Paranormal Fest in OKC Kicks Spooky Season into High Gear

October is arguably the best month of the year. With cooler temperatures, brilliant foliage, and soups finally back in action, the serenity of fall really starts to set in around mid October. It’s also, of course, the perfect time of year to sink into the strange and scary. Keeping with that vibe, the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library in Oklahoma City is bringing back its popular Paranormal Fest once again this year on October 26. Not only is this all-day bash fun for people of every age group, but it’s also free, so it’s an affordable way to entertain kids—or just yourself—for several hours.

Activities at Paranormal Fest in downtown Oklahoma City range from serious discussions of what lies beyond to escape rooms and family-friendly crafts. Photo courtesy Zoe Elrod / Metropolitan Library System

The day kicks off with a presentation at 11:00 a.m. from the Native Oklahoma Bigfoot Research Organization, who will describe their encounters with the elusive and hairy hominid. During that same hour, visitors can also listen to local author Jeff Provine talk about his book Haunted Oklahoma and his own ghoulish experiences, drop in on Spooky Storytime for young children, check out mildly spooky films like The Secret of NIMH and Kubo and the Two Strings, or try to make their way out of an escape room.

There’s a noon session where people can learn more about astrology, and shortly after that, kids can participate in Cryptid Quest: Hunting Hidden Creatures.

In the afternoon, sessions include more escape room sessions and an Indigenous spooky story hour that explores tribal folklore. The Red Dirt Cryptids—a group of Oklahomans who enjoy the strange and unusual—will educate people about the local cryptids in their midst, from Little People to Dogman. Oklahoma Paranormal will also be on hand to talk about ghost hunting around the state, and harpist Moriah Bailey will teach visitors how to create scary sound effects. Along with plenty of crafting activities–origami pumpkins, paper lanterns, bat garland, and cryptid sculpting—visitors also can converse with the Death Doula Duo in an open discussion about death and dying.

Storytime for young children subs out big scares for a whole lot of fun. Photo courtesy Zoe Elrod / Metropolitan Library System

Whether visitors are looking for light-hearted fun or more serious conversations, this ghostly gathering is primed to tingle spines of all ages.

Paranormal Fest will take place on October 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library at 300 Park Avenue in Oklahoma City. Visit metrolibrary.org and click on the Attend tab to find more information about Metropolitan Library System events.

Written By

Megan Rossman

Megan Rossman is Oklahoma Today's photography editor.