Entertainment blogging from The Oklahoman's Brandy McDonnell

Oklahoma City’s downtown Festival of the Arts ends today – Sunday festival schedule

The 47th annual Festival of the Arts concludes today in downtown Oklahoma City.

The celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Oklahoma City’s rite of spring is delving even deeper into the art of food with the addition of the Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage. To read my full preview of the festival, click here.

Today’s Festival of the Arts performing and culinary arts demonstration schedule:

Café Stage

11 a.m.: A Mirage Dance Company – Dance

Noon: Jamie Bramble – Pop

1 p.m.: East Side Boys – Barbershop Quartet

2 p.m.: OC Symphonic Band – Instrumental

3 p.m.: Talk of the Town Orchestra – Instrumental

4 p.m.: Edgar Cruz – Classical Guitar

5 p.m.: Smilin’ Vic & the Soul Monkeys – Classics

Water Stage

11 a.m.: Signs of Warning -Rock/Pop

Noon: ONG – Rock/Pop

1 p.m.: Black Kat Benders – Blues

2 p.m.: Kyle Reid – Jazz/Folk

3 p.m.: Vintage Wildflowers – Traditional/Folk

4 p.m.: The Refreshing Unplugged – Jazz Fusion

5 p.m.: DICE – Variety

Great Lawn Stage

11 a.m.: OK Academy of Irish – Dance

Noon: Prairie Dance Theatre- Dance

1 p.m.: Range of Motion- Dance

2 p.m.: Academy of Dance Arts- Dance

3 p.m.: Metropolitan School of Dance – Dance

4 p.m.: OKC Improv – Theatre

5 p.m.: Crossroads Church Orchestra – Instrumental

Art Moves Stage

11 a.m.: Race Dance Co. – Modern Dance

Noon: Michael King – Magician

1 p.m.: LaQuincey Reed – Sculptor

NEO SOUL NIGHT

4 p.m.: Squirrel and Friends – Rock/Jazz/Soul Fusion

5 p.m.: Gregory J. featuring Culture Cinematic – R&B/Soul

Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage

11 to 11:45 a.m.: Platt College, Centerpiece Carving Skills

1 to 1:45 p.m.: The Shack, Cajun

3 to 3:45 p.m.: Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club

-BAM

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Festival of the Arts Saturday schedule

The 47th annual Festival of the Arts is continuing today in downtown Oklahoma City.

The celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Oklahoma City’s rite of spring is delving even deeper into the art of food with the addition of the Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage. To read my full preview of the festival, click here.

Today’s Festival of the Arts performing and culinary arts demonstration schedule:

Saturday, April 27

Café Stage

11 a.m.: Dale Dawson – Accoustic Rock

Noon: Lynda Tarpley Tappers – Dance

1 p.m.: Aalim Bellydancing – Dance

2 p.m.: Chad Slagle & Yesterday’s Wine – Red Dirt

3 p.m.: Society of Strings – Instrumental

4 p.m.: Rosh Pinah Messianic Jewish Dance

5 p.m.: Brother Summitt – Old School Classics

6 p.m.: Affinity – Variety

7:30 p.m.: Shortt Dogg – R&B/Funk

Water Stage

11 a.m.: OK Cloud Factory – Rock

Noon: Jackson’s Brew – Pop/Jazz

1 p.m.: Cori Emmett -Rock/Country

2 p.m.: Heidi Zettl Band – Pop

3 p.m.: Straight to Video – Rock

4 p.m.: Full Circle – Variety

5 p.m.: Gregory J. featuring Culture Cinematic – R&B/Soul

6 p.m.: Green Corn Revival – Rock/Country

7:30 p.m.: Allie Lauren – Pop/Jazz

Great Lawn Stage

11 a.m.: Velocity Dance- Dance

Noon: Cimarron Opera – Opera/Theatre

1 p.m.: Gravity Dance- Dance

2 p.m.: Portico Dans Theatre- Dance

3 p.m.: To the Pointe Dance- Dance

4 p.m.: I CAN Performers – Variety

5 p.m.: Wayne McEvilly – Classical Piano

6 p.m.: Festival Idol Finals

7:30 p.m.: Equilibrium – Jazz

Art Moves Stage

11 a.m.: Studio 222 – Mentors/Youth Artist Demos

Noon: Peggy Brennan – Basketweaver

1 p.m.: Patrick Riley & Classen Dance Dept. – Dance

JAZZ NIGHT

5 p.m.: The Savoy Trio – Traditional Jazz

6 p.m.: Handful of Keys – Easy Jazz Combo

7 p.m.: A Shade of Blue – Jazz

8 p.m.: New Growth Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz

Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage

11 to 11:45 a.m.: OKC Festival Cook-Off, Pork Cook-Off

1 to 1:45 p.m.: Kitchen 324, American Rustic

5 to 5:45 p.m.: Picasso Cafe, Vegetarian Cuisine

7 to 7:45 p.m.: Brown Egg Bakery, Sugar Art

-BAM

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Growing number of events makes spring in Oklahoma more entertaining than ever

When late April comes in Oklahoma, the Festival of the Arts still reigns as the grand dame of spring.

But plenty of other pretty belles have joined the festivities over the years, making the last weekend in April one of the most entertaining of them all in the Sooner State.

“There’s lots of great nighttime entertainment in Bricktown and all over the place. And I think the festival just adds to that dimension,” said Peter Dolese, executive director of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, which organizes the festival.

“I just think all the activity is good for our city. People support the arts festival and love the arts festival and know its place in the history of our community.”

As the 47^th annual Festival of the Arts was wrapping Day 1 on Tuesday, acclaimed singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle and Oklahoma songbird Samantha Crain were taking the stage at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab and the national touring production of “West Side Story” was singing and dancing through the first of eight performances at the Civic Center.

The festival’s second day was well underway Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Houston Rockets at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. (The series shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday.)

“Rising tides lift all boats. Having the Thunder game down here … we see a huge influx of people from that,” Dolese said. “Then there’s just lots of people that want to be downtown. They’re just excited about being a part of all the action. I don’t see a downside to it at all.”

On Thursday, three-day music festivals launched in the state’s two biggest college towns. Just south of Oklahoma City, Norman Music Festival 6 continues through Saturday, offering a free downtown celebration of indie music of all kinds. To the north, the 22^nd Annual Calf Fry at Stillwater’s Tumbleweed Dance Hall features red dirt and Texas country music, along with deep-fried Rocky Mountain oysters, through Saturday.

“I think any state benefits from having a very, very strong arts and cultural atmosphere. There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” Dolese said.

Despite what some might see as rising competition, at least 750,000 people are expected to attend the Festival of the Arts, making it one of Oklahoma’s largest festivals, said Stacy Hawthorne, the Arts Council of Oklahoma City’s communications director.

“We just keep growing, and I think that’s good. It speaks a lot to the amount of support in our state for the creative industry and the arts in general,” she said.

With the arrival of the weekend, the festival will mix with even more entertainment options. The Barons, Oklahoma City’s American Hockey League team, will take on the Charlotte Checkers in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The best-of-five Western Conference quarterfinal series starts in Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Cox Convention Center.

“To have two of our neighbors who are heavily successful in the sports industry both in the playoffs right next door to our event, that’s awesome. That definitely says so much for downtown,” Hawthorne said.

In nearby MidTown, the recently revived H&8^th Night Market will gather food trucks like Roxy’s Ice Cream Social, Taste of Soul Egg Roll and Urban Agrarian along with local bands like Honky Tonk Stepchild, The Waymires and Sonic Violence from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday.

Friday also will see the start of a new monthly event: Final Friday on Film Row, which will showcase visual artists, musicians, dancers and performers of all types from 6 to 9 p.m.

As part of the inaugural Final Friday on Film Row festivities, Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery will host an opening reception for a new exhibit of Michelle Junkin’s modern mixed-media landscapes of Oklahoma.

Appropriately enough, the new exhibit is called “On the Rise.”

“There’s so many wonderful things to do in the state of Oklahoma, and the arts festival is one of the flagship events,” Dolese said. “We’re just proud to be part of what brings people to Oklahoma.”

GOING ON

Festival of the Arts

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Where: In Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Admission: Free. Pets are not allowed.

Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.

H&8^th Night Market

When: 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. After-party will be from 11 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday.

Where: NW 8 and Hudson in MidTown.

Information: http://h8thokc.com.

Final Friday on Film Row

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Where: Historic Film Row District, between Dewey and Shartel on W Sheridan Avenue.

Information: www.iaogallery.org.

Oklahoma City Barons vs. Charlotte Checkers

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Where: Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens.

Information: www.okcbarons.com.

“West Side Story”

When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.

Information: (800) 869-1451 or www.celebrityattractions.com.

22^nd Annual Calf Fry

When: Friday and Saturday. Shows start at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Where: Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Lakeview and Country Club roads, Stillwater.

Information: www.calffry.com.

Norman Music Festival 6

When: Live music begins at 3 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.

Where: Norman Arts District, extending from the 300 block of E Main Street to the railroad tracks.

Admission: Free.

Information: www.normanmusicfestival.com.

-BAM

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Video: Street performer Derek Derek whistles while he wows crowds at Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts

On Thursday, intrepid NewsOK videographer Grayson Cook and photographer Paul Hellstern joined me at the Festival of the Arts to observe the antics of this year’s official street performer, Derek Derek.

Also known as Derek McAlister, Derek Derek happens to specialize in astonishing acts that most people don’t see every day, whether he is juggling fire, nimbly negotiating the Chinese pole or carrying on a wordless conversation through a series of whistles, hand gestures and facial expressions.

Almost 200 other festival-goers stared up in amazement Thursday afternoon as Derek Derek nimbly scaled the 20-foot apparatus to perform jaw-dropping feats of flexibility and strength, gripping the pole with his legs as he shed his nerdy tweed outfit to reveal a slick black costume underneath.

“It’s my version of a clown comedy Chinese pole love story,” Derek Derek, who has also been performing his fire-juggling routine at the festival, in an interview after his act. “It’s rare to find a show that’s silent or mostly silent. … It’s also, so far, quite rare to see anyone do Chinese pole in the street. It’s a challenging apparatus to build, transport and then rig safely in the street. So that combination is something that I quite like.”

To read more of my interview with the street performer, click here.

During his “Twin Tango” act, Derek Derek doesn’t say much at all, though, communicating with the audiences through whistles, grunts and the occasional shriek.

While his act really must be seen in person to be believed, check out this hilarious video of Derek Derek answering some of my questions about his job in his clownish character:

-BAM

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Street performer Derek Derek wows crowds at downtown Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts

She didn’t anticipate sitting at the base of a Chinese pole and playing the role of love interest while a whistle-wielding tweed-clad clown suddenly transformed into an agile acrobat.

The Oklahoma City resident and almost 200 other festival-goers stared up in amazement Thursday afternoon as Derek Derek nimbly scaled the 20-foot apparatus to perform jaw-dropping feats of flexibility and strength, gripping the pole with his legs as he shed his nerdy duds to reveal a slick black costume underneath.

“I didn’t know I was going to get a strip tease. I was unaware of that. … A family-friendly strip tease,” Hyde said, laughing. “I was quite surprised. That’s not something you see a guy do every day.”

Also known as Derek McAlister, Derek Derek happens to specialize in astonishing acts that most people don’t see every day, whether he is juggling fire, nimbly negotiating the Chinese pole or carrying on a wordless conversation through a series of whistles, hand gestures and facial expressions.

The Texas native is the official street performer of Oklahoma City’s annual “rite of spring,” and two or three times a day during the festival, he does his feats of hilarity and daring in the clearing behind Stage Center. Sometimes he opts for his “Derek Derek Fire-Juggling Comedy Show”; on other occasions, he performs “The Twin Tango” like he did with Hyde at lunchtime Thursday.

“It’s my version of a clown comedy Chinese pole love story,” he said. “It’s rare to find a show that’s silent or mostly silent. … It’s also, so far, quite rare to see anyone do Chinese pole in the street. It’s a challenging apparatus to build, transport and then rig safely in the street. So that combination is something that I quite like.”

Festival tradition

The festival’s street performer tradition goes back to at least the 1970s, with a new entertainer wowing the crowds at the event every year. While the weather has varied wildly, McAlister, 34, said the crowds at his first Festival of the Arts have been consistently congenial.

“They’re totally getting into it. Like most audiences, they tend to think I’m a bit weird to begin with, but then they warm up to me after a little while,” he said.

Pulling off potentially death-defying stunts that you have to see to believe two stories above the concrete does tend to win over a crowd, after all.

“I’d say the hardest part is definitely the beginning of the show when there’s no one around. ‘Cause if I don’t talk, somehow nobody seems to care. If I can talk for like three minutes, I will get people to care and then they’ll be able to build a crowd. So that’s one of the challenges of doing that show,” he said, adding that he chats almost constantly during his fire-juggling routine.

“That’s the hardest part, aside of course, from like the actual pole-climbing. That’s pretty hard, too.”

The Boulder, Colo., resident has been a street performer for 11 years, although he’s not sure anyone really decides to embark on such a career.

“I went to Europe and I met a guy that street performs. And he was having an awesome life, making a lot of money, and I was a juggler. And I was like ‘I’ll try that after I graduate.’ So first summer out of the University of Texas in Austin … I traveled with a friend of mine and started doing shows and basically just kept doing it. And then it just got better and better and better,” he said. “It was like ‘I think that’ll be fun. I’m gonna try that, and it worked. So now I haven’t stopped.”

Surprising performances

McAlister added the Chinese pole to his repertoire four or five years ago. He has been rock climbing since he was 16, so he had the necessary strength to adapt to the pole fairly quickly. But it took him two years to develop the routine around his wordless character Harold, who looks more like a particularly dorky incarnation of Dr. Who than an athletic acrobat capable of scaling a 20-foot pole in less than a minute.

While he enjoys surprising the audience, McAlister prefers it when it surprises him.

“Personally, I think the first part of the show ‘cause anything can happen,” he said. “Sometimes you just get unbelievable magic from the kid volunteers that show up.”

“Every audience I have, I feel like my educating them a little bit and opening them up a little bit more,” he added. “I want them to have some experience that they’ll never forget. I mean, I hope they’ll never forget. To me, that’s what it’s all about. I love that.”

He definitely made a memory for Hyde, who moved to Oklahoma City about a year and a half ago. She decided to join friends at the festival Thursday before heading to work at Earl’s Rib Palace in Bricktown.

“He was really funny with the pole, but then he actually started climbing it and I was quite impressed,” she said. “I will definitely come here every year now.”

GOING ON

Festival of the Arts

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Where: In Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Admission: Free. Pets are not allowed.

Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.

Derek Derek street performances

When: 12:15, 3:15 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 12:15 and 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Behind Stage Center.

To see the full performing arts and culinary arts demonstration schedule for today, click here.

-BAM

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Festival of the Arts Friday schedule

The 47th annual Festival of the Arts is continuing today in downtown Oklahoma City.

The celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Oklahoma City’s rite of spring is delving even deeper into the art of food with the addition of the Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage. To read my full preview of the festival, click here.

Today’s Festival of the Arts performing and culinary arts demonstration schedule:

Cafe Stage

11 a.m.: Pierce-Hart — Traditional

Noon: Dobson & Freedman — Acoustic folk/pop

1 p.m.: Dustbowl Gypsies — Bluegrass

2 p.m.: Susan Herndon — Red dirt singer/songwriter

3 p.m.: Moore High School Wind Quintet — Instrumental

4 p.m.: Yumare Mexican Folk Dance — Dance

5 p.m.: Erica James Band — Instrumental/Jazz

6 p.m.: Mountain Smoke — Bluegrass

7:30 p.m.: The Wise Guys — Classic Rock

Water Stage

11 a.m.: The Likes of Us — Pop/Folk

Noon: Steve Coffee & the Dead City Outlaws — Country

1 p.m.: The Loaded Dice — Rock

2 p.m.: Good Culture — Rock

3 p.m.: Leah — Pop

4 p.m.: Max Ridgeway Band — Jazz

5 p.m.: Porch Mice — Western Folk

6 p.m.: Hoppy Niles & the One Armed Bandit — Rock

7:30 p.m.: The Hi-Def Howlers — Rock/Pop

Great Lawn Stage

11 a.m.: Perkins Tryon Music Makers — Choral/Variety

Noon: Nichols Hills Elementary Varsity Choir — Choral

1 p.m.: Del City High School Jazz Band — Instrumental

2 p.m.: Deer Creek Prairie Vale Honor Choir — Choral

3 p.m.: Fogarty Elementary — Choral/Dance

4 p.m.: Everything Goes Dance Studio — Dance

5 p.m.: PM:2 — Dance

6 p.m.: Festival Idol

7:30 p.m.: Justin Joslin — Folk/Americana

Art Moves Stage

11 a.m.: JD McCoy — Weaving Demo

Noon: Morian Whaley — Pet Portraiture/Painter

1 p.m.: Nancy Peterson — Weaving Demo

Acoustic Night

5 p.m.: Aaron Newman — Acoustic

6 p.m.: Susan Herndon — Folk Rock

7 p.m.: Jamie Bramble — Acoustic

8 p.m.: Mark Galloway — Rock Guitar

Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage

11 to 11:45 a.m.: Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, American Steak

1 to 1:45 p.m.: Food Dude/Dave Cathey, Carne Guisada

5 to 5:45 p.m.: Cafe do Brasil, Brasilian

7 to 7:45 p.m.: Big Truck Tacos, Tacos with a Twist

-BAM

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Tuesday Festival of the Arts schedule

The 47th annual Festival of the Arts is launching today in downtown Oklahoma City.

The celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Oklahoma City’s rite of spring is delving even deeper into the art of food with the addition of the Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage. To read my full preview of the festival, click here.

GOING ON

Festival of the Arts

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through April 27 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 28.

Where: In Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Admission: Free. Pets are not allowed.

Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.

Today’s Festival of the Arts performing and culinary arts demonstration schedule:

Café Stage

11 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies

Noon: Boulevard Brass Quintet – Brass Quintet

1 p.m.: A Shade of Blue – Jazz

2 p.m.: Debbie Henning – Singer/Songwriter

3 p.m.: Heartland Voices – Choral

4 p.m.: Charlie Hill – Guitar

5 p.m.: Mariachi Lopez – Mariachi

6 p.m.: OK City Chorus – Choral

7:30 p.m.: MoeTowne Alex & the Night View- Variety

Water Stage

11 a.m.: Sam Kahre – Folk

Noon: Gotcha Covered – Variety

1 p.m.: Phil Smith & the Blend – Rock/Jazz/Folk

2 p.m.: Sets of Failure – Rock

3 p.m.: Ashford – Rock

4 p.m.: Howard Brady Band – Rock

5 p.m.: Adam & Kizzie – Jazz/Originals

6 p.m.: Built for Speed – Rock

7:30 p.m.: JC Hopkins Band – Country/Americana

Great Lawn Stage

11 a.m.: Millwood Arts Academy – Choral

Noon: Heritage Hall 6th Grade Choir – Choral

1 p.m.: Singing Cyclones – Choral

2 p.m.: Soldier Creek Natural Notes – Choral

3 p.m.: Bob Duepree & Friends – Folk

4 p.m.: City with Just a Lil’ Country – Dance

5 p.m.: Studio of Sooner Theatre – Theatre/Variety

6 p.m.: Festival Idol

7:30 p.m.: Travis Wackerly & Honey Creek Pass – Bluegrass

Art Moves Stage

11 a.m.: Kristen Vails – Painter

Noon: Albert Gray Eagle – Ceramic flute maker

1 p.m.: Joan Galbraith – Fiber artist

CLASSICAL MUSIC NIGHT

5 p.m.: Boulevard Brass – Brass Ensemble

6 p.m.: Wayne McEvilly – Pianist

7 p.m.: OCU Student Composers – Classical

8 p.m.: Baroque-lahoma – Classical Ensemble

Culinary Arts Demonstration Stage

11 to 11:45: Iguana Mexican Grill, Mexican

1 to 1:45 p.m.: La Baguette, Dessert

5 to 5:45 p.m.: Sushi Neko, Sushi

7 to 7:45 p.m.: Cafe 501 Classen Curve, Summer Fare

-BAM

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Festival of the Arts gets greener, launches today in downtown Oklahoma City

A version of this story appears in Tuesday’s The Oklahoman.

Downtown’s annual rite of spring launches Tuesday, the day after Earth Day, which seems appropriate since the event is in the fourth year of its five-year Go Green sustainability initiative.

“We’re moving to make this one of the top festivals … in the country by creating an eco-friendly, zero-landfill event,” said Stacy Hawthorne, communications director for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, which organizes the festival.

The 47^th annual celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Gardens.

A zero-landfill event uses recycling, composting and other reuse methods to offset any waste “so nothing would go into a landfill,” she said. The festival’s fundraising Angels & Friends Party on Wednesday night will be a zero-landfill celebration, and the event’s 6 Day Wine Cellars will be a zero-landfill beverage area.

The festival’s programs and event postcards all have been printed on recycled materials, and a few vendors on International Food Row will serve their delicacies on compostable dishes this year.

“At the end of each day, our food vendors will donate food to City Rescue Mission,” Hawthorne said. “It’s just reducing our waste … and trying to be smart and give back to the community as much as possible, because it’s a shame to throw away that amount of food.”

In 2010, both Keep America Beautiful and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful honored the event’s Go Green Initiative. Last year, it received the Keep OKC Beautiful Distinguished Service Visionary Award.

The goal is to make the 2014 festival one of the first in the state to reach the zero-landfill standard.

“We’re working toward next year that we’ll be composting on the grounds,” Hawthorne said. “It’s just one of those things that we’re trying to do our part and make our footprint as minimal as possible.”

Other eco-conscious efforts range from the strictly practical — an uptick in the number of recycle bins on the grounds, for instance — to the more artistic, including Thursday’s “Trash into Fashion Style Show,” where haute couture green pieces will be judged in categories like Most Outlandish and Most Creative Use of Materials.

“We work really hard all year long to make sure that that week of the arts festival is absolutely as good as it possibly could be,” said Peter Dolese, executive director of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. “We are a part of the culture and part of the quality of life in our community and for our state.”

GOING ON

Festival of the Arts

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through April 27 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 28.

Where: In Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Admission: Free. Pets are not allowed.

Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.

To see today’s Festival of the Arts schedule, click here.

-BAM

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Oklahoma spring festival guide 2013

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.

Festivals spring into action
Springtime brings outdoor festivities throughout Oklahoma.

From the mellowing of the temperatures to the greening of the land, Oklahomans love spring.

I’m talking total adoration, as proven by the unusually cranky attitudes about last week’s unseasonably cold weather surrounding the springtime equinox.

Here in the Sooner State, spring means many, many festivals, grand outdoor celebrations that have become as much a part of the season as longer days and budding trees.

In the Oklahoma City metro area, the downtown Festival of the Arts has become a veritable rite of spring, the Norman Music Festival has grown into a seasonal powerhouse, and Norman’s Medieval Fair has annually revived jousting tournaments, human chess and minstrels of the Middle Ages.

Throughout the state, festivals centered on themes ranging from area wildlife and regional cuisine to native plant life and local heritage are planned for the coming weeks. Even better, many events offer free admission.

Here is a sampling of the festivities, and to learn more about Oklahoma’s spring festivals, go to www.wimgo.com or www.travelok.com.

Festival of the Arts: For many Oklahomans, it just isn’t springtime until the Arts Council of Oklahoma City and its legion of volunteers convert downtown into a sprawling community celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts. Complete with Strawberries Newport, naturally. Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com. (April 23-28)

Norman Music Festival 6: Retro rock singer-songwriter JD McPherson, who hails from Broken Arrow, and alt-pop/rock band The Joy Formidable, which started in North Wales and is now based in London, are headlining the growing festival, which annually transforms the downtown Arts District into a massive celebration of original music of many genres and the local, regional and national performers creating it. Information: www.normanmusicfestival.com, www.Facebook.com/NormanMusicFestival or Twitter.com/NormanMusicFest. (April 25-27)

Medieval Fair, Norman: Get your chain mail and other period finery ready for the 37th annual fete, which brings arts and crafts, food, games, jousting tournaments, human chess games, costume contests, minstrels, mermaids and more to Reaves Park, 2501 Jenkins. Information: www.medievalfair.org. (April 5-7)

89er Days Celebration, Guthrie: Oklahoma’s first capital commemorates the 1889 Land Run that birthed it with a carnival, rodeo, chuck wagon dinner, parade, old-time baseball game, the Stake Your Claim 5K run and more around town. Information: www.89erdays.com. (April 16-21)

Montmartre Chalk Art Festival, Chickasha: Hundreds of imaginative minds of all ages get down at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma every April to create original but temporary works of art on 6-foot-by-6-foot squares of pavement. Information: 574-1303 or http://projects.usao.edu/usao-art/montmartre.html. (Thursday)

El Reno Fried Onion Burger Day Festival: Live music, children’s entertainment, a car and motorcycle show and more are annually featured at the event in downtown El Reno. But the primary draw is the 850-pound version of El Reno’s famous delicacy that local firefighters cook up every year. Information: www.elrenoburgerday.com. (May 4)

Prague Kolache Festival: If you prefer your festival-focused local fare on the sugary side, it’s hard to beat the flaky, fruity tastiness of these Czech pastries. But this festival isn’t just about snacking on little sweet breads filled with cherry, apricots and my personal favorite, poppy seeds, it’s also a fun salute of the town’s Czech heritage. Other activities happening on Main Street and around town include polka music, dancing, a parade, carnival and fireworks. Information: www.praguekolachefestival.com. (May 4)

Tulsa International Mayfest: Downtown Tulsa takes its celebration of arts and music outside with an array of fine arts and crafts, four stages of performing artists and a KidZone. Plus, five indoor galleries will be showcasing a variety of artwork. Information: (918) 582-6435 or www.tulsamayfest.org. (May 16-19)

Italian Festival, McAlester: Southeastern Oklahoma honors its Italian immigrant heritage with two days of arts, crafts, live entertainment, games , of course, scrumptious food at the Pittsburg County Expo Center. Information:  www.themcalesteritalianfestival.org. (May 18-19)

Downtown Edmond Arts Festival: More than 100 artists from around the country will exhibit their wares, ranging from pottery and paintings to jewelry and sculptures, and the 34th annual event will offer a children’s area, live music and a cornucopia of festive food. Information: www.downtownedmondok.com. (May 3-5)

May Fair Arts Festival, Norman: The two-day fest features many fine artists and quality craftsmen, plus artist demonstrations, live entertainment, children’s art activities, a student art show and Art & Sole 5K in Andrews Park, 201 W Daws Street. Information: www.norman.assistanceleague.org. (May 4-5)

Bare Bones International Independent Film and Music Festival, Muskogee: Founded in 1999, Bare Bones has been named one of the top 25 indie film festivals in the country by MovieMaker magazine. Taking place at various venues in Muskogee, the fest annually screens more than 150 entries, including features, short films, documentaries, music videos, comedies, dramas, sci-fi/horror films and thrillers. The grassroots event also includes live screenplay readings, filmmaker panels and an awards ceremony Information:  www.barebonesfilmfestivals.org. (Thursday-April 14)

Bixby BBQ ‘n Music Festival: Billed as the largest barbecue competition in the state, the two-day event is part of the Kansas City Barbeque Society’s Great American BBQ Tour. Live music and children’s activities are on the menu, but naturally, the food is the main attraction at Washington Irving Park, 137th and S Memorial. On the second day, festivalgoers can buy a People’s Choice Award taster kit that will let them sample a select number of the teams’ offerings and help pick a winner. Information: www.bixbyrotarybbq.com. (May 3-4)

Azalea Festival, Muskogee: Thousands of people flock to Honor Heights Park each year to enjoy the 30,000 blooming azaleas, as well as dogwoods, redbuds and other blooming plants. The festival also features paddleboats, carriage rides and more. Information: (918) 684-6302 or www.muskogeechamber.org. (Monday-April 30)

Brickfest, Pauls Valley: The festivities include the Field’s Pie Eating Contest, Valley Rally Bike Tour, Toy & Action Figure Museum’s Star Wars Weekend and, of course, the famous brick toss competition in downtown and at the Santa Fe Depot. Information: (405) 238-2555 or www.mainstreetpaulsvalley.com. (May 3-4)

Rose Rock Music Festival, Noble: Commemorating the town’s designation as the “Rose Rock Capital of the World,” the annual downtown event will feature live music, car show, poker run, disc golf tournament and more. Information: www.nobleok.org. (May 3-5)

Cimarron Territorial Celebration and World Championship Cow Chip Throwing Contest, Beaver: Remembering the pioneers of the Oklahoma panhandle, the festival includes a carnival, craft show, chili cook-off, car races, golf bash, old-fashioned church services, horseshoe throwing, a parade, children’s events and the cow chip throwing competition at and around the Beaver County Fairgrounds, 1133 Douglas. Information: (580) 625-4726 or www.beavercountychamberofcommerce.com. (April 13-21)

Yukon‘s Festival of the Child: Yukon celebrates youth with an array of activities, including storytelling, pony rides, kayaking, crafts and more at Yukon City Park and Yukon Community Center, 2200 S Holly Ave. The activities are aimed at children ages 12 and younger. Information: www.cityofyukonok.gov. (May 4)

Claremore’s Lilac Festival: Festivalgoers can buy and plant a lilac bush in honor of Claremore-born writer Lynn Riggs, who penned the play “Green Grow the Lilacs,” which was adapted into the musical “Oklahoma!” Children’s activities, live entertainment, a wiener dog race and a car show also are on the lineup for the downtown event. Information: http://visitclaremore.com. (May 4)

Waynoka Rattlesnake Round-Up: Sponsored by the Waynoka Saddle Club, the downtown event, which dates back to the 1940s, features a carnival, ham and bean supper and, of course, the main attraction: the Snake Pit. Information: www.waynokasnakehunt.com. (April 5-7)

-BAM

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What to do in Oklahoma on Jan. 31, 2013: Hear Wayne McEvilly play Schubert on the composer’s birthday

Today’s featured event:

Hear acclaimed pianist Wayne McEvilly perform a free concert of piano arrangements from Franz Schubert’s catalog in observance of the famed Austrian composer’s birthday. He will perform at noon today at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive.

McEvilly has played Carnegie Hall and is a Mozart scholar. He has been playing the piano for seven decades and just now feels as if he can “finally play Schubert as it was meant to be played.”

The free concert is part of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City’s Art Moves program. For more information, go to www.artscouncilokc.com/art-moves.

For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

-BAM

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