Only in OKlahoma Show

Depew, Oklahoma may hold the quirky distinction of being the very first town bypassed on Route 66, but this small Creek County hamlet with "Strong Roots and a Bright Future" is anything but forgotten. In this episode of the Only in OK Show, we dive into Depew's rich history, from its origins on Muscogee (Creek) Nation land and its wild 1911 oil boom to the iconic 1920s concrete that road-trippers still travel on the historic "Depew Loop." Plus, we break down everything you need to know about the upcoming 3rd Annual Route 66 Fall Festival & Car Show! Organized by the all-volunteer Depew Ladies Auxiliary Club, this family-friendly event serves as a major fundraiser for the Depew Volunteer Fire Department. Event Details: Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Location: Historic Main Street, Depew, OK Admission: FREE for families! Festival Highlights: Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show: $10 entry fee (includes goodie bag & trophy entry). Categories include Best in Show, Best Paint, People's Choice, and more! Kids' Wheels Division: FREE entry for Power Wheels, ATVs, and ride-ons—and every kid takes home a trophy! Family Fun: Arts & craft vendors, local food trucks, raffles, a rock-climbing wall, obstacle courses, bounce houses, and inflatable slides. Get Involved & Support: Car Show Registration: Call Destiny Parrick at (918) 698-6839 Updates & Information: Connect with the Depew Ladies Auxiliary Club on Facebook Pack up the family, drive the original 1926 alignment, support local firefighters, and experience authentic small-town Oklahoma hospitality! Also discussed:  OK State Fair, Medicine Park, KFOR, Fright Fest, Frontier City #OnlyInOK #Route66 #Route66Centennial #DepewOK #OklahomaHistory #Route66Oklahoma #MotherRoad #ExploreOklahoma #OklahomaEvents #CarShow #SmallTownOK #CreekCounty

Red Earth FallFest is making a huge move to Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City! In this episode of the Only in OK Show, we break down everything you need to know about this free, family-friendly autumn festival celebrating Indigenous art, youth, and culture. Join us as we explore what's in store for Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We dive into the Red Earth Youth Powwow, featuring young Native dancers across categories from Fancy Shawl and Jingle to the crowd-favorite Tiny Tots (with Grand Entry at 12:00 PM!). Plus, get details on the expanded outdoor Native Art Market, featuring authentic beadwork, pottery, jewelry, fashion, and contemporary Indigenous art. We also map out the perfect "Make a Day of It" downtown itinerary, starting with the Scissortail Farmers Market, hitting the local food trucks, and wrapping up in time for a downtown dinner. What We Cover: Red Earth FallFest Details: Dates, dancer check-in info, and artist/vendor applications via RedEarth.org . The Main Event: Youth Powwow schedule, dance styles, and drum groups. Native Art Market: Shopping authentic, handmade Indigenous art and jewelry. Also Discussed: Enid Street Outreach Services, Oklahoma State Fair, the Toby Keith Expressway, and KFOR. Grab your lawn chairs, pack a blanket, and come celebrate Oklahoma culture with us! #OklahomaCity #OnlyInOKShow #RedEarthFallFest #ScissortailPark #YouthPowwow #NativeArtMarket #OKCEvents #ExploreOKC #IndigenousArt #OklahomaCulture #OklahomaPodcasts

We are diving into one of the biggest music events in Oklahoma City: Banjo Fest 2026! Hosted right in the heart of downtown OKC's Bricktown district at the world-renowned American Banjo Museum, this three-day celebration (October 8–10, 2026) highlights America's adopted native instrument with live jams, workshops, and Hall of Fame inductions. Housing over 400 instruments across a massive 21,000-square-foot facility, the American Banjo Museum features the largest collection of banjos on public display in the world, tracing the instrument's story from its roots in African history to minstrel, jazz, bluegrass, and modern acoustic styles. Banjo Fest 2026 Weekend Highlights: Thursday, Oct 8: Kickoff Welcome Reception & BBQ (6 PM–10 PM) followed by late-night "A Night at the Museum" jam sessions open to all skill levels. Friday, Oct 9: Daytime workshops (10 AM–3 PM) leading into the formal Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel Venetian Room. Saturday, Oct 10 (Main Event): Bricktown Banjo Bash from 12 PM–5 PM! This event is 100% FREE to the public across the museum and Bricktown venues, featuring pickers like Gary "Biscuit" Davis, Gavin Rice, Mark Johnson, Lucas Ross, and more. Wrap up the weekend with the Pizza Parlor Sing-Along Party (6 PM–9 PM) at the museum! 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees: Mark Johnson (Five-String Performance): Creator of "Clawgrass" and Steve Martin Award winner. Howard Alden (Four-String Performance): Renowned jazz guitarist elevating tenor banjo. Bill Dendle (Education & Innovation): Iconic jazz educator and performer. Banjomania (Promotion): Pioneer group blending 4-string and 5-string styles. David "Stringbean" Akeman (Historical): Early Bluegrass Boy and beloved Hee Haw star. Brent Hayes (Historical): Early 20th-century world-touring virtuoso. Visitor & Event Details: Address: 9 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Phone: (405) 604-2793 Website: https://americanbanjomuseum.com/banjofest2026/ Also discussed:   #BanjoFest2026 #OnlyInOKShow #AmericanBanjoMuseum #BricktownOKC #OklahomaCity #Banjo #DiscoverOKC #ExploreOklahoma #LiveMusicOKC #BluegrassMusic #JazzBanjo

If you're driving Route 66 through Catoosa, most folks stop for the famous Blue Whale—but just down the road sits one of the coolest, most surprisingly diverse hidden gems in the entire state: the D.W. Correll Museum! D.W. Correll was a prominent local businessman whose lifelong, passionate curiosity created a personal collection so expansive that it took a dedicated team three full years just to curate it for the public. Spread across two giant buildings, this incredible stop blends pure Americana, world-class geology, rare automotive history, and heavy machinery. In this episode, we explore: Building 1: Geological Wonders & Worldly Treasures – A deep dive into Oklahoma's Tri-State mining roots (galena, sphalerite, quartz crystals), massive global geode and fossil displays, Native American artifacts, antique decanters, and rotating exhibits like the Tulsa Ship Modelers Society's Port City Model Ship Exhibit. Bonus: You can even buy select rock and mineral specimens to take home! Building 2: Vintage Wheels & Heavy Machinery – Over 100 years of fully working, meticulously restored automotive history. Highlights include an 1898 steam-powered Locomobile, a 1902 Oldsmobile Runabout, a 1917 Twin 6 Packard, a 1926 Rolls-Royce, 1927 & 1929 Stutz 8s, a 1957 Chevy 210, horse-drawn buggies, vintage Texaco gas pumps, and antique toy tractors. Visitor Info & Programs – Budget-friendly admission ($5 Adults, $4 Seniors, $2 Youth, FREE for Military ID holders), car club cruise-in opportunities, and educational field trip programs where kids get hands-on Earth science lessons and real rocks/fossils to take home! Visitor & Booking Information: To schedule special tours or group visits, contact Director Eric Hamshar via the City of Catoosa. Official Website: https://www.cityofcatoosa.org/page/dw-correll-museum Also discussed: Think Ability Inc, KOCO, Oklahoma City's iconic Gold Dome & Precor Realty Advisors. Tune in to discover why this spot needs to be on your next Route 66 road trip itinerary! #OnlyInOKShow #Route66 #Route66Oklahoma #CatoosaOK #DWCorrellMuseum #ExploreOklahoma #OklahomaTravel #HiddenGemsOK #ClassicCars #VintageAutomobiles #GeologyLovers #OklahomaHistory #RoadTripOK #DiscoverOklahoma

Even if you aren't typically an outdoorsy type, Oklahoma has trails so stunning they'll tempt you right out of your air-conditioned comfort zone. In this episode of the Only in OK Show, we head to Comanche County (just two hours from OKC) to explore the Elk Mountain Trail, tucked inside the breathtaking Charon's Garden Wilderness within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. At roughly 2.2 miles round-trip with 583 feet of elevation gain, this easy-to-moderate hike features natural granite staircases, minor bouldering, and dog-friendly paths. You'll step across some of the oldest exposed granite in the continental United States, starting at the scenic Sunset Picnic Area and climbing to a massive, mesa-like summit plateau filled with hidden caves, rock crevices, and 360-degree views of the surrounding plains. Plus, we break down native wildlife sightings—from bison and longhorn cattle to unique desert flora—and cover essential trail safety tips to ensure you aren't "That Guy" on the mountain. Listener Question: What do you think is the single best outdoor adventure in Oklahoma? Reach out and let us know! Also discussed: David Payne - Enid SOS - Schwabs Meats #OnlyInOKShow #OklahomaHikes #WichitaMountains #ElkMountainTrail #CharonsGardenWilderness #DiscoverOklahoma #ExploreOK #OklahomaOutdoors #OKCHikes #HikeOklahoma