What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend

If you're still not feeling the holiday spirit, I have the perfect remedy: Simply walk out of your front door at some point this weekend. With all of the festivities going on this weekend, you're bound to run into some holly, jolly-like thing to rosy your cheeks.

If you've been hearing sleigh bells since Halloween, there's plenty going on in Tulsa this weekend to give you some relief for your holiday fatigue. If it's a concert that you're pining for, some artsy goodness or a good movie, it's all happening in T-Town between now and suppertime on Sunday.

As heard every Friday morning on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley, here's what to do in Tulsa this weekend.



Tasha's Picks for the Weekend of December 11

Friday



Trans-Siberian Orchestra
When: Friday, doors at 7pm, show at 8
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
By 2008, TSO had played to more than 5 million people in more than 80 cities; this year, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is coming to ours. The globe-trotting rock orchestra should break out tunes from its new album, Night Castle. Tickets start at $38.50.



Saturday

PSO Parade of Lights
When: Saturday, 6pm
Where: Downtown Tulsa
If you're not there - “there” being downtown somewhere along Cincinnati Avenue, Fourth Street or Boulder Avenue come 6pm this Saturday night - you'll be square. Dozens of parade entries, from giant, helium-filled balloons to marching bands and, of course, floats decked to the holiday nines, will glide through the streets of downtown Tulsa. The parade is expected to attract 30,000 onlookers, but don't worry about parking - 35,000 people drive and park downtown for work every day with plenty of parking to spare.

Sunday

Scuba Santa
When: Saturday-Sunday, 3:15pm
Where: Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks
Think Santa can't swim? Think again. In fact, the man in red takes to the sea just as easily as he takes to the sky. He'll be diving into the Coral Reef tank at Oklahoma Aquarium to deliver presents to the fish there on his nice list. He'll be on hand to pose for photos with good boys and girls, too. Scuba Santa dives will be followed by the full feeding in the Reef tank, always a lovely sight to behold.


Music

Syrup Monkey Music
When: Friday and Saturday, curtain at 8pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
Check out this set of songs, monologues and confessions provided by The Calamities, the house band of the Nightingale. Stay tuned for special guests Ilsa the Wolf, Bossy L'Amour, Smitty the Grunt and more. Tickets are $7, or pay $20 for the Monkeyshines Package of two tickets, a bottle of Boone's Farm (ah, memories) with two commemorative cups, along with a bottomless box of the Nightingale's infamous popcorn.

Violinist Marc Gottlieb
When: Sunday, 5pm
Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street
Hear this violinist, the resident conductor and principal concertmaster of the former Tulsa Philharmonic from 1982-2002, fill the Jazz Depot with sound. General admission tickets are $15, or $20 per seat at a table for 8.


Art and Theatre

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
When: Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2pm
Where: Tulsa Spotlight Theater, 1381 S. Riverside Drive
Join Tulsa Spotlight Theater, a local nonprofit and home of the The Drunkard and The Olio, the longest-running theatrical production in the U.S., for this latest addition to their Tulsa Childrens Theatre series. Just try not to get the Saturday Night Live version of The Chronicles of Narnia stuck in your head before you head out to this production. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $8 for kids.

Cinderella
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, 1800 S. Main Street in Broken Arrow
Check out a classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, complete with its hallmark originality, charm and elegance as it was when presented on TV in 1957 staring Julie Andrews. Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $9 for students, $6 for children 12 and younger at this community theater, only 1,487 miles off Broadway.

Free Second Saturday @ Philbrook Museum
When: Saturday, 10:30am-4pm
Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road
Drop in at Philbrook any time this Saturday to get your art on. Make art projects, go on scavenger hunts, take a family-friendly tour of the museum and sign up for My Museum to get a free art supply kit, too. It's all free and open to the public.

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School
When: Sunday, 6-9pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
You want burlesque performers? Notable artists? Musicians? All kinds of other beautiful, interesting people, modeling just for you? You got it. Skip evening service at church and bring your best pencils and $7 to Nightingale and get ready for a one-of-a-kind life drawing experience.


Sports

66ers v. Springfield
When: Saturday, 11am
Where: Tulsa Convention Center, TCC Arena, 100 Civic Center
Tickets start at $8.

TU Women's Basketball
When: Saturday, 2pm
Where: TU Reynolds Center, 3208 E. Eighth Street
Watch the Lady Hurricanes take on the Lady Eagles from Oral Roberts University.

Oilers v. Texas
When: Saturday, 7:35pm
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
If you're an Oilers season ticket holder, get around early for the pre-game party. Tickets to this game start at $10.

OSU Men's Basketball
When: Sunday, 3:05pm
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater
Watch the Cowboys take on Arkansas – Pine Bluff.

Oilers v. Arizona
When: Sunday, 4pm
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
Check out the Teddy Bear Toss, kiddos, and don't forget to stick around after the game to skate with the players, thanks to Sunday Family Fundays. Tickets start at $10.

Green Country Roller Girls Third Annual Charity Bout
When: Sunday, doors at 6pm
Where: Broken Arrow Roller Sports, 551 W. Oakland Place in Broken Arrow
Green Country's very own Roller Girls will host several leagues from the region to compete in a round robin-style tournament. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door, and donations of new, unwrapped toys are encouraged. Kids under 12 get in free. The bout benefits Emergency Infant Services.

66ers v. Maine
When: Sunday, 6pm
Where: Tulsa Convention Center, TCC Arena, 100 Civic Center
Tickets start at $8.


Holiday Stuff

Christmas Lights in Tulsa
When: Now-Christmas
Where: All over Tulsa
Good thing there are plenty of ways to see this year's Christmas lights in the Tulsa area, and more than one of them includes cookies and hot chocolate. Check 'em out.

Bass Pro Shop's Santa's Wonderland
When: Now-Christmas Eve; Monday-Friday, 5-8pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 1pm-5pm
Where: Bass Pro Shop, 101 Bass Pro Drive in Broken Arrow
Hunt down over 3,500 square feet of holiday magic, all for free. With elves, moving trains, arcades and free crafts every weekend. Kids can even get a photo taken with Santa – for free, of course.

YMCA Holiday Fair
When: Friday, 8:30am-6pm; Saturday, 8:30am-1pm
Where: Thornton Family YMCA, 5002 S. Fulton Ave.
Looking for a one-stop shop for the holidays? Stop at 51st and Yale for arts and crafts, jewelry, baked goods, books, scrapbook supplies, toys, purses and, if you can believe it, more. Bring a shopping bag and get ready to do some serious damage.

Signature Symphony Christmas: Roy Cornelius Smith
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm
Where: TCC Van Trease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street
A symphony favorite since his first appearance in 2006, Smith will be joined by the Signature Chorale in a presentation of holiday melodies old and new. Tickets start at $27.50.

The Santaland Diaries
When: Friday and Saturday, 8:15pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
We have a somewhat different type of Christmas tradition at our house. Sandwiched between all the Christmas carols iTunes can hold, we listen to David Sedaris's The Santaland Diaries, an autobiographical account of a 33-year-old's eventful foray into life as an elf at Macy's in Manhattan at Christmastime. See the story, a welcome antidote to holiday-cheer fatigue, acted out live this weekend, thanks to veteran actor Mike Pryor. Note to parents: This event is recommended for mature audiences only. Tickets are $30.

A Christmas Carol
When: Friday and Saturday and 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
It's opening weekend for this American Theatre Company production of the Charles Dickens Classic. Tickets are $24.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
When: Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Clark Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral Place
A couple struggling to put on a Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventive, awful kids in history. Plus, this is the last show to be performed at the Admiral location, Clark's home for the last 30 years, so don't miss it. Call (918) 669-6455 for tickets.

Tulsa Ballet: The Nutcracker
When: Saturday, 2pm and 7pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
A true Tulsa tradition, Tulsa Ballet's version of The Nutcracker, which hit the stage of the TPAC in 2003 thanks to choreographer Marcello Angelini, begins with a Christmas party at the Paris Opera House where its artistic director announces the French premier of The Nutcracker. Marie, a young dance student at the Paris Opera School, is captivated and dreams of being a part of it. Tickets start at $15.

Yule Fair
When: Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 10:30am-5pm
Where: Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth Street
Join the Oklahoma Pagan/Heathen Alliance for its annual Yule Fair, with packs arts, crafts, jewelry, books, artisan items, workshops, lectures and food into one weekend. It's all free and open to the public, but a donation of a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots would be appreciated.

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
When: Friday, 8pm
Where: Sapulpa Community Theatre, 124 S. Water in Sapulpa
After watching the opening of the classic version of this Christmas classic at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center the night before, challenge your expectations at Sapulpa Community Theatre. Why? Because Scrooge is back to his old ways and has hauled the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future into court. Oh, Scrooge – will you ever learn?

Jingle Bell Run
When: Saturday, 8am
Where: Brookside, 35th Street and Peoria Ave.
Get up (and dress up) bright and early for this musical, fundraising 5K on Brookside for arthritis.

Owasso Christmas Parade
When: Saturday, 9:30am
Where: Downtown Owasso
This parade will begin at third street and go south to First Avenue, then over to the Old Barnes Elementary School.

Saturday Book Club @ Joe Momma's
When: Saturday, 11:30am
Where: Joe Momma's Downtown, 112 S. Elgin Ave.
Grab the kids and head downtown for story time, pizza, games, arts and crafts, prizes and general awesomeness. The book this month? How the Grinch Stole Christmas, of course.

Live Holiday Music @ Oklahoma Aquarium
When: Saturday, 1pm
Where: Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive
The Aquarium will welcome student performers from Theatre Arts Inc. to its Great Hall to share the spirit of Christmas in song. And guess what – admission to the Great Hall is free for this concert.

Candy Cane Hunt
When: Saturday, 1pm
Where: Owen Park, 560 N. Maybelle Ave.
Easter egg hunts are sooo eight months ago. Load up the kids and join Santa at Tulsa's oldest park for a free candy cane hunt. Picks with the jolly man in red are just $2 per. Call (918) 596-1485 to pre-register.

Red Dirt Christmas
When: Saturday, doors at 7pm, show at 8:30
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main St.
What kind of Christmas music do Okies like best? Red dirt Christmas music, of course. Cross Canadian Ragweed, Red Dirt Rangers and Mike McClure Band are bringing all the classics to T-Town this weekend. Tickets are $12.

Marines/ABATE Toys for Tots Toy Ride
When: Sunday, 10am
Where: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st Street
Get ready to rumble with more than 25,000 motorcycles at this 30th annual run for Toys for Tots. Catch the stunt riders at 11am and the long line of bikes as they depart the fairgrounds at 1pm.

The Lebanese Christmas Lunch
When: Sunday, 11:30-3:30
Where: St. Therese Church, 8315 S. 107th E. Ave.
Like Lebanese food? This weekend, you're in lunch – I mean, luck – actually, both. Grab a lunch of marinated chicken, kafta, hashwa, hummus, salad, dessert and a drink, along with a huge bake sale and plenty of stuff for the kids. Tickets for adults are $15 and kids' tickets are $10.

Tulsa Community Band
When: Sunday, 2pm
Where: Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 S. Main Street
The TCB will present a matinee holiday concert to boost the local toy drive. Admission is free and open to the public.

Adventsfeier
When: Sunday, 3pm
Where: German American Society of Tulsa Center, 1429 Terrace Drive
Check out this interdenominational advent service, held entirely in German. The GAST Choir will sing traditional German Christmas carols, too.


Other Stuff

Tulsa Farm Show
When: Friday-Saturday
Where: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st Street
Need a little somethin' for down on the farm? Check out the large selection of vendors at this weekend's showcase of anything and everything you could need on the homestead. Check out the giveaways, forums, raffles, cattle demos and more. Parking and admission are free.

PAWS for Reading
When: Saturday, 1pm
Where: Zarrow Regional Library, 2224 W. 51st Street
Did you know that registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners? Kids aged 6-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust and CITGO Petroleum.

Art of Manliness Book Signing
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Where: Borders, 81st and Yale
Meet Brett and Kate McKay, authors of the blog and the book, The Art of Manliness. Bet you didn't know the McKays were Tulsans, did you? Well, they are, and they wanna shake your hand - and not like a wilted pansy, either.


Movies

The Princess and the Frog
When: Opens Friday
From Yahoo! Movies: Walt Disney presents an animated twist on the traditional Frog Prince fairy tale, set in New Orleans' French Quarter. Rated G.

Invictus
When: Opens Friday
From Yahoo! Movies: Morgan Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela in the true story of how South Africa's underdog rugby team united a nation. The all-star cast includes Matt Damon and Clint Eastwood. Rated PG-13.

Free for Kids: Faerie Theater
When: Saturday, 11am
Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave.
Take the kids by Circle Cinema this Saturday to catch a free showing of Hansel and Gretel, thanks to Kids First and Ziegler's Art and Frame.

Sunday Matinee @ Gilcrease Museum
When: Sunday, 1:30pm
Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road
Catch a showing of “Unconquered: Allan Houser and the Legacy of One Apache Family,” the story of a journey exploring the incarceration of a people, growth brought on by freedom and a famly's personal expression of these experiences through art. The movie is free and open to the public with paid museum admission.