Septemberfest offers free family fun
Children ride the barrel train at Septemberfest 2007. (Photo by Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman Archives.) Â
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To hear an audio clip of Oklahoma first lady Kim Henry, click here.Â
Oklahoma’s first family gears up for free Septemberfest
Oklahoma’s first family is celebrating the arrival of fall by throwing a party for the whole state.
Gov. Brad Henry, first lady Kim Henry and their three daughters are hosting the yearly Septemberfest free family festival. The 12th annual event, organized by Friends of the Mansion, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Governor’s Mansion and Oklahoma History Center.
Kim Henry said this is her family’s sixth year to host the event, and it has become a favored tradition. First daughters Leah, 19, Laynie, 17, and Baylee, 11, have grown up helping out with the event and wouldn’t dream of missing it.
“They really enjoy Septemberfest, and sometimes I’m not sure what they enjoy more is the few days leading up to it when all the venues start to come on the grounds and they can go out there and play on everything before the crowds come, or really interacting with the crowds and seeing all the other kids,” said Kim Henry, who is chairman of the Friends of the Mansion board of directors.
“It’s just a day of fun for the entire family.”
The event celebrates the heritage and history of Oklahoma, said Septemberfest Chairman Jim Ö Hasenbeck.
“It’s a true free fair,” he said. “It’s an event parents can take their kids to and they don’t have to say no the whole day. It’s completely, 100 percent free.”
Families are encouraged to bring picnic lunches to the mansion grounds, and free treats will be provided, including cinnamon rolls from the state Wheat Commission, roasted peanuts from the Peanut Commission and chuck wagon cooking from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Boy and Girl Scouts will operate complimentary water stations. A few vendors will offer fare foods for purchase.
Favorite attractions include the bungee trampoline jump, rock climbing wall, hay bale maze, inflatable laser tag, Oklahoma City Blazers’ hockey shoot, carriage rides, antique tractor display, petting zoo, barrel train rides and a life-size chalk drawing demonstration. A two-lane bungee race is among this year’s new attractions.
Children can engage in fun, hands-on learning with historical crafts, old-fashioned games and the governor and first lady’s yearly story time.
Live entertainment will include African drumming, Vietnamese dragon dancers, American Indian dancing and storytelling, Mexican folkloric dancing and more.
The mansion, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, will be open for tours. The Oklahoma History Center also will be open and offering free admission plus special activities inside and on its grounds, including Celtic dancers, a 19th century magic show and trick roping.
Part of NE 23 Street will be closed during the event to allow people to walk safely between the mansion and history center.
Kim Henry said 30,000 to 40,000 people are expected to attend Septemberfest.
“It’s the people that I’ve really grown to be very connected with, and how enthusiastic they are that there’s a festival going on that’s free for them, that they can bring their kids to, and just to be able interact with everyone all day long,” she said. “It makes all the work that goes into it and the fundraising worth it.”
GOING ON
Septemberfest
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Governor’s Mansion, 820 NE 23, and Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N Laird Ave.
Admission: Free, including free admission to Oklahoma History Center.
Parking: Free at the state Capitol, Oklahoma City-County Health Department and the mansion lot west of Phillips Avenue.
Road closing: NE 23 will be closed between Lincoln and Kelley for the event.
Information: 557-0198.
-BAM
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