Thursday, Oct. 18

There’s no doubt about it: Oklahoma is horse country, and when there’s a horse show in town, just try keeping it a secret. The U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show opens Thursday at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St., Tulsa, with many of the competitions starting at 8 a.m. Friday. This line-up of the world's best Arabian, half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses includes contests in all categories of riding, futurity and driving. The show also welcomes trainer Sylvia Zerbini (Cavalia) and her herd in special performances of Grand Liberte, Oct. 25-27, at Expo Square’s Ford Truck Arena. Want more? More than 100 vendors in all-things-equine will also be on hand at the Exchange Center from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. There will also be show tours for families, workshops and riding classes. The horse show runs through Oct. 27. For more on this prestigious event, follow the links at www.exposquare.com.
 

Saturday, Oct. 20

Every parking space in a one-mile radius around the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa will be occupied Saturday as all three schools celebrate football homecoming weekends. 

Oklahoma State University Football v. Iowa State (time TBA) 
Boone Pickens Stadium, 422 Aquires, on the OSU Campus in Stillwater.  
www.okstate.com

University of Oklahoma Football v. Kansas at 6 p.m. 
Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 180 W. Brooks on the OU campus in Norman. 
www.soonersports.com

University of Tulsa Football v. Rice at 2:30 p.m. 
H.A. Chapman Stadium, 3112 E. Eighth St., on the TU campus in Tulsa. 
www.tulsahurricane.com

Go to each school’s website for tickets and purchasing as well as current game time schedules.

Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20 at 8 p.m.

Not since the days of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys has a band become as synonymous with Western swing music as Asleep at the Wheel. The band, based in Austin, Texas, has collaborated with dozens of musicians in its 40-plus years – the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Dixie Chicks, Lyle Lovett, Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson among them. This weekend, Ray Benson and the rest of the group lend their twang and step to the next Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College Pops Series concert. Two shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at the college’s VanTrease Performing Arts Center at the Southeast Campus, 10300 E. 81st St., Tulsa. Tickets are $27.50-$59.50, available at www.signaturesymphonyattcc.org.

Sunday, Oct. 21 from 2:30-6 p.m.

It seems like only a few weeks ago that the Guthrie Green first welcomed all to its inviting gardens and outdoor features. Every week since its early September opening, the Guthrie stage has brought exciting artists to play in the open. This week is no exception with songwriter and singer Samantha Crain heading a trio of musicians booked for the afternoon. With a new album set for release Feb. 19, Crain continues to build momentum that began with the 2010 release of her second album You (Understood). Critics and music insiders couldn’t stop talking of her artistic maturity and that alto – instantly recognizable, defiantly different and undeniably special. To hear “Never Going Back,” one of the new songs from the forthcoming Kid Face, check out www.rollingstone.com’s Daily Download.

Did we mention that Crain is from Shawnee? Shannon McNally (country) and Shemekia Copeland (Chicago blues), well-known and established musicians in their own rights, also play Sunday. Look for all three at the green, 111 E. Brady St., in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District. Shows are free. For more, go to www.guthriegreen.com.
 

Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 13-14

One weekend in October stands out among those on the watch for American Indian art in Tulsa. For them, the Cherokee Art Market returns with two days of pottery, sculpture, paintings, textile art and more at the Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino’s Sequoyah Grand Ballroom. More than 150 elite Native American artists (attending by invitation only) from around the world will have their work on exhibit and sale, but also look for entertainment, storytelling, cultural demonstrations and more. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, and admission is $5. Hard Rock Tulsa is located at 777 W. Cherokee St, Catoosa, north of Interstate 44. For more information, go to www.cherokeeeartmarket.com.

Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 p.m.-midnight

Emerging artists get their big break this weekend at Living Arts of Tulsa with the annual art show for talents ages 30 and under. The Oklahoma Visual Artists Coalition show Momentum: Art Doesn’t Stand Still arrives in Tulsa with work in sculpture, painting, film and other fresh media begging to be examined and considered. This year’s Momentum Spotlight artists Samantha Dillehay of Norman, Amanda Sawyer of Stillwater and Libby Williams of Tulsa and their works are just the beginning of an exhibit (open at Living Arts through Oct. 25) that could change the lives of young artists and the mind of the viewer. Meet them all at the opening reception at Living Arts, 307 E. Brady St., Tulsa. For more, check out www.ovac-ok.org.

Sunday, Oct. 14 from noon-6 p.m.

Admit it – it’s been far too long since you had a good bowl of matzo ball soup. Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22^nd Place, has plenty waiting for you and other guests welcome to the annual festival celebrating Jewish art, culture and traditions. Shop for crafts, Judaica and goods from Israel, take in the musical entertainment and watch the ceremony demonstrations (Torah, bat mitzvah, wedding, shofar). And yes, we did mention food: Middle Eastern-style pastries, corned beef on yummy rye, matzo ball soup and more. ShalomFest (www.shalomfest.com) is free and open to all.

Friday-Saturday, Oct. 12-13

The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum combines the openings of two great Western art events into one seriously fun weekend. The 47th Cowboy Artists of America Show features the vanguard in fine art of the Western theme with more than 100 paintings, drawings and sculptures available for purchase. The 14th Traditional Cowboy Arts Association showcases the beauty and skill in such crafts as saddlemaking, silversmithing, rawhide braiding and other arts particular to cowboy culture. Look for previews of both shows 6-8 p.m. Friday. Saturday follows with special luncheon and autograph-signing events. Read all about it at www.nationalcowboymuseum.org. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located at 1700 NE 63^rd St., OKC. Admission is $5.75-$12.50.

Monday, Oct. 15 at 11:30 p.m.

Fashion and dedication come together over lunch and dinner at the annual Oklahoma Project Woman Pink Ribbon Event with beautiful results at Southern Hills Country Club, 2636 E. 61^st St., Tulsa. Yes, the 2012 Fashion a Cure Pink Ribbon Event, presented by Oklahoma Project Woman, is back to celebrate a “Decade of Dedication” from debonair fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo and more than 100 volunteers to the cause of ending breast cancer. The event includes the aforementioned lunch and a New York-style fashion show from Valvo’s newest collection. Proceeds help fund mammograms for women over 40. This event is also sponsored in part by Oklahoma Magazine. Luncheon tickets are $100 a seat. Go to www.oklahomaprojectwoman.org to learn more about the patron dinner and sponsorship.