A Better Life OKC Blog

Summer to Fall: Your September OKC Bucket List

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

September in Oklahoma City is a little bit of everything. Summer isn't quite finished, fall is just around the corner and the calendar is packed with plenty of reasons to get out and explore. Here are a few things to add to your OKC bucket list this month:

Catch one more summer sunset. Take an evening walk around Lake Hefner, spread out a blanket at Scissortail Park or find a patio and enjoy the last long evenings of the season.

Discover a new music festival. Bricktown turns up the volume Sept. 12 with the debut of Bandwagon: Bricktown Music Fest, a walkable, district-wide celebration of live music.

Celebrate OKC's cultures. Fiestas Patrias returns Sept. 13 with live music, dancing, food, family activities and cultural traditions celebrating Mexican Independence.

Make your annual State Fair visit. The Oklahoma State Fair returns Sept. 17-27 to OKC Fair Park. Come for the rides and entertainment and stay for the food.

Explore somewhere new. Pick an OKC district you don't visit often and make an afternoon of it. Grab coffee, browse a local shop, find a new restaurant or hunt down a piece of public art.

Get outside while the weather is changing. September is made for rediscovering OKC's parks and trails. Bike along the Oklahoma River, walk the trails around Lake Hefner or spend a morning exploring the gardens downtown.

Summer may be winding down, but Oklahoma City certainly isn't. Consider this your invitation to make the most of the month ahead.

Labor Day Weekend in OKC

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The unofficial end of summer is here, and a three-day weekend in Oklahoma City is the perfect excuse to make the most of it.

Friday: Start the weekend early. Clock out and kick off the long weekend with dinner on a patio, a walk through your favorite district or live music around town. At OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, the final Friday Fire Show of the summer lights up the Boardwalk Amphitheater at 9 p.m.

Saturday: Squeeze in one more summer adventure. Make this the day to get outside. Head to RIVERSPORT for whitewater rafting, surfing, tubing and more, or cool off at one of OKC's pools, splash pads or water attractions. OKANA is also sending off summer with a full day of beach activities, including a DJ, foam party and games, followed by line dancing and live country music that evening.

Sunday: Slow things down. Sleep in, grab brunch and spend the afternoon exploring. Take a walk through Scissortail Park or the Myriad Botanical Gardens, wander the shops and restaurants in a neighborhood district or finally visit that museum you've been meaning to see.

Monday: Enjoy the bonus day. There's no need to pack your schedule. Grab coffee, hit a trail or turn Labor Day into one last summer splash. Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving you another chance to get on the water before fall arrives.

Whether you're ready for one last splash, a night out or simply an extra day to explore, there's plenty happening around OKC this Labor Day weekend.

This Week in Oklahoma City (9/1 - 9/7)

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

What do you get when you cross the Labor Day holiday with the kickoff to college football in Oklahoma? A packed weekend that makes the perfect summer sendoff.

Explore watch parties and vintage finds to food fests and places to make one last splash of the season in Visit OKC’s Labor Day Weekend Guide.

FAM Night Market
September 5 | First Americans Museum

Drop by First Americans Museum and 39 Restaurant to shop from community vendors while enjoying live music, nutritious food and hands-on activities.

Time Travelers Vintage Expo
September 5 | Oklahoma City Convention Center

The most diverse traveling vintage market is coming to the OKC Convention Center. Attendees can expect to find a vintage wonderland with the absolute best in vintage clothing, home goods, retro-inspired handmade and more!

Food and Brew Festival
September 5-7 | Frontier City

Savor summer with world-class cuisine, craft beers, local music performances and your favorite Frontier City thrills.

Sundays on the Boardwalk
September 6 | OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

Keep the long weekend going at OKANA's Sundays on the Boardwalk. Spend the afternoon browsing a local vendor market, listening to live music and enjoying food and drink specials along the boardwalk, plus a wellness class to help you recharge before Labor Day.

College Football Watch Parties
Various Dates | Cloud Puncher at Lively Hotel

Cheer on the Oklahoma Sooners or Oklahoma State Cowboys during our College Football Watch Parties at Cloud Puncher Rooftop Bar & Restaurant.

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.