Holiday Events in Tulsa

If you plan on being in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the 2006 holiday season, there are plenty of events and celebrations scheduled this year. You don't need to look very far for something to get your in the spirit of the holidays. Many events are free and some charge an admittance fee, but there will be something for everyone, both young and old. Just get ready to enjoy the beauty of the season in Tulsa, Oklahoma this year.

The Christmas Parade of Lights in Downtown Tulsa is on Saturday, December 9th. This annual event will put you in the mood for the upcoming holiday season. Enjoy floats, Santa, and the numerous parade entries that march through town. Miss America Jennifer Berry will serve as Grand Marshal. Berry is a graduate of Jenks high school who won the Miss Oklahoma pageant last year and was crowned Miss America in January.

The annual Festival of Trees runs from November 19th through December 3rd at the Philbrook Museum of Art located at 2727 S. Rockford Rd, Tulsa. Admission is $1. For more information phone 800-324-7941.

Charles Dicken's classic "A Christmas Carol" will be performed on December 15th at 7:30pm at the John H. Williams Theatre in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 2nd Street and Cincinnati Ave. Go and enjoy the live performance of this yuletide favorite. Children and adults will relive the magic of this annual favorite tale. For ticket information, phone 918- 596-7111.

The Tulsa Boy Singers will present a Christmas show this year and hope you will attend.
On December 15th and 16th, 8 pm the Tulsa Boy Singers will perform their Christmas concert on both Friday and Saturday at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S. Cincinnati Ave, Tulsa. Enjoy classic holiday songs that will lift your spirits for Christmas. Contact the church for more information.

Holiday Carriage Rides will be available to be booked this year. Horse drawn carriage rides through historic Terwilleger Heights will leave every half-hour from the Tulsa Garden Center Barn, 2435 S. Peoria. Times are 6 pm to 9 pm December 15the through 17th and December 19th and 21st through December 23rd. Carriage ride cost is $100 per carriage ride with 4 adults maximum. A complimentary beverage and photograph is included in the price. Reservations are required. Phone 918-746-5125 for more information.

If you love nature and want to help in the preservation of native bird species, The Tulsa Audubon Society participates every year in the National Audubon Society annual Christmas Bird Count. The Christmas Count is a project that has been a staple program of the National Audubon Society for years now. It is an early-winter bird census, where volunteers follow specific routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day long. It's not just a species tally, targeting a certain type of bird. It is a vast tool in measuring all types, as all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day. All Christmas Bird Counts are done in the period from December 14th to January 5th each season. Each bird count is conducted in one calendar day. Tulsa's area is a circle that encompasses most of northern Tulsa County. So if you are interested in doing something different this holiday season, join your local chapter of the National Audubon Society and participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count. Check out www.audubon.org for more details.

Whatever your preference, whatever makes the holidays special for you, Tulsa will most likely have it waiting this year. Whether it's the soft glow of twinkling lights on fragrant pine trees or a cup of hot chocolate while you watch the Christmas parade, you can find it here. Put on your hat, warm coat, gloves, and a smile and head out into the holiday season ready to experience the joy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this winter.