As the summer heat gracefully surrenders to the cooler temperatures of fall, Oklahoma’s festivals and events gear up for the autumn season with numerous fairs, one-of-a-kind parades and vintage craft shows. If you’re searching for something to make your autumn dreams come alive, look no further than Oklahoma’s wide and varied fall event calendar. Browse through this list of some of the top fall events in the state and come along on a journey through Oklahoma’s pumpkin patches and hometown celebrations this fall to see why autumn is the perfect season to get out and about in Oklahoma!
Robbers Cave Fall Festival
Set amidst the spectacular scenery and beautiful fall foliage of Wilburton’s Robbers Cave State Park, the annual Robbers Cave Fall Festival invites visitors to enjoy an array of outdoor events and seasonal activities. Grab a sweet caramel apple or a heaping bag of kettle corn and wander through the event grounds searching for handmade arts and crafts, live entertainment and amusement rides for the kids. Don’t miss the Fall Foliage Cruise held on Saturday and be rewarded with over 500 vintage hot rods, custom trucks and classic cars on display.
Poteau Balloon Fest
This annual hot air balloon festival, held each fall in Poteau, highlights the skies above eastern Oklahoma with hot air balloon races, rides and balloon glows at dusk. The fun times don’t stop there at the Poteau Balloon Fest, since activities such as mud pit races, monster truck rides and live concerts are waiting to entertain visitors from far and wide. Bring the kids for high-flying carnival rides and stick around for a variety of craft vendors and delicious festival food. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab a corn dog or a hot barbecue sandwich, and watch as colorful hot air balloons take to the crisp fall air above Poteau.
Haunt the Zoo
The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden stretches across 120 acres and is home to hundreds of unique animals. Each October, the zoo transforms into a Halloween wonderland during Haunt the Zoo. During this month-long, family-friendly festival, kids and their families are invited to visit in costume for daytime trick-or-treating. Zoo staff will also be dressed in costume while handing out candy and sharing information about the animals that call the zoo home. Don’t miss this annual spooktacular event at the OKC Zoo this October.
Tulsa Oktoberfest
A must-see event on the fall festival roster, the Tulsa Oktoberfest serves up a huge slice of German, Czech and Austrian culture each autumn. Whether learning how to polka or competing in a rip-roaring beer keg race, the Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa will have you kicking up your heels in celebration of all things Bavarian. Munch on treats such as bratwurst with sauerkraut or smoked turkey legs while enjoying live entertainment, an on-site German marketplace, beer pong competitions and wiener dog races. Grab a German beer, check out a dance troupe on stage or bring the kids for a variety of carnival rides.
Cordell Pumpkin Festival
Gather up the entire family and head to the Cordell Pumpkin Festival for old-fashioned, family-friendly fun this fall. Show up early for stacks of pumpkin pancakes and then browse through arts and craft booths scattered throughout the neighboring courthouse grounds. Enjoy a morning parade on the streets of downtown, a car show featuring everything from pre-1940s classics to modern street rods, and activities that include everything from pumpkin carving to a pumpkin baking contest. With something for all ages, the Cordell Pumpkin Festival is small town fun at its finest.
Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show
Take a trip back to simpler times at the Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show and enjoy the sounds of some of the best folk musicians in the region while marveling at the spectacular fall foliage on display throughout southeast Oklahoma’s gem, Beavers Bend State Park. A true autumn delight, the Beavers Bend Folk Festival offers visitors the chance to try their hand at vintage craft making – so grab a fresh apple cider and a piping hot funnel cake and learn how to make candles, lye soap and musical instruments. Come join re-enactors in turn-of-the-century costume, dance a jig to the sweet sounds of the fiddle and visit the petting zoo set amidst the park’s towering trees.
