A Better Life OKC Blog

Team OKC seeks thousands of volunteers for LA28 Olympic games

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This story originally appeared on VeloCity.

The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games may still be two years away, but Oklahoma Citians interested in being part of the action shouldn't wait to get involved.

Team OKC is seeking between 6,000 and 8,000 volunteers to support Oklahoma City's role as a host city for the 2028 Olympic Games. With strong interest expected, Team OKC anticipates its need for additional volunteers will begin to dwindle by the end of this year, making now the time for interested residents to apply.

Oklahoma City will host the Olympic softball and canoe slalom competitions during LA28, bringing athletes and visitors from around the world to the city. Volunteers will play an important role in helping support the Games and welcoming those visitors to Oklahoma City.

"The Olympic Games are powered by volunteers, and in 2028, thousands of Oklahomans will have the opportunity to help welcome the world to our city," said Michael Byrnes, president of Team OKC. "Whether you're greeting athletes, assisting fans or helping behind the scenes, every volunteer will play a role in creating an unforgettable Olympic experience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of history, and we encourage anyone interested to apply today."

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, able to read, write and communicate proficiently in English, and pass a background check. Volunteer positions are unpaid, and participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging.

The broader LA28 volunteer application asks applicants to commit to at least 10 non-consecutive shifts of approximately eight hours each between March and August 2028. Team OKC expects the commitment for volunteers serving in Oklahoma City to be closer to six shifts, although local requirements are still being finalized.

The online application takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Applicants do not have to finish it in one sitting and can save their progress and return later. Once an application has been submitted, however, it cannot be edited.

With thousands of volunteers needed to help Oklahoma City take the international stage in 2028, Team OKC is encouraging those interested in participating to apply early.

Applications are now open through the official LA28 Volunteer Portal.

This week in OKC (August 25-31)

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

From budget-friendly bites and after-hours science to live music, spooky stories and Sunday fun, there are plenty of ways to get out and explore Oklahoma City this week.

SMO21+: Saddle Up

Aug. 28 | Science Museum Oklahoma

Science Museum Oklahoma is trading lab coats for cowboy hats during SMO21+: Saddle Up, an adults-only night of Western-inspired fun. Guests 21 and older can explore the museum after hours with hands-on science experiences, themed cocktails and live entertainment, all with a Wild West twist.

Tickets start at $35, and advance purchase is recommended as previous SMO21+ events have sold out.

10 Buck Lunch Week

Aug. 24-28 | Midtown

Grab lunch without breaking the bank during Midtown’s 10 Buck Lunch Week. Participating restaurants across the district are serving $10 lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, giving you a chance to try somewhere new or revisit a longtime favorite.

Round up your coworkers or friends and take advantage of one of Midtown’s tastiest weeks of the year.

Downtown OKC Ghost Tour

Aug. 28 | Bricktown and downtown OKC

Discover the darker side of Oklahoma City history during a guided ghost tour through Bricktown and downtown. The 80- to 90-minute outdoor walking tour shares true stories drawn from interviews and public archives, including tales of Bricktown ghosts, hidden underground tunnels and one of Oklahoma’s most haunted hotels.

This isn’t a haunted house or paranormal investigation. Instead, expect an evening of spooky storytelling and local history. Tickets are $13.

Toast to Toby Keith

Aug. 28 | Tower Theatre

Celebrate the life and music of Oklahoma country legend Toby Keith during Toast to Toby Keith, a tribute concert at Tower Theatre. The evening will honor Keith’s legacy while benefiting The Toby Keith Foundation and OK Kids Korral.

The show begins at 7 p.m., and general admission tickets start at $22.64.

Sundays on the Boardwalk

Sundays through Oct. 25 | OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

Spend your Sunday at OKANA during Sundays on the Boardwalk, a free weekly event series featuring live entertainment, rotating local vendors, family-friendly activities and wellness experiences. Each week brings something different, from local boutiques and interactive crafts to coffee, smoothies and more.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a free weekly fitness class, food and activity discounts for Oklahoma residents and other special offerings. No hotel stay or waterpark day pass is required.

Spend a day exploring Oklahoma City's Plaza District

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

There's no single way to spend a day in the Plaza District.

You could catch a show, hunt for vintage finds, discover a new artist and eat your way down NW 16th Street, all without leaving one of Oklahoma City's most colorful neighborhoods.

That's part of what makes the Plaza worth exploring.

Come hungry

The Plaza packs plenty of flavor into a few blocks, with locally owned restaurants serving everything from pizza and comfort food to globally inspired cuisine.

Among them is Ma Der Lao Kitchen, where chef and owner Jeff Chanchaleune has created a dining experience rooted in Lao food and culture. Even the restaurant's name is an invitation, translating roughly to “come through” or “come eat.”

For Chanchaleune, the location has an unexpected personal connection. After opening his restaurants in the district, he learned his parents had once lived directly behind them.

“Full circle, actually, coming back to opening up a Lao restaurant in the neighborhood after being born into the neighborhood,” Chanchaleune said.

Find something you won't find anywhere else

The Plaza rewards wandering.

Independent shops, vintage finds, galleries, murals and studios line the district, making it easy to walk in without much of a plan and leave with something unexpected.

Bad Granny's Bazaar owner Diana Harris discovered the neighborhood that way herself in 2009. What she found was more than a place to open a business.

“What comes to my mind first is community, family, home,” Harris said. “Everyone is welcome.”

Make time for the arts

Art isn't confined to gallery walls in the Plaza.

Murals cover buildings throughout the district, while artists create inside spaces like Canopy, a cooperative studio shared by local artists.

“The Plaza isn't just one thing,” visual artist Dusty Gilpin said. “The Plaza is all the subcultures wrapped into one, and it's a really, really beautiful woven tapestry of creativity.”

The performing arts have a home here, too. Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma has been part of the district since 2001, bringing live productions to the Plaza Theatre on NW 16th Street.

See the Plaza through the people who know it best

The restaurants, shops and art give you plenty of reasons to visit. The people behind them are what tie the neighborhood together.

Hear from Chanchaleune, Harris, Gilpin and Lyric Theatre executive producer Ashley Wells in Visit OKC's video exploring the people and places that make the Plaza what it is.

Then pick a spot on NW 16th Street and experience it for yourself.

MAPS 4: What's New and What's Next

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Have you noticed a few more hardhats around Oklahoma City recently? MAPS 4 is moving from plans on paper to projects taking shape across the city.

Approved by voters in 2019, MAPS 4 is a $1.1 billion investment in projects designed to address residents' needs and improve the quality of life.

Work is moving forward on the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center, envisioned as both a museum honoring Oklahoma City’s civil rights history and a community gathering place. Construction also began on the Robert Ravitz Crisis Center, which will expand access to mental health and substance-use intervention resources.

Elsewhere in the city, MAPS 4 investments bring new youth centers, improvements to neighborhood parks, sidewalks and trails, beautification projects and transportation enhancements.

Parks

Youth Centers

Senior Wellness Centers

Mental Health and Addiction services

Family Justice Center operated by Palomar

Transit

Sidewalks, bike lanes, trails and streetlights

Homelessness services and housing

Downtown Arena and related facilities

New Animal Shelter

Fairgrounds Coliseum

Diversion Hub

Innovation District

Clara Luper Civil Rights Center

Beautification

Multipurpose Stadium

Some projects are already complete, others under construction and many more are moving forward in phases over the next several years. It’s all part of a program that puts more than 70% of its funding toward neighborhood and human needs.

From places that help us gather and play to resources that support residents when they need them most, the next chapter of MAPS is transforming our city and creating a better life those who call OKC home.

This Week in Oklahoma City (August 18-24)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

From big laughs and live music to a few unexpected ways to spend your weekend, there’s plenty to experience in OKC this week.

John Mulaney
August 20 | Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre

Get ready to laugh under the stars as Emmy Award-winning comedian John Mulaney brings his Mister Whatever tour to the Zoo Amphitheatre. Known for his sharp storytelling and unmistakable delivery, Mulaney takes the stage at one of OKC’s most iconic outdoor venues for a Thursday night filled with laughs.

La Traviata
August 20, 21 and 23 | Civic Center Music Hall

Experience one of opera’s most beloved works as Painted Sky Opera presents Verdi’s La Traviata. Performed in the intimate Little Theatre at Civic Center Music Hall, the timeless story follows the romance between Parisian courtesan Violetta and young nobleman Alfredo in a moving tale of love, sacrifice and societal expectations.

Braxton Keith
August 22 | The Criterion

Turn up the country music Saturday night when rising artist Braxton Keith brings his Real Damn Deal Tour to The Criterion. Known for a sound that draws inspiration from classic country and the ’90s era, the Texas singer-songwriter will take the Bricktown stage with special guest Cole Phillips.

Try Something Different
Various Times & Locations

Shake up your usual weekend plans with a new challenge or skill. Test your endurance at OUTLAST OKC, where runners tackle a 5K every hour for six hours, or slow things down Sunday afternoon with Mahjong + Mimosas at The Gilded Acorn, featuring an afternoon of tiles, bites and bubbly in the heart of downtown.

The MAPS Projects You Use Without Thinking About It

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Caught a baseball game in Bricktown? Spent a Saturday at Scissortail Park? Taken the streetcar to a concert?

MAPS made it happen.

For more than 30 years, Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Area Projects – better known as MAPS – have helped mold many of the places and experiences that are now part of everyday life in OKC.

The original MAPS program gave us landmarks like Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the Bricktown Canal and Paycom Center, while also investing in Civic Center Music Hall, the Ronald J. Norrick Downtown Library and improvements that transformed the Oklahoma River.

MAPS 3 continued that momentum with projects that focused on quality of life. Today, you can picnic or play at the 70-acre Scissortail Park, hop aboard the OKC Streetcar, attend an event at the Oklahoma City Convention Center – even go whitewater rafting (yes, you heard that right) in the heart of the city.

That last one has had an impact few could have imagined. MAPS 3 funded the whitewater center at RIVERSPORT, which opened in 2016 as a place for both recreational paddlers and elite athletes alike. In 2028, that same world-class venue will welcome athletes from around the globe when Oklahoma City hosts Olympic paddle slalom competition as part of the LA28 Games.

Over time, these projects have become more than a list of public investments. They’re places to meet friends, cheer on a team, get outside, see a show – and soon, watch Olympic history unfold.

Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Still need to check off a few summer bucket list items? Sometimes, the best experiences are hiding in the place you already call home.

This weekend, give yourself permission to experience Oklahoma City like one of the record-breaking 25 million visitors who traveled to OKC in 2025. No plane ticket or road trip required.

Start with that attraction you’ve always driven by but never explored. Spend an afternoon roaming through one of OKC’s districts, stopping into local shops and restaurants along the way. Seek out a mural you’ve seen in photos but never stopped to appreciate in person. Or go all in and book a local hotel for the true staycation experience.

One of the best parts of living in Oklahoma City is that there’s always something new to discover. Restaurants open, neighborhoods evolve, attractions add new experiences and longtime favorites give you plenty of reasons to return.

Check out more OKC inspo at VisitOKC.com, clear a few hours on your calendar and play tourist. You might discover something new — or simply rediscover what made you love OKC in the first place.

All Aboard: The OKC Streetcar Is Now Free

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Getting around downtown Oklahoma City just got even easier. The OKC Streetcar is now permanently fare-free, giving residents and visitors a convenient way to explore some of the city’s most popular places.

The move follows a free fare pilot program tested this summer, which showed just how much removing the cost could encourage people to ride. During this period, streetcar ridership increased 71% compared to the same month last year. Now, free fares are here to stay.

The streetcar connects more than 4.5 miles of downtown OKC, with stops throughout Downtown, Automobile Alley, Bricktown and Midtown.

Heading downtown for dinner? Park once and hop aboard to explore somewhere new afterward. Catching a Thunder game or concert? The streetcar can help you make an evening of it with a stop for drinks or dinner before the event.

For downtown employees, free streetcar service also opens more possibilities for the everyday moments – grabbing lunch a few blocks away, meeting a friend for coffee or exploring another part of downtown during the workday.

Find a stop, plan your route and rediscover downtown OKC. Your ride is covered!

Check out Visit OKC's guide to the streetcar here.

This Week in OKC (August 11-17)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

From Broadway and world-renowned masterpieces to live music and hands-on creative experiences, there are plenty of ways to see, hear and experience the arts in OKC this week.

Hamilton
August 11-22 | Civic Center Music Hall

Don’t throw away your shot to see Hamilton on stage in OKC! The Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical tells the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton through an unforgettable blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s cultural phenomenon brings history to life with a groundbreaking score, dynamic choreography, and a story of ambition, love and legacy.

The Sense of Beauty: Six Centuries of Painting from Museo de Arte de Ponce
Through September 20 | Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Travel through six centuries of art without leaving OKC. The Sense of Beauty brings 60 works from Puerto Rico’s Museo de Arte de Ponce to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, featuring European, Puerto Rican and North American artists. See masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, Francisco de Goya, John Singer Sargent and others alongside the museum’s iconic Flaming June by Frederic Leighton.

Uncovered: 90’s R&B
August 15 | Factory Obscura

Turn up the nostalgia at Factory Obscura with Uncovered: ’90s R&B. Local musicians will put their own spin on favorites from artists like Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Brian McKnight, while also performing original songs they think could have been hits in the ’90s. It’s an all-ages celebration of the R&B classics we’re still singing along to today.

Immerse Yourself in the Arts
Various Times & Locations

Why just watch the arts when you can join in? Get creative at a Paint & Sip with Impermanent State, step into the studio for a free Coffee and Class ballet session with Oklahoma City Ballet or bring your instrument to a Ukulele Jam at the American Banjo Museum. Whether you want to paint, dance or make some music, there’s an opportunity to flex your creative muscles this week.

Your Saturday, Planned: A Route 66 Adventure Through OKC

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Need a weekend plan? Here's one that blends iconic landmarks, local neighborhoods and plenty of reasons to fall in love with Oklahoma City.

As Route 66 celebrates its centennial in 2026, there's never been a better time to explore the Mother Road. Oklahoma is home to more than 400 miles of Route 66 — more than any other state — and OKC sits right along its path, making it easy to create your own road trip without ever leaving state lines.

Start your morning with coffee, then head out in search of some of OKC's most recognizable Route 66 landmarks. Snap a photo with the colorful Kicks 66 sculpture next to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, admire the Route 66 Shield mural in the Britton District and find the Route 66 Robot on NW 23rd Street.

By lunchtime, let the road guide you into one of the city's distinctive districts. Grab a bite in the Asian District, browse the local shops along Western Avenue or spend the afternoon exploring Uptown 23rd. If you're looking for something unexpected, stop by the Pigeon Museum, enjoy the scenic trails at Lake Overholser or tour the art collection at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

The best part? No two Route 66 Saturdays have to look the same. Every neighborhood offers its own personality, from the nightlife of the 39th Street District to the charm of Britton and the family-friendly attractions of the Adventure District.

Sometimes the best summer adventures aren't hours away — they're right here at home. This weekend, roll down the windows, turn up your favorite playlist and discover why life along Route 66 is still worth celebrating 100 years later.