What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend

Well, this is a first.

When it comes to the lengthy list of events happening this weekend, I just can't bring myself to play favorites and make picks. I'm having a hard enough time deciding how I'm going to get to all 583 things I want to do Saturday, let alone how to guide you fine and strikingly attractive people through this weekend of eventspalooza.

Isn't this a great problem to have, though – too many local events to tackle in one weekend? That's just fall in Tulsa, folks. The people of this town really know how to take advantage of those several weeks between the stifling summer heat and the bite of the first winter wind.

With daytime highs in the mid-50s, this weekend is the official start of sweater weather. Airing out the sweater collection is always a good excuse to abandon the household chores for adventures elsewhere.

Without further ado, as heard every Friday morning on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley (who you can catch hurtling down Main Street Sand Springs in a soap box derby car bright and early Saturday morning), here's this week's edition of the TDT Weekend Rundown.


Music

Creed
When: Friday night, doors at 6:30, show at 7:30
Where: BOK Center
Whether you like it or not, Creed was one of the most successful rock bands of the past decade. They sold close to 35 million albums, after all, not to mention millions of concert tickets. Get yours for $27-87. Plus: Staind is opening. Another plus: There's free music beforehand. Check out Usual Suspects at ONEOK Plaza, just outside the BOK Center, starting at 5:15.

Walking the Line with Johnny Cash Tribute Band
When: Friday, doors at 7pm, show at 8
Where: Flytrap Music Hall, 514 E. Second Street
Forget about Jackson – all the Johnny Cash action worth worrying about is right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

RiverRush Concert: Joss Stone
When: Saturday night, doors at 8:20pm, show at 9pm
Where: BOK Center
This capstone of the inaugural RiverRush event this weekend will feature Grammy Award-winning R&B/blues artist Joss Stone. Tickets for the concert are $50-75, but if you're reading this before 8am Friday, you still have a chance to win a pair for you and an accomplice.

Miley Cyrus with Metro Station
When: Monday, doors at 5pm, show at 7
Where: BOK Center
Miley Cyrus is on tour again, and she's making a pit stop in Tulsa. Attempts to get tickets were still successful last I checked (Thursday night), and they're priced $42.25-$82.25. While you're at the BOK Center for Miley, don't forget to check out Starr Fisher playing at 5pm on the ONEOK Plaza as part of the free ONEOK Outdoor Concert Series.


Theater and Art

Momentum Tulsa 2009
When: Saturday, 8pm-12am
Where: Living Arts, 307 E. Brady
It's time again to join the droves headed for Tulsa's art district for that showcase of Oklahoma's up-and-coming artists, and this year it's in a bright and shiny new location – Living Arts' new home on Brady. The exhibition will feature painting, photography, sculpture, film, performance and large-scale installations, all created by artists age 30 and under. Look also for live music by Colourmusic, Tribe of Souls and Ghosts. The afterparty will be at Joe Momma's Pizza, where anyone with a Momentum ticket stub will get their first beer free.

Brain Storms: New Works by Young Writers
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Liddy Doenges Theatre
The winners of the Young People's Creative Writing Contest at the Tulsa City-County Library will see their creations come to life this weekend. Local playwright Michael Wright casted and will direct each of these one-act plays, written by 10- to 18-year-olds. Put yourself in these kids' shoes – how exciting would that be? Tickets are $5.

Lucia Di Lammermoor
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall
It's time to open the Tulsa Opera season, folks, and to get things rolling is this tragic tale of love, family politics, madness and murder in 17th century Scotland. Soprano Sarah Coburn, daughter or Senator Tom Coburn and a former Miss Oklahoma, promises to take the leading roll to new heights.

David Sedaris
When: Monday, 7:30pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall
It's time to get into the holiday spirit with tales of the misadventures of a certain and former Christmastime mall elf. David Sedaris is known for his ability to slice through cultural euphemisms and all that is PC; he always emerges as one of today's masters of satire. Tickets are $40-50.


Free Stuff

Second Annual Great Sand Springs Downhill Soap Box Derby Race
When: Saturday, 9am
Where: The Triangle in downtown Sand Springs
Long name, amazing way to spend a Saturday. Get to the Triangle a bit before 9 to be among the first to see 117 gravity race cars fly down Main Street between 4th and 2nd Streets. KRMG's Joe Kelley has an entry in the race, as well as KJRH's chief meteorologist Dan Threlkeld (who is hell-bent on beating Kelley, from what I hear) and Jim Carey of K95. Look also for the kids' pumpkin patch and activities area. Park at the high school parking lot and take the free shuttle service downtown – that way you can hit the massive book fair happening at the old gym at the high school on your way out.

Buddy LaFortune Community Center Fall Cleaning Rummage Sale
When: Saturday, 8am-2pm
Where: LaFortune Park, 5501 S. Yale Ave., in the 61st and Yale parking lot
Calling all churches, teams, organizations and even individuals: Make money for your organization and clean the house of unwanted items. Setup for participants starts at 6am, and each item is priced by the seller. Spaces are $25 per, but the cost to shop is nada.

Top of the Hill Car Show, Craft Show & Car Parts Swap Meet
When: Saturday, 9am-4pm
Where: Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st Street
When it comes to cars and crafts, Tulsans headed to Chandler park this weekend have their bases covered. Look for cars and parts and crafts, sure, but don't forget to check out the door prizes, music and food, too. The event stands, rain or shine.

KiteFest!
When: Saturday, 11am-3pm
Where: 4295 S. Garnett Road
Colorful objects of all shapes and sizes will dot the skies of east Tulsa this Saturday. Don't be alarmed. It's no alien invasion. It's the third annual KiteFest. The first 500 kids, aged 4-12, will receive a free kite, and the Tulsa Windriders will be performing kite stunts and aerobatics and the Bald Eagles and Glue Dobbers will be giving radio-controlled plan demos. Look also for the Jupiter Jump, a hot air balloon, music, food and drinks. Fun!

Art on Main
When: Saturday, 10am-6pm
Where: Jenks Downtown District
Be part of the crowd of thousands that will converge on Main Street Jenks, OK this weekend for a dose of art and culture. Look for art of just about every kind, from painting and sculpture to wood carving and metal smith. Keep your eyes open for samples from Oklahoma wineries, too. Local musicians will be on hand to provide the ambiance – think Joesf Glaude and Mongo Like Bart. Kids should check out the Children Arts Area, sponsored by Oklahoma Aquarium. Admission is free.

Free Second Saturday at Philbrook Museum
When: Saturday, 10:30am-4pm
Where: Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Ave.
Experiment with fun materials to make hands-on art projects, go on a scavenger hunt, take a tour of the museum and more on Free Second Saturdays, designed specifically for families.

Tulsa Youth Symphony
When: Sunday, 3pm and 4:15pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Liddy Doenges Theatre
Want to give the kids a dose of classical culture? Load 'em up and take them downtown for one of these 45-minute concerts, which are designed for young people from pre-school through the elementary grades. The program will include a demo of individual instruments and sections of the orchestra, as well as compositions inspired by the traditional folk music of Spain, England, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and the good ol' U.S. of A. A booklet with musical activities and information about the music and the orchestra will be available for each young person attending. Tickets are free – yes, free.

Folk Salad: A 10-Year Celebration
When: Sunday, doors and show at 4
Where: Cain's Ballroom
Folk Salad: Certified Organic Music for the masses. Host of the Public Radio show Richard Higgs and Scott Aycock will play a mix of folk, singer/songwriter, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Red Dirt and anything else they happen to like this week – in short, the best of the best of Tulsa's finest musicians. Tickets are free, if you can believe it.


Halloween & Fall Stuff

Tulsa-Area Pumpkin Patches and Halloween Festivals Galore
When: Now-Oct. 31
Where: Throughout the Tulsa area
Click here to see a big, fat listing of local pumpkin patches and falltime shindigs.

Peace, Love and Chili
When: Saturday, starting at 7:30am
Where: Blake Park, at HWY 51 and US 69
Enjoy the food, music and fall atmosphere at Blake Park this weekend. If you're not interested in the 24 varieties of chili available at this cook off, keep in mind that there will be plenty of burgers, chips, drinks and ice cream. If you don't like country music, Elvis will be there to entertain you; if you don't like that there's the Trippers line dancing; and/or, check out the crowning of Little Miss Chili Pepper and little Mr. Hot Tamale. Plus, a kids' fishing derby kicks off bright and early at 7:30, complete with fishing and casting competitions. Taster kits are $5, which includes a hamburger and chips.

BARKtoberfest
When: Saturday, 11am-5pm
Where: Southern Agriculture-Owasso
October is “Adopt a Shelter Dog” month, and the folks at Southern Ag are ready to celebrate in style. As you're cozying up to the pets available for adoption, check out the costume contest, Owasso's K-9 officer, the free Jupiter Jump for kids and freebies and prizes. Bonus: Anyone who adopts a foster dog during the month of October pays just $75 for the adoption donation.

Day of the Dead Skeleton-Making Workshop
When: This Sunday, 1-5pm, and next Sunday, 1-4pm
Where: Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Brady
Participate in this cultural festival in a most hands-on way. All kids and adults are welcome to build and paint a papier-mache skeleton for the Day of the Dead Arts Festival (slated for Nov. 1) over the course of a two-week, two-session workshop. Cost is $20, and families are welcome to go splits on a skeleton. Participants are invited to take part in the skeleton parade and dance at the festival Nov. 1. Register ASAP by calling 585.1234.

Holiday Market
When: Now-Saturday, 9-6pm; Sunday, 12-5pm
Where: UMAC, 68th and Mingo
Looking for a way to get all your holiday shopping done in one go? The Junior League is set up at UMAC to make your wildest dreams come true. More than 75 merchants from around the country will offer apparel, gifts, décor, jewelry, gourmet food and more. A pass to shop today, tomorrow and Sunday – all day, every day – is a mere $5.


Festivals

RiverRush
When: Saturday, starting at 7:30 am
Where: River Parks at 28th and Riverside and BOK Center
It's a run. It's a gala. It's a concert. Actually, it's all that and a bag of chips (yeah, I said it). I'm talking about the inaugural River Rush event, slated to rock the east bank of the Arkansas River all day long come Saturday. Check out the 5K and 1K runs, the River Activity Expo, the Gala and Joss Stone, the Grammy Award-winning headliner for the RiverRush concert at BOK Center. Proceeds from the event will fund a first-ever comprehensive signage program at River parks. For times and further event details, visit RiverRush on the Web.

Second Weekend of Tulsa State Fair
When: Now through Sunday
Where: Tulsa County Fairgrounds
Corn dogs and spinny rides and a beer garden, oh my! These are the final days of Tulsa State Fair 2009. On the Oklahoma Stage will be Tony Toni Tone Friday night at 8, Shinedown Saturday night at 8 and the great Grady Nichols himself Sunday afternoon at 5pm. Look also for Masters of Illusion Ridgeway & Johnson, HypnoChick and the Tulsa State Fair Aerial Performers, all performing Sunday afternoon and evening. Admission to the fair will be $10 for adults and $6 for kids aged 5-12.

Indie Emporium
When: Friday, 7-10pm; Saturday, 11am-5pm; Sunday, 1 and 3:30 at Circle Cinema with a showing of Handmade Nation
Where: VFW Post #577, 1109 E. Sixth Street
Trade in your lame country craft fair and upgrade to kitsch galore at this third annual Indie Emporium. Peruse the craft contents of more than 40 frugalistas who know their way around a sewing machine and are super-handy with a screen printer. Stop by the make-and-take craft tables, the hourly craft demos and the fashion show, and don't forget to soak up a whole Saturdays' worth of local music. Tickets are $8.

Green Country Wine Festival
When: Saturday, 10am-6pm
Where: Stone Bluff Cellars in Haskell, 24145 E. 191st Street South (click here for directions)
It's fall, Tulsa, and you know what that means: It's Green Country Wine Festival time. Enjoy beautiful views from a heated, cabaret-style entertainment tent, award-winning wine, fabulous food, live music, arts and crafts, a kids' area, wine tasting and winery tours at this 10th anniversary festival. Admission is $5, and kids under 12 get in free. Wine tasting kits are $10 and will include a 10th anniversary commemorative glass. Individual tastes are $1.

ShalomFest

When: Sunday, noon-6pm

Where: Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place

For those of you who wait all year long for a black and white cookie and falafel, the wait is over. Check out this one-day festival celebrating traditional Jewish food and culture. Be sure to get in on one of the tours of the Temple, as well as the demos of the Jewish wedding, Bar Mitzvah and more. Oh, and guess what - admission is free.


Sports

OU v. Baylor
When: Saturday, 2:30pm
Where: Norman

OSU v. Texas A&M
When: Saturday, 11:30am
Where: College Station

Night of Champions

When: Saturday, 8pm

Where: Compound Pro Wrestling, Third and Sheridan

I don't know about you all, but I love - LOVE - professional wrestling. If you're like me and major in American Studies at Oklahoma State University, you get to study it - that, and Elvis, food culture and science fiction. It's rigorous and enjoyable and everything you've ever dreamed of, but anyway. There's a pro wrestling showdown in Tulsa Saturday night, and all titles are on the table. My bet is on Sugar Shane Morbid for the Compound Championship, but you'll have to be there to find out who actually wins. General admission tickets are $5.


Movies

Couples Retreat
When: Opens Friday night
Four Midwestern couples, one of which features Vince Vaughan as some poor soul's better half, head to a tropical island resort, and they soon realize that participation in the resort's couples therapy is anything but optional. Sounds more like a family reunion to me. Rated PG-13.

What's the Matter with Kansas?
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Circle Cinema
How conservatives won the heart of America. With Thomas Frank, author of the book with the same name, and Joe Winston, director of the film. Thanks to local author and Booksmart Tulsa rep Jeff Martin, film goers can snag a copy of the book at the showing.

It Happened One Night
When: Saturday, 1pm
Where: Philbrook Museum of Art
What can happen when a pampered socialite falls for a newspaper reporter during a furtive, cross-country trip to New York? With Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the mix, the answer is just about anything. See this 1934 film, which took home five Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Actress, at Tulsa's own Patti Johnson Wilson Hall at Philbrook Museum of Art. A ticket is free with paid admission to the museum, but since it's Second Saturday, it's all free and clear, baby. Don't forget to check out the newsreel and cartoon, shown in connection with the new exhibit, Auspicious Vision.