Oklahoma City
Around Oklahoma City
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Oklahoma · 1.5M people
Oklahoma City
“OKC”, “The Big Friendly”
Where the plains meet the sky and the storms roll in.
Oklahoma City Thunder BlueOklahoma Sooners CrimsonThunder Yellow
Welcome to Oklahoma City! Whether you're here for the Thunder, the cattle, or the amazing food, you'll find a warm Sooner State welcome. Grab an onion burger and head to Bricktown.
Clubs for Oklahoma City
No clubs for Oklahoma City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Oklahoma City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Oklahoma City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Bricktown Entertainment district with canal, restaurants, and nightlife.
- Stockyards City Historic cattle district with western shops and auctions.
- Lake Hefner Reservoir with trails, sailing, and scenic views.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial Memorial to the 1995 bombing, with museum and reflecting pool.
- Oklahoma City Zoo Large zoo with diverse habitats and exhibits.
- Science Museum Oklahoma Interactive science museum with a planetarium.
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Lake Hefner trails
- Outdoors Kayak on the Oklahoma River
- With kids Visit the Oklahoma City Zoo
- With kids Explore Science Museum Oklahoma
- Evenings Bar-hop in Bricktown
- Evenings Catch live music in the Plaza District
- Locals love Patio bars in Bricktown
- Locals love Farmers markets
Through the year
- State Fair of Oklahoma September Huge annual fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon April Runs through downtown and past the National Memorial.
- Festival of the Arts April Outdoor art and food festival in Bicentennial Park.
- DeadCenter Film Festival June Annual film festival showcasing independent movies.
- OKC Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with local produce and crafts.
Hot, dry summers and mild winters with frequent spring storms. Best times are April–May and October. Best: April–May and October
Talk like a local
- “OKC”
- Shorthand for Oklahoma City.
- “The Big Friendly”
- Nickname for the city, referencing its friendly vibe.
- “Bricktown”
- The downtown entertainment district.
- “Stockyards”
- The historic cattle district.
Getaways
- Shawnee Visit the historic downtown and Mabee-Gerrer Museum.
- Stillwater See Oklahoma State campus and the Botanic Garden.
- Weatherford Check out the Stafford Air & Space Museum.
- Enid Explore the historic downtown and the Enid Symphony.
Local flavour
Teams
- Oklahoma City Thunder NBA
- Oklahoma Sooners NCAA Division I
- Oklahoma Sooners NCAA Division I
- Oklahoma City Dodgers MiLB (Triple-A)
Eat and drink
- Onion burger A local specialty, flattened and grilled with onions, popularized in the Depression era.
- Chicken fried steak A Southern staple, often served with cream gravy, found across the metro.
- Oklahoma-style BBQ Slow-smoked meats, often with a tomato-based sauce, distinct from Texas or KC styles.
- Braum's A regional chain founded in Oklahoma, known for fresh ice cream, burgers, and dairy products.
- Fried okra
Where people go
- Bricktown The city's entertainment district, with canals, restaurants, and the ballpark.
- Stockyards City Historic cattle district with western wear, steakhouses, and the world's largest stocker cattle market.
- Lake Hefner A large reservoir popular for sailing, cycling, and sunset views.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial A memorial and museum commemorating the 1995 bombing, a place of reflection and resilience.
Heritage and traditions
Oklahoma City is proud of its frontier spirit, from the Land Run to the oil boom, and its resilience after the 1995 bombing. Locals celebrate their cowboy and Native American heritage, the Thunder and Sooners, and a friendly, down-to-earth culture that welcomes newcomers.
This time of year in Oklahoma City
- Fall art walks Fall The Paseo and Plaza districts hold special art walks in autumn.
- OU football Saturdays Fall Fall brings a sea of crimson and cream as Sooners fans tailgate and cheer.
- Yukon Czech Festival October October, celebrates Czech heritage with food, music, and a parade.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — getting ready to do something
Festivals
- Paseo Arts Festival May Memorial Day weekend, features local artists, live music, and food in the historic Paseo District.
- Red Earth Festival June June, celebrates Native American art, dance, and culture with a large market and powwow.
- Edmond Jazz Festival April April, free outdoor jazz concerts in downtown Edmond.
- Yukon Czech Festival October October, celebrates Czech heritage with food, music, and a parade.
- Norman Medieval Fair Spring March/April, a spring fair with jousting, crafts, and period entertainment.
- Oklahoma City Greek Festival September September, offers Greek food, dancing, and cultural exhibits.
Landmarks with a story
- Oklahoma State Capitol The only state capitol with an active oil well on its grounds, symbolizing the state's oil heritage.
- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Celebrates the American cowboy, rodeo, and Western art, a major cultural landmark.
- Overholser Mansion Built in 1903, it's a fine example of Victorian architecture and the home of a city founder.
- Skirvin Hotel A historic downtown hotel opened in 1911, known for its elegance and ghost stories.
- Deep Deuce The historic African American neighborhood, once a thriving jazz and business district.
- Oklahoma History Center Museum covering Oklahoma's history from Native American tribes to the present.
Food traditions
- Indian tacos A Native American specialty with fry bread topped with seasoned ground beef, beans, lettuce, and cheese, served at powwows and local diners.
- Kolaches Czech pastries filled with fruit or sausage, a staple in Yukon and other Czech-heritage communities.
- Fried pies Hand-held pies with fruit or meat fillings, often sold at festivals and roadside stands.
- Chicken fried chicken A variation of chicken fried steak, breaded and fried, served with cream gravy.
- Soul food The historic Deep Deuce neighborhood was a hub for African American culture, with restaurants serving fried chicken, greens, and cornbread.
Music and arts
- Red Dirt music A genre blending country, rock, and folk, with roots in Oklahoma, though more associated with Stillwater, it's influential in the metro.
- The Flaming Lips An experimental rock band from OKC, known for elaborate live shows and psychedelic sound.
- Oklahoma City Philharmonic The city's professional orchestra, performing at the Civic Center Music Hall.
- Paseo Arts District A neighborhood of galleries and studios, hosting monthly art walks.
A little history
- 1889 Oklahoma Land Run
- 1920s Oil boom transformed the city
- 1930s Dust Bowl era brought migration and hardship
- 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and memorial
- 1990s-2000s MAPS projects revitalized downtown
Rivalries
- OU vs. OSU (Bedlam Series) Fierce college rivalry across all sports.
- OU vs. Texas (Red River Showdown) Annual football game in Dallas, but big in OKC.
- Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks NBA division rivalry with a Texas neighbor.
- Game day Sooner football tailgating
- Game day Thunder tip-off rituals
- Outdoors Fishing at Lake Hefner
- Outdoors Boating on the Oklahoma River
- With kids Oklahoma Railway Museum
- With kids Sam Noble Museum in Norman
Oklahomans speak with a Southern Plains accent, often with a gentle drawl. They use 'y'all' for plural 'you,' say 'fixin' to' for 'about to,' and might call a soda 'pop.' The tone is friendly and unhurried.
Only here
- The only state capitol with an oil well on its grounds.
- The Stockyards City is the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market.
- The Oklahoma City Memorial is a powerful tribute to the 1995 bombing victims.
- The Bricktown Canal offers a unique downtown waterway with restaurants and entertainment.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for tornadoes: learn the difference between a watch and a warning, and know your storm shelter plan.
- Summer is hot and humid; stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Traffic can be heavy on I-35 and I-40, especially during rush hour; plan accordingly.
- Try an onion burger from a local drive-in—it's a regional classic.
- Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial to understand the city's resilience.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Oklahoma City area
Nearby
Every areaShawneeOklahomaSmall-town heart, Oklahoma soul.KingfisherOklahomaGolden wheat, blue skies, and open heartsAnadarkoOklahomaLand of red earth and the powwow drum.SeminoleOklahomaWhere the prairie meets the oil patchStillwaterOklahomaCowboy spirit, small-town heart.Arbuckle MountainsOklahomaWhere the springs run clear and the hills hold stories.WeatherfordOklahomaBig skies, warm hearts, and the spirit of the prairie.EnidOklahomaWhere the prairie meets the wheat.
Oklahoma City, OK. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.