Weekly Events Calendar, September 18-24, 2023

This week's events calendar is brought to you by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Learn more at ovac-ok.org.

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.

Ride the rides, try the pies, and don't forget to wear sunscreen at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City. Photo courtesy Oklahoma State Fair

You're already missing it! If this is the first you're seeing about the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, something has gone awry. The fair began in earnest on September 14 and will run all the way through this Sunday, which means a couple hundred thousand of the more than one million visitors the fair gets each year have already been and gone. Listing all the things one can do and see at the fair would take up the entire page, so we'll list a few of the things you can't see or do there: dinosaur cloning, mid-air parachute fights, not eating a corn dog. You get the picture. September 14-24. Tickets, $5-$10. http://www.okstatefair.com/

Generally speaking, "Get lost!" is meant as an insult meaning that the insult-giver wishes the insult-receiver would go away, never to be found again. It's a little different at P Bar Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch in Hyrdo, where "Get lost!" is a playful reminder that a corn maze is absolutely the kind of fun place one might lose their way in. This maze is three and a half miles of dead ends, false starts, and compass-confounding fun, and when you're done, you can pick up a pumpkin to take home for the holidays. If that's not enough, there's a petting zoo, barrel train rides, hay rides, and so much more it's a good thing this event lasts well into next month. September 15-October 28. Tickets, $5-$15. https://www.pbarfarms.com/

Be on the lookout for prime pumpkins at P Bar Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch in Hydro. Photo by Hans Braxmeier

Fans of Klaus Teuber's beloved Catan series of games know there is great joy in building towns and cities, amassing a large army, and nudging the robber onto someone else's hex right before they roll a crucial eight. But over on Wakita's Main Street, guests can see the fruits of those settling labors during the Old Settlers Day Celebration. It's the 101st year for the party, which begins with a sausage and pancake breakfast before heading out for turtle races, cornhole tournaments, and bounce houses. Appreciate the folks who keep us weather aware while there during the storm chaser car show, as well. September 23. Admission, free. (580) 541-6958

If you've never tried a calf fry before, that's pretty much the best description. They're flat and they're deep fried and they taste like deep-fried batter and hot oil. Dip them or don't, but you won't want to miss the rest of the fun at Vinita's World's Largest Calf Fry Festival & Cook-Off. Now in its forty-first year, the festival celebrate Vinita's ranching history with amusement park rides, arts and crafts, live music, and pony rides. And, of course, selling more than 2,000 pounds of calf fries. September 23. Admission, free. https://www.facebook.com/events/3434866620175727

Gnaw on a rib and choose a champion at Smokin' The Fort in Fort Gibson. Photo by Vorarlberger Botschaft Pixabay

. . . there's chili. Well, not always, but if you're heading to Fort Gibson's annual Smokin' The Fort Barbecue & Chili Festival, there will definitely be smoke and barbecue and chili, as well as a few other festival mainstays. Crafts from vendors are a staple, but don't forget the always important Kids Zone—an ideal zone to put the kids while you grab a cold one in the beer garden to help wash down a plate of brisket and a scorching hot bowl of chili. Be sure to grab a taster kit and lend your palate to the judging. September 23. Taster kits, $10. https://fortgibson.com/around-town/smokin-the-fort-september-23rd-10am-3pm/

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.