Weekly Events Calendar, January 4-10, 2021

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.

Hola, Educación

One cool thing people rarely talk about when learning a new language is how much fun it is to talk behind people’s backs. Yes, sure, it’s neat to be able to travel throughout the Spanish-speaking world and communicate directly with the people, but it’s also a blast to tell your friend what you got your spouse for their birthday without even whispering. Learn the secrets of español with Spanish Class on Zoom, from the Bartlesville Public Library. You won’t even have to leave your casa to begin your path to bilinguality. **January 4. Admission, Free. (918) 338-4179 or 4179 or [facebook.com

Cellist Julian and his father, conductor Gerard Schwarz, perform live at Armstrong Auditorium this week. Photo courtesy BocaMag.com

May the Schwarz(es) Be With You

Tis the season for all the stuff that got canceled last year to be rescheduled in a responsible manner, which includes Two Fathers, Two Sons, a concert featuring conductor Gerard Schwarz and his son, acclaimed cellist Julian Schwarz, with the Mozart Orchestra of New York at Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium. Joining the Schwarz duo are Armstrong concert manager Ryan Malone on harpsichord and his son, Seth Malone, on cello. In-person tickets are already sold out, but a livestream will let you soak in the magic at home. *January 7. Tickets, $12. (405) 285-1010 or [armstrongauditorium.org

Om My

2020 was a big year for new yoga moves, like the Downward-Facing Groan (performed on the couch) or the Fallen Tree Pose (done by turning off the electricity to your home for a few days). But for 2021, it’s back to basics with the Winter Big Om Yoga Retreat at Sequoyah State Park & Lodge in Hulbert. This weekend retreat is a good time to breathe in renewal and rebirth and exhale whatever that last year was all about. *January 8-10. Tickets, $149-$249. (918) 605-8221 or [bigomyogaretreat.com

Big Om's winter retreat comes to Sequoyah State Park & Lodge in Hulbert this weekend. Photo courtesy Big Om

Winging It

America would be a very different place if we’d gone with Ben Franklin’s suggestion and adopted the turkey as our national symbol. Kids in the ’70s would have rocked out to Steve Miller Band’s hit “Fly Like a Turkey” and all your camping enthusiast friends would talk about earning badges as a Turkey Scout. Would Arcadia Lake even hold its Eagle Watch if Mr. Franklin had his way? Luckily, we don’t have worry about that, because you can bundle up and peer at bald eagles along the lake’s twenty-six miles of gorgeous shoreline all weekend long. **January 8-10. Admission, $3 per vehicle. (405) 216-7471 or 5) 216-7471 or [edmondok.com

Watch our national symbol soar at the Arcadia Lake Eagle Watch. Photo by cocoparisienne

Ssssssssimply the Best

Ssssssometimes an event just isn’t right for every tasssssste. People with egg allergies should avoid omelet cookoffs. Those with a debilitating fear of clowns might ought to give the circus a miss. Sssssso, no, we’re not saying everybody needs to attend Show Me Reptiles & Exotics Show at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Broken Arrow, but if you’re a fan of the cold-blooded, there’s no place better than this. Slither in for a look at some rare reptiles and maybe even pick up some hisssss and hers pets while you’re there. **January 10. Admission, $5-$12. $5-$12. [eventbrite.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.