Weekly Events Calendar, January 16-22, 2023

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.

Oklahoma played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement and its impact is still felt everywhere today. Join in a day of remembrance and celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 16 with others across the state with free events at these locations:

MLK Day Parade & Celebration in Ardmore

MLK Holiday Parade in Oklahoma City

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade & Celebration in Muskogee

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Tulsa

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in the Myriad Botanical Gardens

Strum away those winter chills at the Western Hills Bluegrass Festival in Wagoner. Photo by Andreas Riedelmeier

There are innumerable reasons to visit Sequoyah State Park in Wagoner all year round, but January is a particularly good time for music lovers. Grab your instruments and head to the Western Hills Winter Bluegrass Festival for days of concerts, jam sessions, workshops, and a whole lot of fun. Held at the gorgeous park lodge, visitors will experience some of the best bluegrass bands in the region. But don't go to bed too early—all-night jam sessions are the norm. **January 19-23. Tickets, $15-$45. [facebook.com

Get the royal treatment when you head to Enid for Gaslight Theatre's production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Photo courtesy Gaslight Theatre

Don't be late for this very important date at Enid's Gaslight Theatre when the cast takes the audience through the looking glass for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Beware the Queen of Hearts, look out for any suspicious bottles saying, "Drink Me," and pull up a chair at the world's most out-of-control tea party in this modern spin on the Lewis Carroll classic. January 21-22. Tickets, $5. gaslighttheatre.org

Are they Canadian? Perhaps Greek? Maybe even Estonian? No, the members of Grand Funk Railroad are in an American band and they're coming to your town—as long as your town is Newkirk—to help you party down with a high-energy show at the First Council Casino. Embrace the band that puts the "fun" in funk and get down to "The Loco-Motion" with the rest of the crowd. **January 21. Tickets, $35-$75. 5. [ticketstorm.com

Get neck-deep in the fun of birdwatching like this common loon at the Eagle Tour and Loon Watch in Vian. Photo by gholland

Migrate your way to Vian for an activity that is both very much for and not at all for the birds. Tenkiller State Park and the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge present the annual Eagle Tour and Loon Watch over the coming weekends for ornithology enthusiasts to catch a glimpse of southern bald eagles in their natural habitat, as well as a variety of loons that nest in and around the park before they fly away for the season. January 21. Admission, free. TravelOK.com

Written By

Greg Elwell

Greg Elwell served as research editor and web editor of Oklahoma Today from 2018-2023. He also has worked for newspapers, medical research organizations, and government institutions.