Saturday, Dec. 13
Downtown Oklahoma City gets into festive shape with one of its biggest Downtown in December events. The SandRidge Santa Run begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, with the main event 5k run. There’s also a 1-mile fun run and a Santa Claus Kids’ Dash set for the day that features Rumble the Bison and the Thunder Girls. Events start and end at Leadership Square, 211 N. Robinson Ave. For registration and other information, visit www.downtownindecember.com.
Continuing
To many aspiring Oklahoma artists, Robby McMurtry was a mentor and teacher. His wide-reaching career, however, included the titles of playwright, illustrator and novelist in addition to art teacher in Morris. The late McMurtry, who was of Comanche descent, and his work are examined in a new exhibit at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., in Oklahoma City. Coyote Songs – Desperado Dreams: The Art of Robby McMurtry opened in the fall and continues to exhibit the work telling his stories of place, history, people and their dreams. It also highlights 35 paintings and drawings by McMurtry, who died in 2012 in a yet baffling confrontation at his home with local law enforcement. The exhibit celebrates his legacy of inspiration and encouragement and remains open until May. For more information, visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Saturday, Dec. 13
Take your mark Saturday, Dec. 13, outside the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave., in Tulsa for one of the year’s most entertaining fundraisers. Participants wear holiday-themed costumes and tie little jingles to their shoelaces before the race begins at 8 a.m. What follows is a mass of green and red moving down the street, but spectators are more likely to hear it coming before they see it. For more about the race, visit www.tulsajinglebellrun.org.
Sunday, Dec. 14
Cannons and guns make a big noise during the Historic Fort Reno tradition known as Fort Reno Christmas Guns. The annual event takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the historic fort, 7107 W. Cheyenne St., in El Reno (west of Oklahoma City). Little known to many, the long-time practice involves the firing of cannons and guns on the fort’s post parade grounds in order to ward off bad spirits during the holidays in accordance with old German and American folklore. There will also be snacks, storytelling and a visit from Santa. The event is free and open to the public. For more, visit www.fortreno.org.
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Thursday, Dec. 4
Living Arts of Tulsa is ready to deliver on its promise to deliver exquisite bubbly and decadent sweets for its annual fundraiser gala, Champagne and Chocolate. From 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, guests can partake of this event that combines a fashion show of wearable art with new music, dance performance and an auction of artwork. Champagne and Chocolate will feature gourmet candies from Glacier Confection of Tulsa. This year, Living Arts will also be honoring 20 Friends for 20 Years, a select group of supporters who have stood by the organization since 1994. Throw in some custom cocktails created by Mixed Company, and Champagne and Chocolate is everything you think and more. Tickets are $45 at the door. For more, visit www.livingarts.org.
Opens Thursday, Dec. 4
Clark Youth Theatre stages The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the hilarious story of the raucous Herdman kids – Imogene, Claude, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie and Gladys – who suddenly become the stars of the town’s annual Christmas pageant. The Christmas classic is a staple for the Clark Youth Theatre program and is a fun look at the traditional Christmas Nativity play. The production will be at Henthorne Performing Arts Center, 4825 S. Quaker Ave. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever opens Thursday, Dec. 4, and continues through two weekends to Dec. 14. Some performances have already sold out. For more information and ticket prices, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/henthornepac.
Friday, Dec. 5
Only a year ago, Justin Timberlake’s name was on every tongue in Tulsa. The suave entertainer and inheritor of soulful suit-and-tie appeal was set to play the BOK Center. Hotel rooms booked up, and fans – dressed to emulate the sophisticated vibe of Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience album – went out on the town to live the good life. Tulsa welcomed it and talked about it for days after the final encore. Oklahoma City is hoping to repeat the experience when J.T. brings his extended 20/20 Experience World Tour to the Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., this month. Oklahoma City is one of several major cities added to the tour “due to popular demand.” Timberlake goes on stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Tickets are available for $49.50-$175 at www.chesapeakearena.com, but if his 2013 Tulsa show is any indicator, don’t be surprised if the remaining passes are swooped up quickly.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Beach Boy Brian Wilson brings a little piece of summer back to the Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino Thursday night. Known as the front man and creative force behind the famed 1960s band, Wilson has penned some of the Beach Boys’ (and American music’s) most classic rock, pop and surfer hits. If anyone has any doubts to Wilson’s place in the genre, they need only witness the viral video blitz of BBC Music’s cover of “God Only Knows,” released in October and featuring dozens of recording artists singing verses of the ballad before giving Wilson the lingering final phrase. Here’s hoping Wilson gets into a few from those classic surf days as well as Pet Sounds. His show will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at 777 W. Cherokee St., in Catoosa. Tickets are $60-$75 at www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com.
Opens Friday, Dec. 5
The Hardest Arts Center (AHHA) opens the doors to a new exhibition Friday, Dec. 5. STUDIO – New Work by AHHA Studio Artists features the works of five artist living and thriving in Tulsa. Part of the AHHA Studio Artist Program, which was created to build meaningful connections in art-making, the artists – John Bryant, Brooke Golightly, John Hammer, Sharyl Landis and Daniel Sutliff – will show new works they’ve created in the upstairs studios at the center. The opening reception for STUDIO takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. in time for the Brady Arts District First Friday Art Crawl. The event is free and open to the public, and the exhibit remains on display through Jan. 4. For more, visit www.ahhatulsa.org
Month after month, we present a colorful kaleidoscope of the people, places and culture that make Oklahoma such a fascinating place.
© Oklahoma Magazine
