A December to Remember

Let It Shine

Perhaps the most classic holiday activity – walking or drive-through light displays – can be found in virtually every corner of the state this month. Here’s a smattering of offerings if you’re looking to let it shine. 

Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights
Through Dec. 17
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville

Ride a wagon or stroll on foot through this display, which offers more than 750,000 bulbs. Other goodies include live entertainment, visits with Santa and holiday refreshments.

Myriad & Bright
Through Dec. 24
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City

The Crystal Bridge Conservatory is adorned with poinsettias and lighted displays you won’t want to miss. You can also enjoy a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree, refreshments, live music and carousel rides. 

Festival of Lights
Through Dec. 29
Regional Park, Ardmore

Take your pick between 150 animated displays in this 1.5-mile drive through. As one of the largest light displays in southern Oklahoma, the Festival of Lights offers free admission, with donations appreciated.

Festival of Angels
Through Dec 30
Various locations, Ponca City

This drive-through animated Christmas lights event includes over 300 displays in three locations. Grab a map at the Pioneer Woman Statue and stroll through fantasy gardens and the Lake Ponca Park angel displays. 

Philbrook Festival
Through Dec 30, 2023
Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa

This annual holiday tradition includes tens of thousands of lights adoring the front and back gardens of the museum. Additionally, the festival includes holiday-themed goodies like special exhibitions, a LEGO Villa and self-guided activities.

Botanic Garden of Lights
Through Dec 30
Tulsa Botanic Garden

Beautiful garden displays are accented by tasty goodies like warm drinks, s’mores kits and food trucks. You can also add your wish to the Wishing Tree, enjoy a selfie booth and stroll at your own pace. 

Fantasy Land of Lights
Through Dec. 30
Johnstone Park, Bartlesville

This drive-through display includes music, a synchronized tunnel, animated displays and thousands of bulbs decorating the park each night. 

Chickasha Festival of Light
Through Dec. 31
Shannon Springs Park, Chickasha

Featuring over 4 million twinkling lights in Shannon Springs Park, Chickasha’s Festival of Light has drive-through displays and a computer-animated show synchronized to holiday tunes. At the crux is the 172-foot Christmas tree, accented by horse-drawn carriages, visits with Santa Claus, ice skating and a carousel. 

OKC Zoo Safari Lights
Through Jan. 1
Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Larger-than-life light displays showcase 60+ wildlife-themed light sculptures, viewable on a driving tour through the zoo. You can also enjoy festive treats, kids activities and weekend visits with Santa. Online reservations are required.

Bixby’s Winter Wonderland
Through Jan. 1
Charley Young Event Park, Bixby

Perfect for the whole family, the Winter Wonderland is replete with a variety of lighted displays, plus an ice rink. 

Edmond Electric’s Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll
Through Jan. 1
Mitch Park, Edmond

This walk-through holiday light display includes a 1/4 mile stroll through Mitch Park, plus glittering lights, 3D displays and picturesque photo-ops. 

Rhema Christmas Lights
Through Jan. 1
Rhema Bible Church, Broken Arrow

You can expect three million lights synchronized to Christmas music across 110 acres. Add to the magic with a horse-drawn carriage, or venture to the Rhema Park bridge, which alone has 90,000 lights. 

Garden of Lights
Through Jan 1
Honor Heights Park, Muskogee

The Garden of Lights combines 1.2 million shimmering lights, 130 acres of trees, rose and azalea bushes, and displays of deer, squirrels and birds. 

Holiday in the Park
Through Jan. 2
Elmer Thomas Park, Lawton

Colorful lights, ornaments and cut-outs can be found throughout the Elmer Thomas Park in Lawton. Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, drive your own car or walk through the park to enjoy all of the cheer. 

Holiday Performances

Escape the cold and immerse yourself in the beauty of performing arts this season. 

Tulsa Symphony presents: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 
Dec. 1
Tulsa PAC

OKC Philharmonic presents: A Very Merry Pops
Dec. 1-2
Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City

Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Concert
Dec 7
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City 

Oklahoma Shakespeare on the Paseo presents: Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker
Dec. 7-23
2920 Paseo, Oklahoma City

RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker
Dec. 8-10
OCCC Visual & Performing Arts Center Theater, Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Ballet presents: The Nutcracker
Dec. 8-17
Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City

American Theatre Company presents: A Christmas Carol
Dec. 8-23
Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Ballet presents: The Nutcracker
Dec. 9-23
Tulsa PAC

Pollard Theatre presents: A Territorial Christmas Carol
Through Dec. 23
Pollard Theatre, Guthrie

Lyric Theatre presents: A Christmas Carol
Through Dec. 24
Lyric at the Plaza, Oklahoma City

On the Ice

Lace up your skates and get to skatin’ at these festive rinks.

Tulsa metro:
Winterfest
Through Jan. 2
Downtown Tulsa by the BOK Center 

BA Ice Rink
Through Jan. 7
418 S. Main St.

OKC metro:

Edmond Ice Rink
Through Jan. 15
Mitch Park, Edmond

Crest on Ice
Through Jan. 7
2550 Mt. Williams Dr., Norman

Devon Ice Rink
Through Jan. 29
Myriad Botanical Gardens

Around the state: 
Holidays on Ice
Through Jan. 7
301 S. Independence Ave, Enid

Yukon Ice Rink
Through Jan. 1
500 W. Vandament Ave., Yukon

Come Together 

So you’ve looked at the lights, gone to the performances and skated the day away. If you’re still hungry for more, we have you covered.

Saints Santa Run
Dec. 2
1000 N. Lee Ave., Oklahoma City

Walk, jog, run or skip to the Saints Santa Run in OKC. This race includes 1 mile runs, 5ks and a free Santa Claus Kids’ Dash. Make sure to dress up and enjoy the after-party, with live music, face painting, a photo booth, and a build-your-own-trail-mix bar. 

Tulsa Christmas Parade
Dec. 9
Downtown 

You’ll see a combo of floats, bands, drill teams, dancers and lights at this beloved Tulsa tradition. Bundle up and venture out to see the giant helium balloon – escorted by balloon wranglers! 

OKC Community Chanukah Festival
Dec. 10
Scissortail Park

Hosted by the Chabad Community Center, the Chanukah Festival will include a giant menorah lighting, live music, kosher fair food and booths of carnival entertainment. 

Holiday in the Ark
Through Dec. 17
Endangered Ark Foundation, Hugo

Visit the Endangered Ark Foundation in Hugo for a meet and greet with Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, the Grinch and, of course, the elephants! You’ll even be able to feed and interact with these friendly animals.  

Christmas on the Farm
Through Dec. 17
Red Bird Farm, Enid

Find one-of-a-kind gifts, pick the perfect tree and snag a homemade wreath at Christmas on the Farm. Don’t forget to sip on hot cocoa! 

Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village
Through Dec 23
Har-Ber Village Museum, Grove

Get into the Victorian mood at Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village, where the ambiance is centered around late 1800’s and early 1900’s style. You’ll experience carolers, visits from Santa, fresh baked cookies and plenty of seasonal gifts. Don’t skip the gingerbread house workshop! 

The Polar Express
Through Dec. 27
Oklahoma Railway Museum, Oklahoma City

All aboard the most cheerful ride in the city – the Polar Express. Once on the train, you can enjoy hot chocolate, the reading of a Christmas story, cookies and even take home a goodie bag. 

Red Earth Treefest
Through Dec. 29
BancFirst Tower, Oklahoma City

View a variety of Christmas trees created and decorated by Oklahoma Native American tribes during the annual Red Earth Treefest.

Limo Holiday Lights Tours
Through Dec 30
Oklahoma City

If you’re looking to stay warm but keep the merry spirit alive, you can schedule two-hour tours of the city’s lights via limo! 

Depot Green Christmas Train
Through Dec. 31
205 Elgin St., Muskogee

Choo-choo! Step aboard the Depot Green Christmas Train for a short ride, offering hot chocolate, popcorn and other sweet treats. 

Route 66 Christmas Chute
Through Dec. 31
101 E. Dewey Ave, Sapulpa

Downtown Sapulpa is completely transformed into a winter wonderland during the Route 66 Christmas Chute. Block after block of downtown is decorated in a different theme – so you can shop in style! 

Winterfest
Through Jan. 2
Downtown Tulsa

The spirit of the season can be found in downtown Tulsa with an outdoor ice rink, one of Oklahoma’s tallest outdoor Christmas trees, horse-drawn carriage rides, live entertainment and holiday light displays. 

Downtown in December
Through Feb. 4
Downtown Oklahoma City

You’ll enter a holiday haze during Downtown in December in OKC. Enjoy everything from outdoor ice skating to snow tubing, free water taxi excursions, and beautifully lit areas with plenty of holiday cheer for the entire family. 

Shopping Galore

If you’re looking to find unique gifts created by locals, the following events and stores can supply exactly what you need.

The Santa Market
Dec 1-2
OKC Fairgrounds Pavilion

Handmade arts and crafts can be found around every corner at the Santa Market. Offerings include jewelry, home decor, hand-painted ornaments and other wares from 150 vendors. 

Christkindlmarkt
Dec 1-3
GAST Center, Tulsa

Held by the German American Society of Tulsa, Christkindlmarkt is a uniquely European shopping experience that “aims to bring a true German old world holiday shopping experience to the Sooner state.” Alongside authentic collective and memorabilia, kids can enjoy the puppet shows and hopefully catch a glimpse of St. Nikolaus.

Native American Christmas Market
Dec 2-3
Glenpool Conference Center

You’ll find art, music, food and culture all wrapped into one this season at the Native American Christmas Market. Featuring American Indian artists and craftsmen selling original paintings and sewing creations, the market offers handmade, traditional clothing and one-of-a-kind beadwork. 

Sleigh Bells Market
Dec. 3
OKC Farmers Public Market

Teeming with 50 hand-selected vendors, the Sleigh Bells Market offers a variety of vintage and local handmade goods.

Holiday Pop-Up Shops
Through Dec. 17
399 N.W. Tenth St., Oklahoma City

Step into this temporary geodesic dome city that touts a fun, stress-free way to kick off the holiday season. You can enjoy a rotating line-up of small business vendors, along with Christmas trees to take home! 

PAMBE Ghana’s Global Market
Through Dec. 24
617 W. Sheridan Ave., Oklahoma City

This seasonal fair trade shop offers goods crafted in a diverse range of countries. Choose between Guatemalan hacky sacks, wool hats from Nepal or a Peruvian Nativity. No matter what you choose, it will surely be unique!