Weekly Events Calendar, September 11-18, 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.

Brawny Scottish athletes put their skills to the test each year at ScotFest in Broken Arrow. Photo courtesy ScotFest

Perhaps it's hubris on our part, but given that this is Oklahoma and the weather has a tendency to be quite warm, we're almost certain that soda, pop, soft drinks, and other terms for carbonated beverages will in fact be available for purchase during Broken Arrow's annual ScotFest in Chisholm Trail Park. Over the course of the weekend, highland descendants and people with no link to Caledonia by the thousands will adorn themselves in tartan kilts and watch the Scottish Highland Games, listen to bagpipers, and eat that ever-present turkey leg that just makes a festival feel right. September 15-17. Tickets, $20-$129. okscotfest.com

Ever see a festival and think, "This is too easy"? Well, jack up the degree of difficulty for the Coweta Fall Festival with Tour de Cowtown. This cycling hootenanny will take peddle-pushers through the rolling hills, cattle fields, and vineyards near Coweta on routes ranging from a free five-mile family ride up to grueling sixty-two-mile routes. Once the churning (of legs) and burning (of calories) is over, park those whips and indulge in fair food, live music, and carnival rides. Because you've earned them. September 16. Tickets, free-$49.99. tourdecowtown.com

Ghouls and goblins? No. But for some spooky, spectral fun, the Fort Reno Ghost Tour in El Reno is frightfully fun. Photo courtesy Fort Reno

Despite Halloween being more than a month away, the folks at historic Fort Reno, near the onion burger Valhalla of El Reno, know that getting spooked is a year-round thrill. During the Fort Reno Historic Spirit Tour, guests can take a walk with guides who will clue them in on the fort's haunted past and present. Because, you know, ghosts stick around. Whether you're a true believer in the spectral arts or a skeptic with a penchant for the creepy, it's a great chance to stretch your legs, learn some Oklahoma history, and test your mettle. September 16. Tickets, $20 including a light dinner. fortreno.org/ghost-tours

One thing about opera that kind of turns off English-speaking audiences is that it's almost never in English. Hearing a story belted out in Italian is still a treat, even if it's a little harder to follow, but the Garvin County Choral Society and Sinfonietta have a work around. The Marriage of Figaro on the Ranch is a Western (American, not European) retelling of Mozart's classic comedy with Western props and English lyrics. Great for first-time opera attendees and Die Fledermaus diehards alike, it'll have audiences singing all the way to Pauls Valley. September 16. Tickets, $26.75-$52.50. garvincountysings.com

Great food, toe-tapping tunes, and colorful dancers make Oklahoma City's Fiestas Patrios a can't-miss event. Photo courtesy Oklahoma City Community College

There's nothing wrong with enjoying and celebrating Cinco de Mayo, but let's be clear: that's not Mexican Independence Day. Anyone looking for a south-of-the-border Fourth of July-style party will want to stick a pin in September 17 for Fiestas Patrias at Oklahoma City Community College. The real Mexican Independence Day includes an afternoon and evening of fun entertainment and cultural enrichment. Folkloric dancing, crafts for kids, live music, and of course lots of food will make this party one you'll regret saying adios to. September 17. Admission, free. facebook.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.