Weekly Events Calendar: February 12-18

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 Ben Luschen
Well now we turn our attention to SWOSU, where the focus is . . . jazz! America’s original artform is sometimes incorrectly thought of as a beautiful relic of a bygone era, but a trip to Weatherford this Thursday and Friday will prove to the skeptics just how alive and well the jazz genre is. The SWOSU Jazz Festival celebrates its 54th year by bringing in musical guest Terell Stafford, hailed as one of the great trumpeters of our time. Regular listeners of our weekly podcast might remember my interview with festival organizer Dr. Richard Tirk, who is also a music professor at SWOSU. Indeed, education and opportunity are a big part of the yearly event, particularly in the form of the all-day Big Band Competition that attracts some of the best school and other jazz bands from across the region for competition and earnest feedback from judges. A free concert with the Terell Stafford Quintet is 7 pm Thursday at SWOSU’s Fine Arts Auditorium, and the Big Band Competition kicks off Friday morning. There will also be numerous other ticketed and free performances on the SWOSU campus and around Weatherford for those two days.
February 15-16. Tickets, free-$25. swosu.weebly.com

Performances from the SWOSU Jazz Orchestra and many more make Weatherford a lively place during the SWOSU Jazz Festival. Photo courtesy SWOSU Jazz Festival

By Karlie Ybarra
Our boastful neighbors to the south may think bigger is better, but that’s not always the case. Wonderful things come in tiny packages all the time. Puppies and kittens. The smallest national park—which is only 100 square feet—located in Guthrie. Danny Devito. Audiences will have yet another reason to delight in the diminutive during Lyric Theatre Presents: Small. On February 15th through 25th, former jockey Robert Mantano will share the ups and downs of his career as a professional horseman, which nearly killed him. Word of caution: Montano’s ride includes adult language, drug references, and details about his battle with bulimia, so bringing kids under 14 isn’t necessarily recommended. On February 16th, there will be a sign language interpreter. Tickets are $25-$45. Check out lyrictheatreokc.com for more info.
February 15-25. Tickets, $25-$45. lyrictheatreokc.com

By Megan Rossman
Back in ancient times, before there were debit cards and bitcoin, humans used physical legal tender for their financial transactions. On February 16 and 17, modern people can get a peek at the past at the Stephens County Coin Show at the aptly named Stephens County Fairgrounds. Shiny discs of copper, nickel, and perhaps even silver and gold will dazzle the eyes of visitors, many of whom have not seen tactile money in fortnight or longer. Guests can browse for rare change, such as the 1933 Double Eagle, a $20 gold piece and the rarest U.S. coin—one of which sold for almost $19 million in 2021. While they probably won’t find anything that elusive, everyone is sure to find a good time. For more information, call 800 782 7167.
February 16-17. Admission, free. choctawcasinos.com

Browse through rare, historic, and otherwise treasured coins this weekend at Stephens County Coin Show in Duncan. Photo courtesy Pixabay

By Nathan Gunter
Do you all ever think about the dreams you had as a kid? Like the kind where you even thought at the time, 'Well, this is dumb.' Well, when I was six I looked up at Venus one night in the sunset and I said, 'I wish that when I die it'll be because I was eaten by a dinosaur.' It's never going to come true and I knew in the moment it wasn't going to come true, and that's okay. But on Sunday, February 18, in Enid there won't be a lot of human beings consumed as food at Stride Bank Presents: Dinosaur World Live, but it's probably the next best thing. In this show, life-size dinosaur puppets reenact the world of the Mesozoic Era. Come and see Segnosaurus or Triceratops or Microraptor, but of course they're all just opening acts for the king himself, Tyrannosaurus rex (who will not be singing "Love Me Tender").
February 18. Tickets, $15-$45. stridebankcenter.com

Puppets of prehistory reign supreme at Dinosaur World Live in Enid. Photo courtesy Dinosaur World Live

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.