderful as you had hoped; if you are following this guide, we can pretty much ensure that you are ending each day more than ready to return home to our tranquil bedrooms, ready for a refreshing night’s sleep. But today is just starting, and we suggest you start it with breakfast out at D’Lite Scratch Kitchen, located at 45 N Sheridan Road and open daily at 6 AM. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and breakfast and lunch on the weekends, D’Lite Scratch Kitchen is worth making return visits. Every item on their menu is locally sourced and created from scratch and we can promise you will taste the difference.
Woody Guthrie Center, 102 Reconciliation Way, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
At the halfway point of your winter getaway, we are taking you back to the museums, only these are the history museums, giving visitors a chance to understand all that makes our Oklahoma town what it is today, and the Woody Guthrie Center is the perfect spot to start. Offering a peek into folk songwriter and singer Woody Guthrie’s life, and even though Woody never lived in Tulsa, he was raised in one of Oklahoma’s more rural towns, this museum offers a comprehensive study into his life and his music.
Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, 2446 S Peoria Avenue, Closed Sundays and Mondays
Located inside another historical house that was once the home of another oil baron, the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum digs deep into the history of Tulsa, offering a clear look at the good, the bad, and the really ugly parts of our past. Its mission statement, “To Illuminate the Past, Enrich the Present, and Inspire Future Generations by Collecting, Preserving, and Presenting Tulsa’s History.” pretty much explains what to expect with a visit to this wonderful museum.
A Speakeasy to End Your Day
Bull in the Alley, 11 East Matthew Brady Street, offers a speakeasy experience that will serve as the ideal ending to a day spent exploring the past.
Day 5: Entertainment Matters
Today, as we begin the trailing end of your winter vacation in Tulsa, we are going to explore the entertaining side of Tulsa, but remember, these are just suggestions, and the places we suggest may be ones you can visit throughout your stay, not all in one day. Start out your day with donuts from Daylight Donuts, located at 2232 E 6th Street and enjoy a sweet beginning to your adventures.
Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E 2nd Street
Featuring live performances of all kinds, we aren’t going to go into the individual shows, because they probably won’t be showing when you visit! Just know that this wonderful center has been celebrating the performing arts since 1977 when Ella Fitzgerald was one of the opening performers.
Tulsa Ballet Theater, 1212 E 45th Place
If your visit takes place over the winter holidays, the Tulsa Ballet Theater’s performance of the Nutcracker is destined to be your new favorite holiday tradition.
BOK Center, 200 S Denver Avenue
This sports and event venue is home to both of our Tulsa Oilers teams (hockey and football) and is where many basketball championships have been held, as well as being where many of the top musicians of the world perform, including Madonna, Ariana Grande, and Tulsa’s own, Garth Brooks.
Dinner at El Rio Verde, 38 N Trenton Avenue
The Southwest is known for its Mexican restaurants and when you want a taste of authentic Mexican delights, El Rio Verde (translated to the Green River) is destined to bring your tastebuds joy!
Day 6: Wait? This Is Your Last Full Day in Tulsa?
A return trip may be in your future, as an entire week is just not long enough to see all our town has to offer, but on this, your last full day, we are going to hit some of the more unique things that make Tulsa stand out in a crowd. Breakfast at Tally’s Good Food Café will offer a great start to your day and a chance to spend some time on historic Route 66. Located at 1102 S Yale Avenue, Tally’s is famous for its all day breakfasts, including their hearty Smart Bomb, made with hash browns with diced ham, bacon, sausage, onion, green peppers, jalapenos, mushrooms, tomatoes, & cheese. Topped with (2) eggs (any style) & served with toast.
Golden Driller Statue, Tulsa Expo Center
This 75-foot-tall chap, known as the Golden Driller Statue, celebrates the oil rich history of our state and has been standing tall in the same location since 1966.
The Center of the Universe, 1 S Boston Avenue
The mystery of the Center of the Universe, which is just a concrete circle that has a circumference of about 8 feet, may never be solved, but it is a fun space to visit. Described as an acoustic anomaly, noises made inside the center of the circle echo loudly but can’t be heard by those standing outside the circle.
Buck Atom, 1347 E 11th Street
The Golden Driller Statue isn’t the only big guy in town, although Buck Atom, the space cowboy honoring the legacy of the “muffler men,” is more fun-sized, standing only 21 feet tall.
Noche, 110 N Elgin Avenue, Reservations Necessary
For your last night in town, we encourage a visit to Noche, one of the hottest new restaurants on our culinary landscape. Offering an elevated selection of Chihuahuan and Northern Mexican dishes, this restaurant will serve as a wonderful farewell to the food of Tulsa.
Day 7: Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
The last morning of vacation is always a melancholy time, but we hope to encourage you to return again when you have more time to stay. A breakfast at the Freeway Café (multiple locations throughout Tulsa) will ensure that your final memories will be fond ones. And as we say farewell to you, our treasured winter guests, we hope that your stay in our cozy and comfortable StayInTulsaOK seasonal sanctuaries has been one that fulfilled all your vacation dreams. Reserve your favorite Tulsa vacation rental today!
It often feels as if much of every year is spent waiting and dreaming about that day when we walk out of the office on a beautiful summer day, head home to pack, and then climb on a plane to fly to our summer vacation destination, only for it to end far sooner than we are ready. If you are in the planning stages of your upcoming Tulsa getaway, your favorite moments of every day may be the ones when you sit down in front of your laptop, a glass of wine in hand, planning all the details that will make this summer in Tulsa, OK one you will never forget. And because we understand the excitement of the planning stages, we at StayInTulsaOK have created this guide to a Tulsa adventure that you will wish never had to end, so go ahead, pour that glass of wine, and prepare to get lost in the magic of Tulsa.
What to See in Tulsa
If you didn’t see the Eifel Tower in Paris, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, could you really say you had visited those places? Every vacation has at least one landmark (often more) that best reflects the spot you are visiting and in Tulsa, these are the must see landmarks that best represent an Oklahoma vacation.
Golden Driller Statue, Tulsa Expo Center, 4145 E 21st Street
Tulsa was once known as the Oil Capital of the World, and although it is more commonly called T-Town today, the Golden Driller Statue, erected in 1966, reflects that original nickname and is a quirky landmark that needs to be seen to be believed. Standing 75 feet tall and weighing in at a husky 43,500 pounds, this gold structure could be considered the unofficial mascot of Tulsa and is definitely worth viewing.
Center of the Universe, 1 S Boston Avenue
In case you were wondering, the center of the universe happens to fall firmly in the middle of downtown Tulsa, just waiting to be explored by all who visit. Nothing more than a small concrete circle located in the center of a larger circle of bricks, the Center of the Universe is an acoustic anomaly that works as a private echo chamber; every noise while standing in the center of the concrete circle is amplified, and your own voice will sound distorted to those standing outside the circle.
The Outsider’s House Museum, 731 N Louis Avenue
Early in the 1980s, a small movie was made, one that starred a bunch of unknowns and changed the world forever simply by existing. That movie was called the Outsiders, and most of its stars have reached stratospheric heights of stardom, including Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, and Patrick Swayze. Filmed in Tulsa in 1983, the house that belonged to those outsiders still stands today and looks exactly as it did while the movie was being filmed, offering artifacts, exhibits, and a peek into the world of movie making.
Where to Eat in Tulsa
The vacations we remember most fondly include breathtaking adventures, exciting attractions, and restaurants serving meals so delicious, the foods haunt our dreams for years to come. To ensure that you enjoy those same happy memories during your Oklahoma journey, this guide to some of our favorite restaurants will give your taste buds something to cheer about.
Silver Skillet Family Diner, 8228 E 61st Street Suite 114
Oklahoma is known for a lot of things, but perhaps most of all it is known for its down-home Southern cooking, something that the Silver Skillet Family Diner excels at creating. Open various hours seven days a week, this diner isn’t fancy, but its servers are friendly, its booths and tables are clean and comfortable, and the meals they serve will bring comfort as they fill your belly. The Silver Skillet is one of our favorite places for breakfast with the family.
Roosevelts, 1551 E 15th Street
After a morning of Tulsa explorations, by the time the lunch hour arrives, you will be more than ready to take a seat in one of the booths of Roosevelts, a gastropub serving an eclectic selection of foods that will help you regain your energy. Providing the ambience of a gentlemen’s library with dark paneled walls and a row of bookshelves, the food at Roosevelts includes tapas (small plates) wraps, sandwiches, and burger, with each dish offering something that makes it stand out in a sea of restaurant food.
Boston Title & Abstract, 522 S Boston Avenue Suite B100
Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, Boston Title and Abstract’s name attracted us at first, and then their menu and skill at creating meals ensured that we would return. Or maybe it was the coolness of eating at a speakeasy restaurant that has us returning time and time again, but whatever entices you to visit this unusual place, it is definitely worth a stop during your Tulsa visit. Everything about this restaurant is unique, from its hidden entrance in an alley, to the industrial set of steps that lead guests into an elegant and spacious underground restaurant, and its French inspired menu filled with elevated food offerings making it the perfect special occasion restaurant.
Events to Attend
The best way to achieve an authentic Tulsa experience is by attending the special events that take place in town each summer, some of which we have listed below.
Tulsa Juneteenth Festival, Greenwood Avenue
Celebrating the emancipation of the slaves, our Tulsa Juneteenth Festival is a community funded festival that celebrates that historic date, providing a safe place for expression while offering a block party, art installation, and musical entertainment that will have you dancing in your seats.
Folds of Honor Freedom Fest, Dream Keepers Park, 1875 S Boulder Avenue
Tulsa’s largest fireworks display is also one where one of the town’s largest celebration is held. Offering food and beverage trucks, and live music, the fireworks display will be set up over the Arkansas River at the 21st Street Bridge.
An Affair of the Heart, SageNet Center
Oklahoma’s largest arts, crafts, and boutiques show offers a fun opportunity to fill the empty spaces in your luggage, lasting three days and selling a variety of products, you won’t be able to keep the smile off your face when you walk in the doors for the first time. Tickets cost $12 and are good for unlimited entry.
Keeping Cool in the Heat of Summer
Summer is known for two things, being too hot and never lasting long enough, and although we can’t help with the latter, we can help you keep cool with a few water adventures that will ensure you stay chill even as the mercury rises.
Paradise Beach Waterpark, 4707 E 21st Street
This beautiful summer adventure opens for the season around Memorial Day Weekend, providing an exciting way to stay cool while the temperatures rise. Offering wave pools, water slides, a lazy river, and more, parents can rent cabanas for a little more privacy and a café ensures you don’t have to leave when hunger pangs strike, enabling this adventure to stretch out and last an entire day.
Mohawk Park Splash Pad, 4301 Creek Drive
Visitors with tiny travelers may not want all the excitement of a big waterpark or may simply not have the time to invest, but still want to enjoy some chill time, and the splash pads at many of our local parks, including Mohawk Park, can be just the answer. Offering a brief respite from the heat, a few moments of giggles and horseplay, and in this case, a friendly whale shooting water in the air from his spout, the splash pad is a beautiful alternative to the pricy and frenetic water park.
Air Conditioned Adventures
On the muggiest of days we Oklahomans sure give thanks to Willis Carrier, the inventor of the first air conditioning system, without which summer life would not be as wonderful. We have learned the tricks of finding air conditioned activities to keep our kids busy and dads from complaining too much, some of which are listed below.
Tulsa Air & Space Museum & Planetarium, 3624 N74th Avenue E
Located in a corner of the Tulsa International Airport, this museum and planetarium offers over 19000 square feet of air & space fun, including artifacts and interactive exhibits. Our favorite part of this unusual museum may be the vintage aircraft, but you may be excited by the full dome planetarium that was added on to the museum in 2006.
Discovery Lab, 3123 Riverside Drive
It can be difficult to find vacation activities that the littles enjoy, but a visit to the Discovery Lab will change all of that. This interactive kids’ science museum will help initiate a love of science in children that do not realize that they are learning while having a blast playing in the interactive exhibits offered here.
Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks
Jenks is a suburb of Tulsa, located just 12 miles outside of town and offering the wonderful Oklahoma Aquarium, the perfect summer adventure for travelers not used to the heat of an Oklahoma summer day. Offering a peek into the world under the sea, rivers, and lakes, you can travel from the Amazon to Sea Turtle Island to the Polynesian Reef in just a few steps, all without leaving its air-conditioned coolness.
Go Outside and Play
Although the summer is warm in Tulsa, it isn’t too warm to enjoy playing outside and these outdoor adventures will make your Oklahoma vacation that much more enjoyable.
Gathering Place, 2650 S John Williams Way
There are parks, and then there are PARKS, and the Gathering Place definitely falls into the latter category, offering 66.5 acres of outdoor adventures destined to be some of your favorite parts of your Oklahoma getaway. Offering playgrounds, mist areas, sports courts, open areas used as concerts platforms, skate parks, gardens, picnic pavilions—the list of what you can find at the Gathering Place during your summer vacation in Tulsa.
Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E 36th Street N
Best experienced in the morning hours during the summer, the Tulsa Zoo offers a fun way to get back to nature, providing 84 acres of natural habitat for a wide variety of animals from all over the world, and has been a local tradition since the 1920s. Here you can meet or feed the animals, ride the carousel, even sluice for gems, or take a walking tour of the zoo.
Hanging Out with StayInTulsaOK
However you spend your daylight hours during your summer vacation in Tulsa, some of the best memories will be made right here with us at home with StayInTulsaOK. Offering all the comforts of home along with the most modern of amenities, (Did we mention how much we love Mr. Carrier and his invention of air conditioning?) your stay is destined to be one you will never forget. And because they are such an important part of your vacation adventures, we have included a few more things you can look forward to enjoying in the space below.
Tranquility
Real life can be too loud and too harsh, so the beauty of shutting the door to the noise is one you deserve to enjoy on vacation, and our vacation home rentals in Tulsa, OK are built to bring serenity to your life. Spacious bedrooms anchored by deluxe beds, spa-like baths, many offering deep tubs in the en suite ones, even quiet areas tucked away in corners, providing overstuffed chairs, bright lighting, and the quiet you need to lose yourself in the magic of a good book, are just some of the extras you can expect from StayInTulsaOK.
Amenities
Offering everything from coffee makers on the counter to putting greens in the back yard, our Tulsa vacation homes and Tulsa vacation condos will be a comfortable and fun vacation experience in itself, encouraging guests to stay in, relax, and play for at least one day during your stay.
Reach out today and reserve your favorite StayInTulsaOK summer sanctuary today!
There is something wonderful about exploring the events taking place during vacation explorations, each event, even as they seem familiar, somehow different due to the tastes of the people who live in those towns, offering an authentic peek into the area you are visiting. Tulsa, offering a taste of the south as well as quiet sophistication that seems to contrast with its hey y’all personality, is known as a town that likes a good party and the events in Tulsa, OK we list here will reflect that duality, giving visitors some fascinating adventures to enjoy. Coming home to our StayInTulsaOK sanctuaries after will add to your long list of adventures enjoyed, only these will be comfortable ones you will wish never had to end.
January
The new year brings us hope that the blank pages on our calendar will soon be filled in with exciting adventures and activities, but it also serves as a moment in time when we can let out the breath we have been holding, sink into our comfiest chairs, and take a nap while huddled under a soft and colorful throw, read a book, or just daydream about the possibilities. If January finds you in Tulsa, however, the activities listed below are sure to keep you interested.
The Chili Bowl Nationals, SageNet Center in Tulsa
Often billed as the Superbowl of midget car racing, the Chili Bowl Nationals have appeared in our hometown for over 38 years, generally taking place about two weeks after Christmas. Providing six days of fast driving, food, drinks, and cute little cars driving round and round the outdoor track will bring visitors a quirky kind of joy. The trade show that takes place every day of the show also gives guests a great way to pick out some very unusual car-related souvenirs.
Martin Luther King Day Parade
While the rest of the world seems to have forgotten the appeal of a hometown parade, we in Tulsa try never to miss an opportunity to enjoy one and the Martin Luther King Day Parade has been a staple in the Greenwood District for over 40 years.
February
The temperatures are still snuggly in February, and most of us are still cocooning inside our homes waiting out the chill, but this one festival celebrates cold weather and short days.
Dark Mode Festival, Tulsa Arts District
There is more than one way to beat the cold and that is by warming up from the inside out with a good beer. The Dark Mode Festival takes place every February, and is hosted by Wellington Brewery, offering the stoutest of beers for the hardiest of drinkers—you know, the ones who ventured away from their fireplaces and blankies to check out what this festival brings to town. The beers are local, and the s’mores will make it impossible to be anything but happy during this fun festival.
March
As the gardens begin to come to life, the heartbeat of Oklahoma begins to beat a little faster in anticipation of warmer days ahead, and the big St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that are held all over town. Visitors may be surprised that our southern roots offer Irish sprouts and the celebrations we offer represent the love we have for this holiday and for being Irish for the day or forever.
Patrick’s Day Block Party
Kilkenny’s Irish Pub hosts the annual St. Patrick’s Day Block Party on Cherry Street, offering food, drinks, live music, children’s inflatables and face painting, ensuring that all ages will have a great time at this block party.
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Arnie’s Bar
For nearly 70 years Arnie’s Bar has hosted a holiday bash for St. Paddy’s day, offering another block party for those who like a choice in their celebrations. Live music, food trucks, and beer are a major part of the reason this party has lasted for as long as it has.
April
April might be our absolute favorite month of the year, offering mild days of sunshine and a few showers (how else will May flowers grow?) making us want to get outside and play as often as possible. We often spend these spring days hanging out at the Gathering Place, participating in events that aren’t often found in parks, but are what makes this one special.
Sunset Social Hours
Occurring on a monthly basis, the sunset social hours offered at the Gathering Place allow the younger generation to make new friends over complimentary drinks at sunset while local DJs provide a musical backdrop.
Dog Play Wednesdays and Sundays
For those staying in our pet-friendly rentals in Tulsa, Dog Play Wednesdays and Sundays will give your pooch a chance to socialize while you get out and enjoy some quality time with your fur baby. But even if you didn’t bring your pet and just wanted to pet some puppies, this event is perfect for your needs.
May
May is the end of the school year in many states and the tourist season starts to ramp up more than a bit with this wonderful festival that we Tulsans look forward to all year.
Tulsa International Mayfest
Mayfest originated as a celebration of spring and has morphed into a three-day festival celebrating families, offering live music, artist galleries, and a kids’ zone (known as Kids’ World) where faces can be painted, balloons will be turned into art, and anything is possible when they use their imagination. Pro tip for first time Tulsa International Mayfest participants, this event is also a fantastic way to pick up some souvenirs to carry home with you as it also offers artwork and merch for sale.
Lager Land Festival at the Philbrook Museum
The Philbrook Museum was once the private home of a local oil baron and his family, but today is one of Oklahoma’s most popular festivals (in addition to being a museum). The Lager Land Festival offers a day of drinking local beers, dancing to live music, and just being happy that it is a beautiful spring day and you are celebrating it while on vacation.
June
Hooray! Summer has officially begun, and the carefree vibe of the summer solstice will ensure you will enjoy every second of your Oklahoma journey, especially when taking part in the events that make June special.
Tulsa Juneteenth Festival
Juneteenth is rapidly become one of the nation’s most popular holidays and Tulsa’s Juneteenth Festival is one of its largest. Lasting several days and taking place in the Greenwood District, this exciting and heartwarming festival celebrates the rich history of emancipation in Tulsa and throughout the nation.
T.E.G. International Jazz Fest
Music and summer go hand in hand and the T.E.G. International Jazz Fest celebrates Jazz Day, a holiday that has been celebrated since 2011. The best jazz artists in the country perform here, bringing a sophistication to our hometown that will bring you pleasure and excitement. Taking place at Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa, the event is a free one that starts at 6 PM and lasts long into the night.
July
It’s starting to get a little sultry out there, but the heat just makes us love our hometown even more and although we do like to stay inside and enjoy our air conditioning during the height of this season, you know we have to get out there and celebrate the birthday of our nation, with these fun events.
Folds of Honor FreedomFest
Every American deserves a big party when celebrating our country’s birthday and the Folds of Honor FreedomFest is our region’s largest party. Folds of Honor is an organization helping soldiers and their families with whatever issues they may have and FreedomFest is their contribution to the holiday. Offering food trucks, beer, a variety of live bands, and the grand finale, a fireworks extravaganza set off over the 21st Avenue Bridge, your July 4th celebrations from here on out will never match up to your night in Tulsa.
August
Summer reaches its peak in August, with the sun staying out late and the heat straying into the nighttime hours, but as kids prepare to go back to school and real-life dares make its presence
known, one last summer fling in Tulsa can help everyone feel better about summer’s end, especially when participating in our August events.
Caribbean Carnival on the Green, Guthrie Green
The beauty of the Caribbean comes to Tulsa in an explosion of color, music, art, and some delicious food that will quite possibly have you considering a Caribbean vacation for your next journey. This carnival is only in town for one night, but the fun you will experience will last a lifetime in your heart.
Oklahoma Comic Con, Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center
The first comic con was held in San Diego in 1970, morphing over the years into the country’s largest convention and spawning spin-offs all over the world, with Oklahoma Comic Con providing some healthy competition to the original. Lasting two days and offering the standard stuff you would expect from a comic convention, this is where you can meet and greet with your favorite comic characters, purchase merch and collectibles, or simply immerse yourself in the joy of being around a group of people who share your interests in all thing comic.
September
Shorter days, cooler weather, and the first of the leaves begin to change, fall in Tulsa is quite possibly the most beautiful time of the year and your September vacation will give you the opportunity to participate in the events listed below.
Tulsa State Fair, Expo Square
In the cooler regions of the world, state fairs are often held in the summer months, but for the state of Oklahoma, our fair is held in September. Offering fun rides, games, carnival foods, and the chance to hear your favorite performers perform, this state fair will satisfy your every fair desire.
October
As the air grows cool and the smell of pumpkin spice lattes begin wafting through the air, your fall break in Tulsa is guaranteed to be as relaxing as it is exciting.
Tulsa Oktoberfest, River West Festival Park
For nearly 50 years, River West Festival Park has been the site of the Tulsa Oktoberfest, a four-day celebration of everything German. Providing German food, German beer, and German music, the family friendly activities promise to be your favorite adventure this year, especially the Dachsund Dash, that yes, is exactly what it sounds like.
November
The buzz of the holiday season makes every activity sparkle that much brighter and although not every event is a holiday one, once the lights are lit, you won’t help be able to help falling in love with Tulsa even more.
USA BMX Grand Nationals, SageNet Center
The bikers that come to town Thanksgiving aren’t the hard-core ones of movie fame, they are the boys who have discovered a talent for riding BMX bikes fast. The USA BMX Grand Nationals are the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work for the best bikers in the nation and are probably more exciting than Black Friday shopping.
Light’s On Ceremony, Utica Square
The Christmas season starts on Thanksgiving Day with this fabulous lights ceremony, featuring 700,000 lights, Christmas Carols, and the most beautiful tree you have ever seen.
December
Just like that another year has passed, but before you head home to your comfortable and luxurious StayInTulsaOK vacation escape, be sure to check out these December events.
Winterfest Ice Skating, BOK Center
Starting in November and running through January 2nd, Winterfest Ice Skating offers a fun and romantic way to enjoy the holiday season on an outdoor ice rink. Colorful Christmas lights, your favorite Christmas songs, and Sundays with Santa will make everyone feel all the feels of the season. On Saturdays, the Winter Express Train glides into town from the North Pole, completing everyone’s picture of the perfect Christmas celebration.
New Year’s Eve, Multiple Venues
The whole town puts on its party clothes, offering a variety of spots in which to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another, including a NYE Bash sponsored by NEFF Brewing and NYE Midnight Masquerade at the Roof Sixty-Six Bar. Your favorite NYE activity, however, may be the moments you spend with your family in the warm embrace of our holiday hideaways.
Reach out today and reserve your favorite StayInTulsaOK vacation escape today!