Merry and Bright Performances
Beloved Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker, can be found in venues across the state this month. Enjoy Tulsa Ballet’s rendition at the PAC from Dec. 9 to 23, and OKC Ballet’s at the Civic Center Music Hall from Dec. 10-18. Other Nutcracker-themed showcases include RACE Dance Company’s Hip Hop Nutcracker on Dec. 2-3 and 10-11 at the OCCC Performing and Visual Arts Center in OKC; the World Ballet Series’ rendition Dec. 10 at Midwest City’s Hudiberg Chevrolet Center; and another variation at Nancy O’Brian Center for the Performing Arts in Norman on Dec. 17-18.
Less dancing, more acting? You got it! The story of The Christmas Carol can be viewed in Tulsa, OKC and Guthrie. Visit the PAC for American Theatre Company’s showcase from Dec. 9-23; OKC’s Harn Homestead for Lyric Theatre’s offerings from Dec. 16-23; and Guthrie’s Pollard Theatre for A Territorial Christmas Carol, running through Dec. 23.
Other performing arts companies bring the heat in December. At the Tulsa PAC, enjoy Elf in Concert courtesy Tulsa Symphony on Dec. 2; Festive Bell Ringers performances Dec. 7; and David Phelps on Dec. 16. At Tulsa’s TCC Van Trease PACE, Signature Symphony’s Christmas in Tulsa concert runs Dec. 16.
At the OKC Civic Center, enjoy OKC Phil’s Coming Home for Christmas on Dec. 2; Canterbury Voices’ A Canterbury Christmas on Dec. 4; and A Magical Cirque Christmas on Dec. 22-23.
Other goodies include the Cement Opry Dec. 3 at 410 N. Main in Cement; the Pauls Valley Opry on Dec. 3 at the Pauls Valley High School Auditorium; Trans-Siberian Orchestra at OKC’s Paycom Center on Dec. 8; and Cirque Dream Holidaze on Dec. 18 at the BOK Center.
Community Festivities
Before or after catching a show, you can bring the entire family out to a variety of community events around the state, ushering in Christmas cheer by the boatload.
OKC welcomes Downtown in December through Jan. 27. Throughout the area’s six districts, OKC residents and out-of-towners alike can enjoy ice skating, light displays and even free water taxi rides. For the kiddos, don’t miss The Polar Express train rides, which depart from the Oklahoma Railway Museum until Dec. 27. At OKC’s BancFirst Tower, enjoy Red Earth Treefest through Dec. 30 – inside, you’ll see a variety of Christmas trees decorated by Oklahoma’s Native tribes. And you can swing by RiverSport OKC for Winter Glow until Dec. 30, with indoor and outdoor themed decor and activities.
New this year, the Route 66 Christmas Chute runs through New Year’s Day in downtown Sapulpa, where you can walk through blocks of decor and lights.
In Tulsa, Arvest Winterfest runs through Jan. 8, with ice skating and carriage rides across from the BOK Center. Stick around for Castle Christmas at the Castle of Muskogee, with lights, inflatables and games through Dec. 31. Another option is the Route 66 Twinkle Tour across Route 66, which is a self-guided, driven lights and attraction spectacle.
In Stillwater, Merry Main Street continues until Dec. 18, offering holiday shopping, picturesque views and lots of lights. And the historic Territorial Christmas Celebration runs in Guthrie until Dec. 10 all across downtown.
Other Events to Visit
Pryor Christmas Parade of Lights
Dec. 1
Downtown Pryor
pryorchamber.com/christmas-parade-of-lights
Olde Tyme Christmas
Dec. 1
Downtown Tonkawa
tonkawachamber.org
Sleigh Bells Market
Dec. 4
OKC Farmers Public Market
revolve-productions.com/upcoming-events
Gingerbread Workshop
Dec. 15
The Clubhouse, Ardmore
ardmorecity.org
Depot Green Christmas Train
Dec. 15-18
205 Elgin St., Muskogee
muskogeechamber.org
Skate Away
If you’re gunning to get on the ice this month, lace up your skates and head to the following:
Tulsa
Arvest Winterfest
Through Jan. 8, downtown
OKC/Edmond
Edmond Ice Rink
Through Jan. 15, Mitch Park
Devon Ice Rink
Through Jan. 29, Myriad Botanical Gardens
Norman
Crest on Ice
Through Jan. 8, 2550 Mt. Williams Dr.
Broken Arrow
BA Ice Rink
Through Jan. 2, 418 S. Main St.
Enid
Holidays on Ice
Through Jan. 7, 400 S. Independence Ave.
Yukon
Yukon Ice Rink
Through Jan. 2, 500 W. Vandament Ave.
Parades Galore
Get nice and bundled up to enjoy a few Christmas parades this month.
December 3: Chickasha Lighted Christmas Parade at 100 Chickasha Ave.; Chandler Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Festival starting downtown; Norman Main Street Christmas Holiday Parade starting downtown; Cowboy Christmas Parade in OKC’s Historic Stockyards City; Miami Route 66 Christmas Parade starting downtown; Marlow Christmas Parade on Main Street; and the Lighted Christmas Parade and Fireworks in downtown Kingfisher.
December 10: Jay Christmas Parade at 538 W. Krause St.; Grand Lake Christmas Light Boat Parade at the Cherokee Yacht Club and Marina in Afton.
December 17: Medicine Park Christmas Parade and Carnival at 154 E. Lake Dr.
Holiday Music Must-Haves
Not sure what to add to your Christmas playlist? We’ve got you covered!
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jackson 5
“Believe” by Josh Groban
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Harry Connick Jr.
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé
“(There’s No Place Like) Home For the Holidays” by The Carpenters
“Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes
“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
“Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” by John Denver & The Muppets
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen
“You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” by Thurl Ravenscroft
“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Frank Sinatra
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love
“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” by The Chipmunks
“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” by Elmo & Patsy
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” by Bing Crosby
Lights On!
Holiday displays are just about everywhere. Here’s a comprehensive list:
Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights
Through Dec. 18
Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville
woolaroc.org
Kingfisher Winter Nights
Through Dec. 25
Kingfisher City Park
kingfisherwinternights.com
Lights on the Island
Through Dec. 25
Lake Wister State Park, Wister
poteauchamber.com
Festival of Lights
Through Dec. 30
Regional Park, Ardmore
facebook.com/ardmoreparksandrec
Twin Bridges Park of Lights
Through Dec. 30
Twin Bridges Park, Fairland
facebook.com/twinbridgesparkpartners2
Fantasty Land of Lights
Through Dec. 30
Johnstone Park, Bartlesville
fantasylandoflights.com
Garden of Lights
Through Dec. 30
Tulsa Botanic Garden
tulsabotanic.org
Christmas in the Park
Through Dec. 31
Yukon City Park, Freedom Trail Park, Chisholm Trail Park, Yukon
yukonok.gov
Philbrook Festival
Through Dec. 31
Philbrook Museum
philbrook.org
Chickasha Festival of Light
Through Dec. 31
Shannon Spring Park, Chickasha
chickashafestivaloflight.org
Holiday in the Park
Through Jan. 1
Elmer Thomas Park, Lawton
lawtonfortsillchamber.com
OKC Zoo Safari Lights
Through Jan. 1
OKC Zoo
okczoo.org
Downs Family Christmas Lights
Through Jan. 1
2900 72nd Ave. S.E., Norman
downsfamilychristmas.com
Edmond Electric’s Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll
Through Jan. 1
Mitch Park
edmondlights.com
Winter Wonderland Christmas Light Tour
Through Jan. 1
Pine Lodge Resort, Afton
pinelodgeresort.com
Rhema Christmas Lights
Through Jan. 2
Rhema Bible College, Broken Arrow
rhemalights.org
Holiday Food & Drink
Holiday Monster Cookies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 11/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 cups mixed red and green candy-coated chocolates
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups roughly chopped pretzel rods
- 1 1/3 cups chopped peppermint puffs
- 1 1/3 cups white chocolate chips
Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt until evenly combined.
Combine the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
Beat in the vanilla, then add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough comes together.
Add the chocolate candies, oats, pretzels, peppermint puffs and white chocolate chips and stir with a large spoon.
Scoop eight 1/3-cup portions of dough, roll into balls and divide between two baking sheets, spacing the cookies evenly apart. Press the dough balls into thick disks with the palm of your hand.
Bake, rotating the baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until the cookies are golden brown at the edges and barely brown in the very middle.
Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for one minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Source: The Food Network
White Christmas Margarita
- 1 14 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
- 12 ounces silver tequila
- 8 ounces triple sec
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 4 cup ice
For rim: Lime wedge, sanding sugar
For garnish: Lime slices, cranberries
Serves 6
Combine coconut milk, tequila, triple sec, lime juice and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Rim glasses with lime wedge and dip in sanding sugar.
Pour into glass and garnish with lime and cranberries.
Source: Delish.com
