Nestled within the ever-evolving 17th and Boston area in Tulsa, Tina’s touts “cold drinks and warm friends.” Enter, and you’ll be met with a warm red glow and a bustling bar. No matter the cocktail you crave, the barkeeps at Tina’s have you covered.
Classics range from the Arnold Palmer to the Pimm’s Cup and Negroni. Step outside your comfort zone and try the Birthday Girl, with fruity spiced punch and ginger beer, or the L.I.Tina, a take on the classic Long Island Iced Tea with amaro, lemon and Dr. Pepper. Tina’s also offers plenty of beers, wines, bubbles and non-alcoholic options.
Perhaps the breakout star of Tina’s is, surprisingly, the smashburger. Order at the bar and await your delicious meal at the kitchen window in the back. The burger comes with American cheese, grilled onions, sauce and pickles, as well as some of the tastiest fries you’ll ever eat. Other food options include a chicken salad sandwich, pimento sandwich, potato chip tower, watermelon salad and Country Bird hand pie.
Visit Tuesday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. for happy hour, where a bevy of cocktail options are just $7 – or try the enticing “Girl Lunch” – a bottle of Pétillant Naturel sparkling wine and a basket of fries for $45.
Locally sourced, welcoming, creative and delicious, Red Rooster has quickly become a diner favorite for OKC residents.
The restaurant’s dynamic menu begins with shareables including trout dip, scallion tacos and the charcuterie board. Lighter fare includes a Nicoise, Green Goddess and Cobb salad.
Mains run the gamut. Try the BMLT with tomatoes, greens, basil aioli and bacon, or the barbecue pulled pork sandwich with Carolina barbecue sauce, braised pork and pickled red onions. Other stand-outs include the ribeye, shrimp and grits, chicken pot pie and the Buddha Bowl – complete with quinoa, mushrooms, market veggies, apricots and tahini. End the evening with donut bread pudding or a s’mores brownie.
You can also catch Red Rooster at brunch time, with a full menu dedicated to early- and mid-day eats. Try a bevy of brunch cocktails, including the What’s Up Doc? with carrot, tumeric, ginger, vodka, lime and Aperol – then choose between classics like buttermilk pancakes, chicken waffles, a bevy of benedicts, pastrami hash or a biscuit and gravy bowl.
With recipes from Benin – a small country in West Africa – Afrikan Delights offers a dining niche hard to find elsewhere in Oklahoma. The Jollof plantain beef pictured here is a star of the expansive menu. Photos by Stephanie Phillips
Fifame Oussa Alahassa, co-owner of Tulsa’s Afrikan Delights, grew up in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, a Vermont-shaped nation sandwiched between Ghana and Nigeria.
“In Benin,” she says, “women cook. I’d watch my mother cook all the time. I’d cry and beg her to let me help. I was eight. All the recipes of Afrikan Delights I got from her. And she got the recipes from her mother, who got them from her mother, who got them from her mother.”
At Afrikan Delights, everything you eat is authentic West African food.
Alahassa didn’t start out a chef. After high school in Cotonou, she moved to the United States to pursue higher education. She got a B.A. in health education from Southern Illinois University, then came to Oklahoma, where she got a M.A. in public health at OSU. Sometimes she’d cook for friends, who loved it.
After university, she says, “I worked, but I was not fulfilled. I decided to become a chef and share a piece of my culture.”
She did what every aspiring young chef should do – attended the launch program at Kitchen 66, a Tulsa-based entrepreneurial boot camp that teaches culinary hopefuls how to navigate the food business. After that, she and her husband bought a food truck. It was so successful that after only one year, she was given a permanent location inside Mother Road Market.
Fifame Oussa Alahassa helms Afrikan Delights inside Mother Road Market. All photos by Stephanie Phillips
You can’t miss it. Her food stall is large and at maybe the best location in the market, right at a corner where two aisles converge and opposite the bar. It’s brightly painted with intricate red designs made to mimic Kente cloth. Her friends in Benin made the designs, then emailed them to her.
There are also big billboards with the huge menu, highlighting every area of Beninois cuisine. And what is Benin food like?
“Well,” she says, “all our dishes have onion and tomato, even the rice. We use a lot of seasoning: ginger, garlic, white pepper, black pepper. We use a lot of herbs like parsley and bay leaf. We use a lot of greens, including spinach and collard greens.”
At Afrikan Delights, you’ll find a dessert a lot like a beignet, an okra soup a lot like gumbo, and a rice a lot like jambalaya. You may think it reminiscent of New Orleans, and this is not a coincidence. These American dishes were in large part brought from Africa by enslaved people. What you’re getting at Afrikan Delights is the original version.
Another thing that all Alahassa’s dishes have in common is this: they’re not easy to make. They take time. Take the Jollof rice, for example, the one that’s like jambalaya.
“We use jasmine rice, like they do in Ghana,” Alahassa says. “We make a tomato stew with onion, ginger, bell pepper, garlic, and of course lots of tomatoes. We add a bit of oil and then the rice, letting it cook at a low heat in a covered pot so the steam cooks the rice.”
For the peanut soup — which, by the way, is delicious — “we use peanut butter, tomato, a lot of onion, also garlic and ginger. It must simmer at least two hours on low heat.”
What do customers think of these dishes, so different from what they’re used to?
“They’re overwhelmed,” says Alahassa, “by all the good flavor. ‘What did you put in it?’ they ask. ‘What is all this flavor?’”
Jollof Rice Recipe
1 ripe tomato, cored and quartered
1 red bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 minced ginger
2 cups of water
1/3 cup olive oil
1 red onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/4 cups Jamine rice
1 bay leaf
DIRECTIONS
Step 1
Combine tomato, red bell pepper, garlic, ginger, and water in a blender for the sauce. Blend on high until smooth and set aside
Step 2
olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and salt and sauté until onion starts to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Clear space in the middle of the pan, add tomato paste, and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with paprika, curry powder, thyme, and black pepper continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until everything is well combined.
Step 3
Turn off the heat, and stir in the rice, making sure every grain of rice is coated with the oil-tomato mixture. Add bay leaf
Step 4
Turn heat to high, stir in tomato sauce, and bring to a vigorous simmer. Cover with a tight fitting lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not remove the lid or stir rice.
Step 5
Turn off heat after 20 minutes and set the timer for 12 minutes. Allow rice to sit and do not remove the lid.
Step 6
After the 12 minutes are up, remove lid, and fluff rice with a fork, separating all the grains. Serve garnished with green onions and chopped parsley
Fried Plantain
Ingredients
2 to 3 large ripe plantains
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or any oil)
Salt
Instructions
Prep the plantains. Slice the plantains on a bias, at an angle, about 1/2-inch thick Set the sliced plantains aside on a plate/platter or small baking sheet.
Add salt for taste
Fry the plantains. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the plantain slices into the skillet- working in batches, careful not to overcrowd. Fry the plantains until golden brown and slightly crisp, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Use a slotted utensil (I like to use a fish spatula) to gently flip the plantains while frying; careful not to handle them too aggressively as they’re super tender.
Serve. Set the fried sweet plantains onto a paper towel-lined plate to stop up any excess oil
Beef
Ingredients:
Beef (cut to your preference: slices, cubes, or strips)
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-inch piece of ginger, grated
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp white pepper
Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Cut the beef into desired pieces.
2. In a bowl, mix garlic, onion, ginger, black pepper, white pepper, and salt.
3. Add the beef to the marinade and mix well.
4. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
October feels like the Super Bowl of performing arts in Oklahoma – a packed month where stages across the state are alive with music, dance and drama.
At the Tulsa PAC, the spotlight is burning bright all month long. The Tulsa Symphony kicks off its 20th anniversary season in grand style on Oct. 4, welcoming world-renowned pianist Emanuel Ax and guest conductor Lina González-Granados. Just days later, a Tulsa story returns home in a big way: The Outsiders makes its touring debut in T-Town, running Oct. 7-12 courtesy of Celebrity Attractions. And for a touch of haunting beauty, Tulsa Ballet brings the ethereal Giselle to the stage Oct. 30-Nov. 2, just in time for Halloween. Additionally, don’t miss the Isidore String Quartet (Oct. 24-26) from Chamber Music Tulsa at both the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center and Tulsa PAC, or Tulsa Opera’s spine-tingling Voices After Dark: Music in the Shadows running Oct. 25 at Laven Sowell Opera Center.
In OKC, the opera keeps on comin’ with Painted Sky’s Proving Up, Oct. 2-5 at the Civic Center Music Hall. The laughs at the Civic will be rolling in with The Book of Mormon courtesy OKC Broadway (Oct. 10-12) while OKC Ballet’s Dracula sinks its teeth into spooky season on Oct. 17-19. Homegrown talent is celebrated at the Civic with OKC Phil’s Oklahoma Stories: Celebrating Our Future on Oct. 25, followed by Canterbury Voices’ Dies Irae: Song of the Shadows on Oct. 30. Other goodies include Lyric Theatre’s The Rocky Horror Show, Oct. 2-Nov. 1 at Lyric at the Plaza, as well as The Queen’s Six sextet, performing at Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium on Oct. 30.
Stillwater’s McKnight Center serves up three stellar nights: country powerhouse Ashley McBryde (Oct. 3), the world-class United States Marine Band (Oct. 19), and the elegant Seoul Chamber Orchestra (Oct. 29-30).
No matter the sport you prefer, Oklahoma’s got something for you.
In Tulsa, Expo Square welcomes two major equine events: the U.S. National Arabian/Half-Arabian Championship from Oct. 16-25 and the Color Breed Congress from Oct. 31-Nov. 8. The Tulsa Oilers hockey team takes to the BOK Center ice this month on Oct. 24, 26 and 28. And you won’t want to miss the University of Tulsa’s only home football game on Oct. 25 at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
In OKC, you can also horse around at the 2025 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show, running Oct. 4-11 at OKC State Fair Park. Other goodies include two OKC Thunder pre-season games at Paycom Center on Oct. 9 and 17, as well as sunrise and sunset paddles in the downtown Boathouse District Oct. 8, 11, 18, 22 and 25.
Around the state, try the Oktoberfest 5K on Oct. 4 at Fort Sill’s Patriot Club or the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, Oct. 17-25 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore. And football enthusiasts should venture to the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Oct. 4 and 25 or Oklahoma State University’s Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Oct. 11 and 18 for more collegiate football thrills.
There are quite literally too many community events in Oklahoma to name … so we’ll dole out some of the highlights!
In Tulsa, tech guru David Pogue visits the PAC on Oct. 3 courtesy Tulsa Town Hall. And don’t forget – you still have a few days to enjoy the Tulsa State Fair, running through Oct. 5 at Expo Square. At the aquarium, Hallowmarine runs Oct. 17-31, where visitors can dress up in their best Halloween costumes for a chance to win prizes while interacting with fascinating ocean creatures. Other goodies include the annual Tulsa Run, happening downtown on Oct. 25, as well as the tailend of Tulsa Botanic’s Autumn in the Garden, running until Oct. 30.
In OKC, the sky’s the limit when it comes to community events. Try the Banjo Festival at the American Banjo Museum from Oct. 9-11, or visit the Paycom Center for Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire on Oct. 11-12. Head to the First Americans Museum to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct. 13, or venture over to Myriad Botanical Gardens on Oct. 18 for the Red Earth Parade & FallFest Powwow.
Around the state, gems include the OKM Music Oktoberfest, Oct. 4 in Downtown Bartlesville; the Idabel Fall Festival, Oct. 4-5 in downtown Idabel; Oklahoma’s International Bluegrass Festival, Oct. 9-11 at Guthrie’s Cottonwood Flats Recreation Area; and the Robbers Cave Fall Festival, Oct. 17-19 at Robberts Cave State Park in Wilburton.
For your sports biopic, don’t miss The Smashing Machine. Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as UFC fighter Mark Kerr, the movie looks to chronicle his turbulent life and career both in and out of the ring. Written and directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), the film has a frenetic feel and has Johnson showcasing his true acting chops for the first time in a while. It releases on Oct. 3.
If you want horror with a twist, check out Good Boy. After a family member dies, main character Todd relocates to an old farmhouse with his dog, Indy. The farmhouse is, of course, haunted, but only Indy can see the supernatural forces. The film is shot from the perspective of the dog as he tries to protect his human from evil. Filmed with a real dog and no CGI, the story has been praised for its innovation and the wonderful performance from Indy. At a taut 72 minutes, it looks to be a wonderful spooky time when it releases on Oct. 3.
For a crime comedy, look no further than Roofman. Based on real life spree-robber Jeffrey Manchester, the film follows his stint on the run where he hides out inside a Toys “R” Us store for an extended period of time, developing friendships and trying to stay off the radar of law enforcement. Starring Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) as Manchester, the cast also includes Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man), Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline), and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones). It hits theaters on Oct. 10.
If you need a true sci-fi flick, Tron: Ares is for you. A stand alone sequel to Tron: Legacy from 2010, this story follows the program Ares, played by Jared Leto (Morpheus), who is sent to the real world on a dangerous mission. Greta Lee (Past Lives), Evan Peters (American Horror Story) and Gillian Anderson (The X Files) also star in what is sure to be a feast for the eyes. The soundtrack will be done by Nine Inch Nails, ensuring pumping tunes to go with all the spectacle when it releases on Oct. 10.
For a biographical comedy, check out Blue Moon. Set in 1943, the story focuses on Lorenz Hart, former writing partner of Richard Rogers, and his struggles with alcoholism, depression and the opening of Rogers’ new musical, Oklahoma!. Starring Ethan Hawke as Hart, the cast is rounded out by Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher) and Andrew Scott (Fleabag). Directed by Richard Linklater, the film already has glowing praise for its compelling performances. It hits theaters on Oct. 17.
For anime enthusiasts, don’t miss Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Adapted from the manga of the same name, the film is a direct sequel to the first season of the anime adaptation released in 2022. Animation is once again handled by MAPPA, a powerhouse in the industry with several beautiful works under their belt, and this looks to be no different with some truly stunning fight choreography. If you aren’t caught up, season one is only twelve episodes and can be streamed on Hulu. It’s a wild ride and well worth your time if you can stomach some bloody violence. The movie releases on Oct. 29.
Chief clinical officer of INTEGRIS Health, Julie Watson, M.D., MPH, has a long tenure with the health system – previously serving as Chief Medical Officer at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center and as Vice President of Medical Affairs. A native Oklahoman, Watson received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, after which she completed her pediatric residency at Rush University Medical Center and her neonatal-perinatal fellowship at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She holds a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois – Chicago. We recently caught up with Watson and got her thoughts on …
… what interested her most about neonatal-perinatal medicine and healthcare leadership.
I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, and even though no one in my family was a doctor or in medicine, I remember being clear from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor. I saw how both of the family doctors in my hometown, Dr. Rice and Dr. Fox, used their skill and scientific knowledge to help others in very meaningful ways and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Growing up, you could find me in the church nursery and babysitting as often as I could, so pediatrics was always on the radar. I fell in love with neonatology on my first day in the NICU during my pediatric internship, though. Taking care of sick newborns and preterm infants became my passion, and I never looked back after that day.
I’ve sought out leadership roles throughout my educational and professional journey – from serving as the president of a volunteer fraternity at OU, serving as a trustee for Region IX of the American Medical Student Association in med school, to becoming the president of over 500 residents and fellows at Rush University Medical Center. After five years of focusing on my clinical career in neonatology when I returned to Oklahoma after fellowship, I caught the leadership bug again here at INTEGRIS Health. I served as the department chair for Pediatrics for five years before becoming the chief medical officer of INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center. The opportunity to combine my clinical expertise with leadership roles has been incredibly fulfilling and aligns to my passion — improving the conditions around me so that others fulfill their purpose and collectively improve the lives of our patients, colleagues and the community.
… a day in the life.
I start every morning with a tiered huddle that allows me to get the pulse of the entire organization by 9:15. After that, it’s off to the races working on strategy and projects designed to help us deliver on our mission – partnering with people to live healthier lives.
I oversee the ‘Evidence-Based Clinical Excellence’ strategy and co-lead our ‘Partnerships for Healthy Communities’ strategy. I get to work with initiative owners who design innovative work to drive key outcome improvements. I also get to lead our teams that oversee safety, quality, infection prevention, experience, clinical programs, medical staff and APP governance, community health and partnerships and more. Suffice it to say, it is never a dull day, and it typically involves a lot of meetings.
… the best part of her day.
I feel so blessed to work with the teams around me. I don’t think you could find more dedicated, mission-driven people. The days that I get to round on our caregivers and clinicians bring me the most joy. That’s what I get up to do every day – remove obstacles and improve their conditions, so that they can take great care of our patients and each other. Seeing them in action is what keeps me going.
… advice for young physicians interested in clinical care and administrative leadership.
I have been blessed to do both. I spent a decade as a full-time neonatologist before shifting into part-time administrative work and then full-time administrative work during the pandemic. I loved the time I spent taking care of patients and their families one by one.
As my leadership roles and scope grew, I realized that I also loved solving big problems, creating teams and spaces that tackled systems needing improvement, that could lead to large-scale impact for the better. My advice is two-part: You absolutely can do both and we need physicians and APPs to do both! And you can start by raising your hand, sharing your ideas on how to make a process better, contributing your perspective to help solve a problem, volunteering for a committee or workgroup. You never know where it will lead you!
… her proudest moments.
In 2020, I lead our team of physician leaders through the journey of modernizing our medical staff governance structures and processes, which help ensure the quality, professionalism and health of the medical staff within a healthcare organization. It took 18 months to align all of our hospital medical staffs, but it has paid dividends. We have state-of-the-art processes that help physicians and advance practice providers govern themselves and the clinical care given to our patients. It has transformed our culture and contributed to how we perform clinically.
In the clinical enterprise, we have seen significant improvements in the last five years in safety and quality. We have reduced serious safety events by 74% and are performing in the top quartile and decile in central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), improving from the bottom quartile. Our ambulatory quality metrics have also improved significantly in the space of diabetes management, cancer screening and depression screening and follow up.
I am also passionate about helping develop the next generation of health care leaders — both physicians and advance practice providers (APPs). In 2021, we were the first in the state to establish an Office of Advanced Practice. In 2022, we established the INTEGRIS Health Physician and APP Leadership Institute. Our Emerging Leader Academy has graduated 92 physicians and APPs in the last three years; 26 have gone on to hold hospital, medical group and system-level leadership positions. We just started our fourth cohort and will graduate another 35 leaders in June of 2026.
… life outside work.
You can find me spending time with my family or being active. My kids are very active and it keeps us busy! Pilates, yoga, running and strength training help me keep my sanity. I love to travel any time I get the chance.
Tanninger Entertainment to develop long anticipated, Oh l’amour – The Erasure Musical, a bold new theatrical work featuring music and lyrics of the iconic British synth-pop band duo Vince Clarke and Andy Bell of Erasure. The production is being developed in partnership with Sony Music Publishing.
With a book by Paul Lavoie and creative consultation by Tony Award-winning producer Nick Demos, Oh l’amour follows Sam, a wide-eyed college student who leaves the safety of home to pursue his dreams amidst the chaotic promise of 1987 San Francisco. In a city pulsing with desire, romance and heartbreak, Erasure’s electrifying, nightclub-inspired catalog surges alongside Sam’s journey of self-discovery and survival among an ever-expanding family of choice—at a time when love itself was an act of defiance. The story unfolds through a continuous mix of Erasure’s chart-topping hits—including A Little Respect, Always, Chains of Love,and the title song, Oh l’amour, published by Sony Music Publishing.
“I have been staggered by Paul Lavoie’s tenacity, force of will and dogged determination which is exactly what a production of this caliber requires, and I am thrilled that Tanninger Entertainment has had the foresight and courage to invest in his vision. This is not a jukebox musical. The way the story intertwines with such sensitivity and power is like experiencing a living tapestry of song, sound and vision, and I cannot wait to see it on stage. I am thrilled to be working with Tanninger Entertainment on Oh l’amour – The Erasure Musical, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them to bring the show to the stage.” — Andy Bell, Erasure
A developmental workshop is slated for December 2025 in partnership with the University of Oklahoma’s acclaimed Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. The development creative team includes Brooklyn-based director & writer Hunter Bird (Masquerade associate/resident director, The Pansy Craze, Bronco Billy: The Musical ) and music supervisor, Grammy Award winning producer (2015), Tony and Emmy nominated composer/orchestrator, Dominic Fallacaro (& Juliet co-orchestrator/music director). A date for the industry workshop presentation will be announced soon, as the production targets first-class commercial launch on Broadway & internationally.
About Tanninger Entertainment
Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma Tanninger Entertainment is a Tony & Olivier award-winning production company led by Jay Leland Krottinger, Ryan Jude Tanner & Patricia G. Chernicky. Known for bold, modern, visionary work across theatre, film, documentary and live entertainment, Tanninger’s Broadway and international credits include the highly anticipated The Queen of Versailles starring Kristin Chenoweth opening on Broadway this fall, The Outsiders (2024 Tony Award, Best New Musical), The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (2023 Tony Nominee), Come From Away (2016 Olivier Award, Best New Musical), Waitress (2015 Tony Nominee), Memphis West End(2015 Olivier Nominee) and the Tony Award-winning revivals of Oklahoma! (2019) & Pippin (2013)and theBody Electric doc(2023 SoHo Int’l Film Fest, Nominee). For updates, visitTanningerEntertainment.com.
Drawing nearly one million guests in 2024, the Oklahoma State Fair is ready to produce another
family-friendly, high-quality event. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma State Fair
There’s nothing more American than a good, old-fashioned fair. The Oklahoma State Fair and Tulsa State Fair, both founded before statehood, draw a combined millions of attendees annually.
This year, the family-friendly fun is in full swing. Get ready for agricultural competitions, musical performances, rides and plenty of mouthwatering dishes you can’t find anywhere else.
Oklahoma State Fair
“Eat, Ride, Repeat!” is this year’s theme at the Oklahoma State Fair, which returns Sept. 11–21. Each day is jam-packed with old favorites, from carnival rides to corn dogs, along with a few exciting new attractions.
“We’ve been a part of the fabric of the community for a long, long time,” says Scott Munz, executive vice president of marketing at the OKC Fair Park. “We take our responsibility very seriously and try to put on the best state fair possible for the people of Oklahoma.”
For the first time ever, the OG&E Coliseum, which opened in June, will host two performances in partnership with the Oklahoma State Fair: Disney on Ice Presents Let’s Dance and the PBR Teams Challenge Event with the Oklahoma Wildcatters. Tickets are required for both shows and include gate admission to the fair.
Oklahoma State FairOklahoma State FairOklahoma State Fair
“This is the first time we’ve done any family entertainment there,” shares Munz. “We’re excited about it.”
Sandra Lee, a celebrity chef, will also pay a visit to the Oklahoma State Fair. She’ll serve as a judge in the Great TASTE of Fair food competition and as a guest speaker at the Think Pink for Women’s health symposium.
To increase accessibility, the Oklahoma State Fair will offer several discount days in recognition of veterans, first responders, senior citizens and more.
“For the amount of entertainment that we provide – the excitement, the thrills, the spills, the sights – nothing else matches,” says Munz.
For more information about what to expect, check out okstatefair.com.
Tulsa State Fair
As the city’s largest annual event, the Tulsa State Fair is pulling out all the stops this year, bringing together hundreds of shows, rides and competitions from Sept. 25-Oct. 5.
“A lot of families don’t get the opportunity to travel,” says Amanda Blair, vice president and chief operating officer at Tulsa’s Expo Square. “We are Green Country’s Disney World. We strive to be the best we can be … and elevate our product every year.”
In addition to classic rides like the Zipper and Himalaya, the fair is introducing a roller-skating rink in the SageNet Center for the first time. The Tulsa State Fair will don another new amenity this year – the Carousel Club, an exclusive lounge that will include a bar and live music.
Fair-goers will also get the chance to try out unlikely food combinations, including a salmon roll sundae, a grilled Nutella-and-marshmallow sandwich and Hot Cheeto corn-on-the cob.
Tulsa State FairTulsa State FairTulsa State Fair
“Come hungry,” advises Blair.
Drawing over an estimated 1.1 million people in 2024, the Tulsa State Fair has a massive impact on the local community. Last year, the fair awarded over $450,000 in scholarships to high school students and employed upwards of 700 people.
“Our team produces a high-quality, family-focused event every year,” says Blair. “We’re constantly making sure that we stay current by bringing in new attractions while staying true to our agricultural roots as well.”
See what else the Tulsa State Fair will have to offer at tulsastatefair.com.
Some Fair Advice
Whether you’re going to the fair once or every day of its run, be prepared with these tips from organizers:
• Plan your day ahead. Both the Oklahoma and Tulsa State Fairs offer a full list of their activities on their websites.
• Dress appropriately. Wear comfortable walking shoes and check the weather forecast before arriving. “The only time the fair goes into pause is if there’s lightning in the area,” explains Munz.
• Take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service. Both fairs have designated shuttle pick-up and drop-off areas, which can help fair-goers avoid high volume traffic and skip the hassle of parking.
• Always keep an eye on your children. Blair recommends that parents take a photo of their kids before arrival, in the event they get separated from the group. “Everyone always gets reunited, but it’s always good to have a current picture of them… that way we can give very specific details about what they’re wearing,” she explains.
• If you see something, say something. “Be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open,” says Munz. “If you hear a noise, move away from it, and not towards it. We take safety and security very seriously.”
• Bring your friends and family for an all-around good time. “Some of the things that are happening in the world today are just crazy,” reflects Munz. “It’s nice to have a fun experience and see people enjoying themselves, forgetting some of their day-to-day worries by coming to the fair and seeing all that we have to offer.”
Featured photo credit: Drawing nearly one million guests in 2024, the Oklahoma State Fair is ready to produce another family-friendly, high-quality event. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma State Fair
