Oklahoma Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Statehood

Oklahoma celebrates its first centennial in 2007. Though the official day of proclaimed statehood is November 16, Oklahomans will be celebrating all year. Many of the communities annual festivities will take on a centennial theme. Tulsa has been chosen as the kick-off city for the year long celebration. These events will begin November 9, 2006 and run through November 19, 2006. The celebration begins before the actual centennial: Oklahomans aren't known as the Sooners for nothing! The nickname Sooners, is derived from the land rushes between 1889 and 1895, when settlers placed their stakes on the land before the opening of the event.

The kick-off celebration events in Tulsa number close to twenty before the Thanksgiving holiday. Including: centennial concerts, 100 years of Aviation- from Statehood to Space, NEAT's reception for Centenarians, and a Statehood Day Prayer Breakfast. In addition there is the locally legendary Blues Festival on May 4th and 5th, a huge event with four stages, sixty-five bands, tens of thousands of music lovers, food, merchandise, and drink! Tulsa will also be unearthing their 1957 Plymouth time capsule on June 15, 2007. Also the 57th annual Quester International Convention will be giving twenty five historically oriented tours in the middle of May. No celebration of Oklahoma history would be complete with out a performance of 'Oklahoma, the musical' and Discovery Land will be performing it June 8 2007, through August 8, 2007. There are too many events to mention but many great websites with up to date information.

Tulsa isn't having all the fun, the state capital also has it's share of events of the states 'ten carat diamond' anniversary. Since September of 2006, the city's Broadway season has been in full swing, with a variety of shows that will continue to play until June 12, 2007. Other events include, 100 years of Fashion, Centennial Celebration of Quilts, and Oklahoma's largest automotive event, the 24th annual NSRA Southwest Rod Nationals from April 13, 2007 to April 15, 2007. No celebration of Oklahoma's history is more traditional than the Rodeo, and Oklahoma City will be hosting the 37th International Rodeo Finals. If you are a fan of live music, make sure to catch the Charlie Christian International Jazz Festival. During the scorching Oklahoma summer you can enjoy the sun at the Aerospace American International Air Show from June 15 to 17, and the Air Race Classic 2007 from June 19 through June 27. Or, you can visit the Capital Complex and view a collection of the citys' African American artwork. There are many more events throughout the spring and summer, with an Anniversary celebration on November 17, 2007, Central Oklahoma Ringers and Directors (CORD) will be giving a concert to show the musical heritage through hand bell music.

In addition to Oklahoma's two major cities, some of it's other town will be giving their contribution to the festivities. Guthrie, the former state capital, is kicking off their celebration on November 18, 2006. Guthrie is also featuring a 46 star sculpture to immortalize Guthrie women sewing the 46th star on the American Flag, and January 18, 2007, the 2006 Warren Spahn Award Dinner and Presentation will also hold their centennial celebration. Broken Arrow is hosting a variety of festivals including: Broken Arrow's Gateway Balloon Festival, from August 3, 2007 to August 5, 2007, Broken Arrow's Holiday Historical Homes Tour will be held December 1st and 2nd 2007; three 18th century Oklahoma homes will be decorated for Christmas and the owners will discuss their homes rich history, and Broken Arrow is constructing a Women's War Memorial to specifically honor the courageous women who are a part of and who support our military. Bartlesville will be holding it's own events including: Bartlesville SunFest Inc that will feature a wide range of music in a picnic atmosphere, with lots of family fun from June 1st , through 3rd 2007; Also in June from the 8th through the 16th they will be holding the Mozart International Festival for the Oklahoma Centennial Gala, and of course they will be performing an Oklahoma Centennial Parade on August 23, 2007. Among the other cities that are hosting special events are Pawhuska, Muskogee, Claremore, Norman, Stillwell, Altus, Allen, Alva, and many more.

Oklahomans have been improving and conserving their state for the past one hundred years, and plan to uphold that tradition for a hundred or more. All across the state there are thousands of events where proud Oklahomans of immigrant, African, Mexican, and Native American descent will celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of it's statehood. There are many websites with complete listings of all the events, locations, and times. If you have never been to Oklahoma, 2007 is the year to visit. If you have been to Oklahoma, this will be the year to remember why you love it.

Source: Oklahoma Centennial official Web site