Weekly Events Calendar: December 18-24

Each week, Oklahoma Today staffers comb through their calendars to find a handful of great events happening across the state. Get out! See Oklahoma! And be sure to let us know what you find, either here or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @oklahomatoday.

By day guests visit the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden to see all their favorite animals, but during winter nights they flock to the site for a different kind of spectacle: the twinkling light displays of Safari Lights. Choose between a drive-thru course you can see without leaving the warmth of your car or a separate path for pedestrians that kids will especially love, including interactive exhibits, a musical light show, a s’more station, and more. Through January 1. Admission, $16-$70. okczoo.org

OKC Zoo's annual Safari Lights tour is now open, offering a perfect family outing for families in the week before the Big Day. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Tulsa’s Guthrie Green throughout most of the year is known for being, well, green. But through this Friday, a vibrant spectrum of other colors enter the mix as the space transforms into QuikTrip’s JollyTown, a seasonal spectacle of bright holiday lights, photo ops, live entertainment, and all-around warm Christmas feels. Not only are there live reindeer on site, but kids can go through their own reindeer games gauntlet on the inflatable winter obstacle course. Through December 22. Admission, free. quiktrip.com

Tulsa's Guthrie Green has transformed into JollyTown, a paradise for winter revelers with a life-size snowglobe, an inflatable obstacle course, hot chocolate, and so much more. The experience remains open through Friday. Photo courtesy Guthrie Green

At one point, NBA superstar Russell Westbrook was a fixture in Oklahoma City, earning a league MVP trophy along the way of his eleven-year Thunder career. Now, as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, Westbrook only makes occasional stops in the Sooner State. This year’s Paycom Center visit comes Thursday evening for the Los Angeles Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder. See the all-time Thunder player match up against current Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. December 21. Tickets, $22-$1000. nba.com

In a tradition now spanning more than three decades, Guthrie’s Pollard Theatre presents A Territorial Christmas Carol for its holiday season. Performances of this Charles Dickens-inspired classic on embracing the unselfish joy of Christmas are common in the last month of the year, but Pollard’s version stands out with a pre-statehood aesthetic, inspired stage effects, and, ahem,spirited performances. As of this writing, tickets are still available for this annual favorite’s closing week of shows, but act fast to reserve seats. December 21-23. Admission, $10-$35. thepollard.org

Guthrie's Pollard Theatre puts on A Territorial Christmas Carol each year, and performances wrap up this week. Photo courtesy Pollard Theatre

If a rustic, remote holiday sounds like it might be up your alley, there is no better place in Oklahoma to head this week than to the Medicine Park Christmas Parade & Carnival, just outside the scenic beauty of the Wichita Mountains National WIldlife Refuge. Games and entertainment begin at 10 a.m. throughout the town, with floats, horses, and antique automobiles leading the Christmas parade at 2 p.m. December 23. Admission, free. medicinepark.com

Written By

Ben Luschen

Luschen joined the *Oklahoma Today*’ staff as Research Editor in 2021 and currently works as the magazine's Web Editor, managing the website and social media fronts. His past *Oklahoma Today* stories have ranged in content from the state's bee and quail industries to its vibrant art and music scenes. Not adverse to a road trip, Luschen is always on the lookout for the next big adventure. He is never out of opinions about the current state of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.