ENTERTAINMENT

15 Labor Day events across Oklahoma where you can celebrate the end of summer

The unofficial end of summer is almost here, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep the Oklahoma event calendar somewhat scrambled. 

With Labor Day coming up Sept. 6, the holiday weekend festivities include two big events — the Paseo Arts Festival in Oklahoma City and the Rocklahoma music and camping festival in Pryor — that normally help kick off the summer season in the Sooner State. But organizers this year opted to shift these Memorial Day staples to Labor Day in response to the pandemic. 

But with COVID-19 cases surging because of the highly contagious Delta variant, a few large Labor Day favorites have been scrapped for this year. The Choctaw Nation of recently announced the cancellation of its 2021 Labor Day Festival in Tuskahoma. And several events planned for the Cherokee National Holiday in Tahlequah have been canceled, while other festivities have been moved to virtual or drive-in formats. 

Traditionally a Memorial Day weekend highlight, the 44th Annual Paseo Arts Festival will take place during Labor Day weekend in Oklahoma City's historic Paseo Arts District.

Plus, Tulsa’s Great Raft Race has been canceled for 2021 due to the construction of the Gilcrease Expressway extension, following last year's cancellation in response to the pandemic.

In these uncertain times, it's even more important to check online or call before you go and make sure your favorite event is still happening. 

For those who are eager for one more summertime outing before autumn takes over, here are 15 events happening across Oklahoma during Labor Day weekend. 

The Paseo Arts Festival, one of the largest arts festivals in the state, will be from Sept. 4-6 in Oklahoma City's Paseo Arts District.

1. Paseo Arts Festival

When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 4-5 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 6 

Where: Oklahoma City's Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey 

Information: thepaseo.org

Traditionally a Memorial Day weekend highlight, 44th Annual Paseo Arts Festival will feature almost 100 visiting artists, plus dozens of neighborhood artists, along with 50-plus Oklahoma entertainers, 20 food vendors and more. 

Plus, the Paseo's monthly First Friday art walk for September will be the same weekend as the festival, with activities planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3.

Attendees are encouraged to follow COVID-19 safety protocols like wearing masks, frequent sanitizing or washing their hands and social distancing. 

Although admission is free, the festival is the largest annual fundraiser for the Paseo Arts Association, with beverage and merchandise sales supporting the nonprofit organization's year-round programs. 

2. Cherokee National Holiday 

When: Sept. 2-5

Where: Various Tahlequah venues and online 

Information: https://thecherokeeholiday.com

The Cherokee National Holiday commemorates the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution in 1839, which reestablished the tribe’s government in Indian Territory after forced removal from the Cherokees’ original homelands in the Southeast. 

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, tribal leaders have canceled the inter-tribal powwow, softball tournament, golf tournament, stickball exhibition, traditional games, car show and downtown artisan markets that are traditionally a part of the Labor Day festivities. 

The Cherokee Nation will host drive-in movie nights at 8 p.m. Sept. 2-4 at One Fire Field west of the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, and a drive-in fireworks show will light up Cherokee Springs Plaza at 8 p.m. Sept. 5.

Plus, the holiday quilt and art shows and the Miss Cherokee competition will be broadcast virtually, while video demonstrations of traditional Cherokee culture and language will be offered online. 

Slipknot is scheduled to perform at the 2021 Rocklahoma music and camping festival.

3. Rocklahoma

When: Sept. 3-5. Gates open at 2 p.m. daily. 

Where: Pryor Creek Music Festival Grounds, 1421 W 450 Road, off U.S. 69 north of Pryor

Information: www.rocklahoma.com

Typically a popular Memorial Day weekend bash, the 15th annual Rocklahoma will again offer three days of camping and raucous live music. This year's lineup features more than 40 current and classic rock acts, including Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Chevelle, Halestorm, Anthrax and more. 

Planned headliner Limp Bizkit has canceled its festival dates due to the pandemic, so Fred Durst and Company will not be making the trip to Rocklahoma. 

The Sept. 2 pre-party feature performances from Stephen Pearcy The Voice Of Ratt, BulletBoys, Liliac and Dead Metal Society at The Roadhouse, a festival hang-out spot with food trucks and a full-service bar. Doors for The Roadhouse will open at 11 a.m. daily during the fest. 

4. Henryetta Labor Day Celebration

When: Sept. 4-5

Where: Various venues in Henryetta

Information: www.facebook.com/Henryettachamber

One of the biggest Labor Day events in the state, Henryetta Labor Day Celebration boasts festivities all over town. Activities include a parade, car and bike show, barbecue competition and the Jim Shoulders Living Legends Rodeo. 

Respected country instrumentalist Jana Jae will host her long-running Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival over Labor Day weekend in Grove.

5. Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival

When: Sept. 3-5

Where: On Grand Lake O' the Cherokees in Grove

Information: www.grandlakefestivals.com

This year's Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival, hosted by the country music instrumentalist and former "Hee Haw" standout, will feature Western music standard-bearer Cowboy Jim Garling, well-known bones player Barry Patton, fiddle champion Junior Marriott and more.

The festival will offer daytime small group music instruction at the Grove Civic Center, followed by free public evening events featuring live music and downhome dinners at Snider’s Camp. 

6. Rentiesville Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival 

When: 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 3-5

Where: Rentiesville 

Information: dcminnerblues.com

The Rentiesville Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival annually lives up to its name, with opportunities to hear the blues all night long over three days on three stages in Rentiesville, one of Oklahoma’s historically Black towns.

The event will feature 30 musical acts, including Selby Minner, Watermelon Slim and Johnny Rawls, plus children’s activities. 

Temperature checks will be conducted at the gate as a COVID-19 precaution. All shows will be outdoors, with the option for social distancing. 

Youngsters try to catch a foul ball during and Oklahoma City Dodgers game against the Reno Aces at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark



7. Oklahoma City Dodgers 

When: 7:05 p.m. Sept. 2-4, 2:05 p.m. Sept. 5, 12:05 p.m. Sept. 6 and 7:05 p.m. Sept. 7

Where: Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S Mickey Mantle Drive 

Information: www.okcdodgers.com

What's summer without a little baseball? Cheer on the OKC Dodgers as they take on the Albuquerque Isotopes, one of their division rivals. 

8. The Blues Ball in Medicine Park

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 3 and 3 p.m. Sept. 4-5

Where: Medicine Park Town Center

Information: www.medicinepark.com

Hear Dirty Red & The Soulshakers, Cecil Gray's Native Blues, Vibro Kings and more at The Blues Ball in the historic resort town of Medicine Park. Admission is free.

Headliner Randy Houser performs on the Main Stage at the Las Cruces Country Music Festival in New Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018.

9. Beats & Bites Festival featuring Randy Houser

When: 4 p.m. Sept. 6. Gates open at 3 p.m. 

Where: Riverwind Casino, 1544 State Highway 9, Norman 

Information: https://www.riverwind.com/entertain/beats-and-bites

Norman's Riverwind Casino is wrapping up the fifth year of its popular COOP Ale Works Beats & Bites Festival summer series Labor Day with country music star Randy Houser and opening act Time Machine. (Houser was originally scheduled to play the series' first installment in June, but the event was postponed due to inclement weather.)

Beats & Bites brings local food trucks and live music to the casino's grounds on select summer days. Admission is $5, and attendees can partake of an array of local vendors offering craft beer and summer cuisine ranging from barbecue and Greek to wine and desserts. Face painting, clothing and jewelry vendors also be onsite along with the OG&E ThunderBolt and the Goldsby Fire Department. 

10. Elk City's PRCA Rodeo of Champions

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 3-5 

Where: Beutler Brothers Rodeo Arena in Elk City 

Information: www.elkcityrodeo.com

A Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, the 83rd annual Elk City Rodeo of Champions includes bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping and saddle bronc riding. 

The rodeo parade is slated for 10 a.m. Sept. 4 in downtown Elk City. 

A real human skull is included in "Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition" at the Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Thursday, April 29, 2021.

11. 'Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition' and 'The Worst Case Scenario' at Science Museum Oklahoma

When: Through Sept. 6

Where: Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place

Information: https://www.sciencemuseumok.org

Labor Day will be the last chance to see two big traveling exhibitions that have been entertaining folks this summer at Science Museum Oklahoma. 

"Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition" offers an encompassing interactive experience based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic fictional detective. Aspiring sleuths who want to check out this special traveling attraction will pay an additional charge beyond museum admission. 

Adapted from a popular book series, "The Worst-Case Scenario: An Ultimate Survival Experience" features a variety of activities designed to help people become better prepared for the worst. This exhibit is free with museum admission. 

12. 90th Rooster Days in Broken Arrow 

When: Sept. 2-5

Where: Central Park, 1500 S Main in Broken Arrow

Information: https://roosterdays.com

One of the oldest continually running festivals in Oklahoma, Broken Arrow's Rooster Days was established in 1931 and is celebrating its 90th year in 2021. The event usually takes place in May but has shifted this year to Labor Day weekend. 

The festivities include live entertainment, a parade, carnival, wine garden, marketplace and more. Admission is free.

Charl Adair paints during a “Good VIBES” Paint Off in June in downtown Edmond.

13. VIBES in downtown Edmond 

When: 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2 

Where: Downtown Edmond

Information: EdmondFineArts.com 

Get an early start on your holiday weekend at Edmond Fine Arts Institute's monthly open-air art walk, VIBES. More than 40 visual artists will be set up throughout downtown Edmond, showing and selling their work in 36 businesses, including 18 restaurants, that stay open late and offer specials. 

Organized on the first Thursday of each month, the September installment of VIBES will feature local plein air artists painting outdoors, allowing attendees to observe their techniques and ask questions. 

Performers from NrityaArpan Dance School will be dancing from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the driveaway of the Citizens Bank ATM. Other entertainers planned for this month's VIBES included local guitarist Edgar Cruz, who will be at the corner of First and Broadway in front of Citizens Bank; blues-rockers The Bottom of the Barrel Band at Hurd and Broadway; and violinist Joseph Messick at Main and Broadway.

14. Soul Music Festival 

When: Sept. 2-6

Where: 10301 NE 23 in Oklahoma City

Information: https://www.soulmusicfestival.org

The Oklahoma Black Music Commission is presenting the inaugural Soul Music Festival, which will include live music, food trucks, camping and more. 

Part of the festival, the first Independent Soul Music Awards will honor Lonzo Williams, Kurtis Blow and local legend Jahruba Sept. 8 at the Auditorium at Douglass. 

Oklahoma band Cross Rags and Young is scheduled to play Sept. 2 at Yukon's Rock the Route.

15. Rock the Route in Yukon

When: 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 2

Where: Along Main Street in Yukon

Information: www.yukonok.gov/RocktheRoute

Another way to get a jump on the holiday weekend: Check out the return of downtown Yukon's Rock the Route festival, featuring live music from Texas country star Kevin Fowler and Oklahoma band Cross Rags and Young.

The festivities will include food trucks, face painting, a rock-climbing wall, face painting and more. Plus, some businesses will stay open later than usual and offer special sales.