Oklahoma - Cowboys, Music And Culture

In this blog, we introduce you to the rich spirit of Oklahoma, a south–central state deeply rooted in Native American heritage and Old West tradition. Here, you can explore world-class Indigenous museums, historic tribal sites and vibrant powwows that celebrate centuries of culture. Oklahoma also offers striking landscapes, from rolling plains to dramatic cliffs, providing the perfect backdrop for a journey through America’s storied past. Make Oklahoma your next fly drive holiday destination, where history, culture and wide-open adventure come together.

Route 66

Art District

Spend the day mingling with the creative and chic in Oklahoma’s vibrant arts districts. Home to lively art and performance, these areas have trendy restaurants, live entertainment, artist demonstrations, galleries, and unique handmade works, from blown glass and canvas pieces to pottery and jewellery. Explore Oklahoma City’s Paseo Arts District and Tulsa Arts District, where you can meet visionary local artists and experience a range of styles, from modern and Western to traditional and avant-garde. Step back in time in Oklahoma City’s historic Film Row District, once the bustling heart of Hollywood’s regional film distribution. Beginning in 1907, major studios such as Paramount, MGM and Universal established their film exchange buildings here, which served as hubs where movie reels were received, stored and sent out to cinemas across the region. In the early 20th century, this small stretch of the city thrived as a vital link between Hollywood and local theatres, with its warehouses and offices humming with the excitement of the silver screen. Today, the area retains its Art Deco charm and hosts creative businesses, movie screenings at the Paramount, comedy, live music, and dining at cafés and pizzerias. Discover galleries and venues such as the Jones Assembly and 21C Museum Hotel and admire murals throughout the district. In Shawnee, over three dozen hand-painted horses can be found across the city, each with its own story. 

Festivals and Events

Day or night, Oklahoma has plenty to celebrate. From cultural gatherings to spectator sports, the state offers events almost every weekend. Watch fireworks at Fourth of July celebrations, including one of the nation’s top ten displays in Edmond. Enjoy music festivals or local specialties at events such as the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival in August, which features carnival rides, crafts, and rodeo performances, drawing over 20,000 visitors annually. In July, the Watonga Cheese and Wine Festival brings crowds together for music, tastings, art, and quilt shows and a parade. Runners can join the Great Rat Race with a 5K, 10K or one-mile fun run. May brings El Reno’s Fried Onion Burger Day Festival, celebrating a local culinary tradition. try a sample of a fried onion hamburger which, at over 850 lbs, is the world largest. The festival also includes live entertainment, games, classic car and motorcycle shows, craft vendors, and a burger-eating contest. Oklahoma’s festivals and events offer a lively mix of food, music, history, and fun for all ages.

Historic Sites 

From Native heritage and Viking explorers to land runs and oil booms, Oklahoma’s history is unique. Historical sites across the state honour its original residents, settlers, and notable figures. Experience the past at living history events with Civil War re-enactments, traditional crafts or encounters with fur trader re-enactors. Attend a powwow to witness the pageantry, dances, and traditions of Native peoples at the Annual Ponca Tribal Celebration Pow Wow in August at White Eagle Park and the Choctaw Pow Wow in November at Durant. Visit the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center to explore the famous Great Western Cattle Trail by driving along U.S. Highway 183 through western Oklahoma, following the cattle drive trails where cowboys worked in the wide-open spaces. Alternatively, see inside the last original sod house at the Sod House Museum to learn about pioneer life. At one time, thousands of sod houses dotted North America's plains region. This sod house, built in 1894, is the only one still standing in the state from the homestead era. The house features authentic artefacts of early farm life, including a plough, along with other exhibits, photographs, and a root cellar. From cowboys to oil barons, Oklahoma’s rich heritage offers a fascinating journey for history enthusiasts.

Museums 

Oklahoma is home to hundreds of museums catering to every interest, from the Old West to space exploration. Reopening in 2026 you can browse the world’s largest collection of Western art at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. Visit the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford to see one of the few Titan II rockets on public display. Explore the state’s rich Native heritage at American Indian cultural centres such as the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur. Encounter unique artefacts such as an Egyptian mummy at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum in Shawnee. Stroll through 4 billion years of natural history at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Discover ever-changing collections at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Across the state, hometown museums celebrate sports, fossils, science and local history.

Music Influences 

Whether you enjoy jazz, rock and roll, classic rock, country or today’s pop music, Oklahoma has a concert or annual music festival to suit every taste. For fans of classical music, the world-class Oklahoma City Philharmonic offers performances that provide evenings of refined entertainment. Oklahoma has produced country superstars such as Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton as well as world-famous rock bands like The Flaming Lips and Kings of Leon. Catch these artists and more performing for their hometown fans at venues including the Paycom Center, BOK Center, The Criterion and Cain's Ballroom.

Native American Culture 

Oklahoma is home to at least 67 American Indian tribes, and you can explore their rich cultures through museums, heritage centres, powwows and other events that celebrate tribal traditions, art, and music. Experience the rhythm of powwow drums, admire intricate regalia, and witness elite dance performances at the annual Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow in Concho. This event features traditional American Indian dancers in full regalia, along with crafts, food, and other entertainment. Enjoy traditional singing, gourd dancing, war dancing and a drum contest. Witness the dance competitions that are held for every age. There are many ways to explore tribal history across the state. You can also learn about the legacy of the Five Civilized Tribes relocated to Indian Territory and discover the culture and achievements of American Indian peoples at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.

State Parks

Venture out to one of Oklahoma’s state parks and discover the unexpected natural treasures that await, from swinging suspension bridges to limestone cliffs, each offering something unique. At Alabaster Caverns, children can squeeze through a special passage on the tour while adults take the taller route, and even spend the night in the Water Cave, complete with a waterfall. At Lake Eufaula’s Arrowhead Area, mysterious stone steps lead to a rocky creek bed and short trail, while Black Mesa offers some of the darkest night skies in the country for stargazing, a challenging 8.4-mile roundtrip hike to the summit where large pieces of petrified wood are on display. Boiling Springs features a 300-year-old Burr Oak, Cherokee Landing allows golf cart exploration after a day on the water, and Clayton Lake boasts a picturesque waterfall and a family cabin with lake views. Fort Cobb hosts summer music on the water, other parks offer activities such as stargazing, sunset cruises, unique cabins, butterfly gardens, and scenic trails, ensuring there is something for every adventurer to enjoy.

Lakes and Boating 

A landlocked state may not be the first spot that comes to mind when you think of waterfront fun, but Oklahoma's lakes will easily tempt you think again. Home to more than 200 lakes, the state has more shoreline than the entire east coast of the U.S. Located just two hours east of Oklahoma City, Lake Eufaula is Oklahoma’s largest lake and is ideal for boating, swimming and other water activities. Set sail on Lake Hefner, charter a yacht on Grand Lake, ride a jet ski on Lake Murray, or dive at Lake Tenkiller, ensuring a tailor-made lake experience for every everyone. 

Western Heritage 

Head to Oklahoma for an authentic taste of the Old West, where nationally acclaimed Western Heritage museums and relaxing guest ranches offer a rich history to explore. Enjoy action-packed adventures or stroll through charming frontier prairie towns in search of an ice-cold sarsaparilla, cheer on skilled cowboys and cowgirls at rodeos like the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo or the Freedom Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion and participate in cattle drive events at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. After a day of riding and roping, savour hearty campfire meals at one of Oklahoma’s guest ranches while enjoying horseback rides and chuckwagon dinners, and sites like Fort Washita, Fort Reno and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum offer fascinating insights into Western art, ranch life and the enduring legacy of the American cowboy.