State's 1,200 festivals celebrate local food, heritage and oddities
Doc James and his band Local Hero rehearse on June 23, 2012 for the 2012 edition of Tulsa's Reggae Fest. KT KING / Tulsa World1 / 11Previous slide
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By NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON World Scene Writer
Published: 6/28/2012 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 6/28/2012 4:52 AM
Related Story: Reggaefest brings bands, fans back together for event Friday-Saturday
Jacquie Young has attended the Bixby Green Corn Festival since 1975 when the Optimist Club revived the community's tradition of celebrating the summer harvest.
What's the best thing about the festival, according to Young?
The fact it hasn't changed much.
"And I really hope that it doesn't change," Young said. "That is what makes it special."
The Bixby Green Corn Festival kicks off Thursday. It's one of hundreds of festivals held around the state that embody the history and individuality of Oklahoma communities.
Organizers have registered about 1,200 festivals with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, said Sandy Pantlik, director of the Travel Promotion Division. From food and ethnic gatherings to rattlesnake hunts and hot-air balloons, the state festivals have a wide variety of inspiration.
"They are a real source of community pride," Pantlik said. "These events celebrate who we are and how we got here."
Young, now the vendor coordinator of Bixby's Green Corn Festival, remembered the early days of the event as an annual reunion of sorts.
"Bixby is known as a garden community, and the festival was a way to reward the farmers and the pickers," she said.
"Because people lived spread out on land, they weren't really right next door, so you would only see them every so often, and the festival was one of those times," Young said.
Corn, of course, is the star of the annual event, she said.
"It is just amazing to me. They have the 5k run on Saturday morning, and the first thing that happens when they cross the finish line is they hand them a couple of ears of corn. They are so proud of the corn, as if it were a trophy.
"And the corn eating contest ... all of the kids have their own technique, and some don't even have their front teeth," Young said. "I just love it. I can't imagine if there wasn't a Green Corn Festival."
Compared to other states, Oklahoma has a lot to offer when it comes to festivals, Pantlik said.
"We have some high-caliber events that are truly traditions. Mayfest and the Festival of Arts in Oklahoma City, those have all been classified by outsiders as top festivals in the country," Pantlik said. "And then add OK Mozart and Red Earth - those are big events that we market to groups, not just individuals."
Festivals such as Broken Arrow Rooster Days, Stilwell Strawberry Festival and the Kolache Festival in Prague were celebrating local foods and community "before it was the cool thing to do, and they are still going strong."
"I just feel like the depth of what we have to offer is really unmatched by any state in our region," Pantlik said.
Oklahomans have been having festivals before they were officially Oklahomans.
"Native American events and rodeos and Western events, things of that nature, have been happening before anyone was even documenting the festivals. That is a unique part of our culture," Pantlik said. "So we have really had events that pre-date statehood."
Broken Arrow Rooster Days bills itself as the oldest festival in the state. And, like many other Oklahoma events, it has a colorful history, according to the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.
Poultry farms around Broken Arrow were thriving in the spring of 1931. Yet the roosters - being roosters - were interfering in the farmers' goal of establishing an infertile egg market.
So city planners set aside a day to bring the roosters to market. On the first Rooster Day in 1932, about 5,000 pounds of roosters were sold. Prizes were awarded for the biggest, best and noisiest rooster, and people gathered for the festivities.
The townspeople have been coming back every year since for the fellowship, but the rooster-selling concept has flown the coop.
The future of festivals looks bright for Oklahoma, with organizers recently reviving dormant festivals or developing new ones.
After a decade in Los Angeles, local entrepreneur Tim Barraza returned to the area, and one of the first things he did was bring back the long-successful Reggaefest, which he ran here for 15 years, starting in the mid-'80s.
"One of my goals in moving back to Tulsa is to have at least three festivals a year here," he said. "Reggaefest is back. It always was the official kick-off of summer, and it will be again. Tulsans truly love their parks and live music. Festivals give them both and affordably."Area festivals
Here are some of the top Oklahoma festivals of 2012. Some have passed, but most are still coming up. Watch for the others in 2013.
Music & arts
Reggaefest, June 29-30, Tulsa. The original festival is back after more than 10 years' hiatus and officially kicks off summer at Veterans Park at 21st Street and Denver Avenue with two days and nights of live music, authentic Jamaican fare and one love.
Free Tulsa, July 27-28, Blue Dome District, downtown Tulsa. This festival showcases independent music from Green Country and across Oklahoma, with more than 150 live bands, including headliners Colourmusic and Ester Drang. This year's added a hot dog eating contest and skate park, too.
Festival of the Arts, April, Oklahoma City. Since 1967, the Festival of the Arts has been Oklahoma City's rite of spring in OKC. Visual, culinary and performing arts.
Mayfest, May, Tulsa. Festival of arts, food and music. Coincided this year with the nearby Blue Dome Arts Festival.
OK Mozart, June, Bartlesville. Internationally recognized festival of orchestral musicians, concert artists and other musical performances.
Food
Bixby Green Corn Festival, June 28-30, 151st Street and Memorial Drive, Bixby. Celebrate the fresh corn harvest at a good old-fashioned family-oriented picnic with music, arts and crafts, food, bingo, a carnival, and contests. Youth talent show Friday at the Community Center and the annual Green Corn Parade Saturday morning.
Salsa Fest, June 29, Sixth Street and Boston Ave., Tulsa. Salsa tasting, Chihuahua costume contest and race.
Porter Peach Festival, July 19-21, Porter. Peach cobbler contest, music, arts and crafts, 5k run, car show, and mud races.
Oklahoma Championship Steak Cook-Off, Aug. 25, Tulsa. More than 60 teams compete, largest steak dinner in Oklahoma.
Watonga Cheese Festival, Oct. 12-13, Watonga. Cheese tasting, art show, quilt show, classic car show, cheese food contest and rat race.
Claremore Blue Grass and Chili Festival, Sept. 6-8, Claremore. Mid-America Regional Chili Cook-off, vocal competition, antique tractor pull.
Rock 'n Rib Festival, Sept. 13-16, BOK Center, Third Street and Frisco Avenue, Tulsa. Championship barbecue and cooking demonstrations.
Art of BBQ, Sept. 21-22, Tulsa. Benefit for the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa.
National Indian Taco Championship, Oct. 6, Pawhuska. Traditional and dessert Indian tacos, Native American dance demonstrations and craft vendor booths.
Bixby Barbecue and Blues Festival, May, Bixby. About 100 teams compete annually, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
Stilwell Strawberry Festival, May, Stilwell. Debuted in 1948 and sponsored by the Stilwell Kiwanis Club. Parade, berry auction, rodeo and carnival.
Ethnic
Oklahoma Scottish Festival, Sept. 14-16, River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave., Tulsa. Scottish traditions such as music and dancing and the Highland Games take center stage. The annual Celtic Dog Parade is a crowd-pleaser.
Greek Festival, Sept. 20-22, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1206 S. Guthrie Ave., Tulsa. The oldest ethnic festival in Tulsa offers dancing and dining, as well as shopping for Greek pastries, jewelry and imported Greek foods.
Hispanic Fest, date to be announced, Centennial Park, Sixth Street between Boston Avenue and Main Street, Tulsa. The Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce showcases cultural food and tradition.
ShalomFest, Oct. 14, Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place, Tulsa. Celebration of Jewish food, music and culture. Features mock weddings, temple tours, Klezmer music and Israeli dancing.
Oktoberfest, Oct. 18-21, at the River West Festival Park, Tulsa. Do the chicken dance and eat authentic German food.
Unusual
International Brick & Rolling Pin Festival, July 8-9, Stroud. Men throw bricks and women throw rolling pins, and the farthest distance wins the prize. Parade, pie eating and brick decorating.
World's Largest Calf Fry Festival & Cook-off, Aug. 25, Vinita. A tradition since 1979, celebrate the rich ranching history of the Vinita area. Serves about 2,000 pounds of calf fries each year.
Frederick Oyster Fry, March, Frederick. Began in 1952 when Bramlett Johnson brought back oysters from the Gulf of Mexico to share with friends and family in Manitou. The festival later moved to Frederick.
World Championship Cow Chip Throw, April, Beaver. Cow chip tossing contest, parade, and golf tournament are part of the Cimarron Territory Celebration.
Mangum Rattlesnake Derby, April, Mangum. Rattlesnake hunts and demonstrations. The longest snake entered in competition this year was 84 inches long.
Around the state
Woody Guthrie Free Folk Festival, July 11-15, Okemah. This free festival celebrates the centennial of folk icon Woody Guthrie in his home town of Okemah. Performers include Billy Bragg, The Damn Quails, David Amram, Judy Collins and dozens more.
Gatesway Balloon Festival, Aug. 3-5, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, Claremore. Balloon competitions, helicopter rides, entertainment and food.
Azalea Festival, April, Muskogee. Draws hundreds of thousands to Honor Heights Park for the tulips, flowering trees and landscaped gardens.
Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival, early June, Oklahoma City. Hundreds of American Indian artists and dancers from throughout North America will gather to celebrate the diversity of their heritage.
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=39&articleid=20120628_39_WK16_CUTLIN329226
