Shawnee
Around Shawnee
Photo: kennethaw88 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Oklahoma · 74k people
Shawnee
“Heart of Oklahoma”
Small-town heart, Oklahoma soul.
goldgreen
Welcome to Shawnee, where the prairie meets the lakes. Come for the chicken fried steak, stay for the friendly folks and the sound of the speedway on a Saturday night.
Clubs for Shawnee
No clubs for Shawnee yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Shawnee. 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 Shawnee. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Art from around the world
- Shawnee Historic Downtown Brick streets and local shops
- Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center Concerts and trade shows
- Pottawatomie County Fairgrounds Home of the county fair
- Shawnee Speedway Dirt track racing on weekends
- Lake Seminole Fishing and boating spot
- Outdoors Fishing at Lake Seminole
- Outdoors Boating at Lake Wewoka
- With kids Explore the historic downtown
- With kids Visit the Mabee-Gerrer Museum
- Evenings Live music at local bars downtown
- Evenings Shows at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo
- Locals love Lakes and fishing spots
- Locals love Historic downtown shops
Through the year
- Pottawatomie County Free Fair August August
- Shawnee Speedway racing season Spring–Fall Spring through fall
- Lake Seminole bass tournaments Spring Spring
- Downtown farmers market Summer Summer
- Heart of Oklahoma Expo concerts Year-round Year-round
Hot summers with frequent thunderstorms, mild springs and falls, and cold winters with occasional ice. Best: April–May and September–October
Getaways
- Oklahoma City Zoo, museums, and pro sports
- Ada Lake and charming downtown
- Stillwater Oklahoma State campus and college town
- Tulsa Art deco architecture and river parks
Local flavour
Rooting for Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA), Oklahoma State Cowboys (NCAA), Oklahoma City Dodgers (MiLB), Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL)
Eat and drink
- Chicken fried steak Classic Oklahoma comfort food
- Indian tacos
- Fried okra Southern staple
- Oklahoma-style BBQ Often with a sweet, tomato-based sauce
- Braum's Local dairy and burger chain, beloved across Oklahoma
- Sonic Drive-In Founded in Oklahoma, a drive-in classic
Where people go
- Lakes and fishing spots Local lakes for recreation and fishing
- Historic downtown Main Street with old buildings and local shops
- Oil fields Part of Oklahoma's petroleum history
- Prairie landscapes Rolling plains and open fields
Heritage and traditions
Shawnee is proud of its deep Native American heritage, home to the Citizen Potawatomi and Absentee Shawnee nations, and its oil-boom history that shaped the Heart of Oklahoma.
This time of year in Shawnee
- Sorghum harvest Fall Fall celebrates the local sorghum syrup with the Wewoka festival.
- Wewoka Sorghum Festival October Celebrates the town's historic sorghum syrup production with demonstrations and tastings.
Say it like a local: “Okay” — a word meaning 'all right' or 'yes', derived from the Choctaw language
Festivals
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation Family Reunion Festival & Powwow June A major gathering with traditional dances, food, and crafts celebrating Potawatomi culture.
- Wewoka Sorghum Festival October Celebrates the town's historic sorghum syrup production with demonstrations and tastings.
- Seminole Nation Days September Held in Wewoka, this event honors Seminole heritage with a parade, powwow, and arts.
Landmarks with a story
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center Showcases the history and culture of the Citizen Potawatomi people.
- Seminole Nation Museum Located in Wewoka, it preserves the history of the Seminole Nation and the oil boom.
- Wewoka Historic District Downtown Wewoka features early 20th-century architecture from the oil era.
- Absentee Shawnee Tribal Complex Administrative center for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, with cultural exhibits.
Food traditions
- Fry bread A staple at powwows and local events, often served with honey or as Indian tacos.
- Sorghum syrup Produced locally, especially in Wewoka, and used in baking and on pancakes.
Music and arts
- Traditional Native American beadwork and pottery Local artisans continue centuries-old traditions, with pieces sold at cultural events.
- Country and western music The area enjoys live country music at venues and festivals.
- Oil field folk art Sculptures and paintings inspired by the region's oil heritage.
A little history
- 1895 Shawnee was founded as a railroad town, named after the Shawnee tribe.
- 1920s The Seminole oil boom transformed the region, bringing rapid growth and prosperity.
- 1870s The Citizen Potawatomi were removed to Indian Territory and later established their headquarters in Shawnee.
Rivalries
- Shawnee High vs Tecumseh High Friday night football
- Oklahoma Sooners vs Oklahoma State Cowboys Bedlam rivalry
- Shawnee vs Seminole Bragging rights over lakes
- Lake fishing rivalries Who caught the biggest bass
- Game day High school football
- Outdoors Visiting the Citizen Potawatomi Nation's cultural grounds
- With kids Attending the powwow
- With kids Visiting the Seminole Nation Museum
Locals speak with a Southern drawl, often using 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. The accent is relaxed, and you'll hear words like 'howdy' and 'okay' that reflect Oklahoma's diverse heritage.
Only here
- The Citizen Potawatomi Nation's FireLake Grand Casino is a major local landmark.
- The Wewoka Sorghum Festival is one of the few sorghum celebrations in the state.
- Pottawatomie County is spelled with an extra 't' compared to the tribe's name.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for severe weather, especially tornadoes in spring; have a plan and a weather radio.
- Take time to learn about the local Native American tribes and their cultural events.
- Try fry bread at a powwow or local festival.
- Expect hot, humid summers and cold winters; dress in layers.
- Learn to pronounce 'Pottawatomie' (pot-uh-WOT-uh-mee) and 'Wewoka' (wee-WOH-kuh).
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Part of Oklahoma City area
Nearby
Every areaSeminoleOklahomaWhere the prairie meets the oil patchOklahoma CityOklahomaWhere the plains meet the sky and the storms roll in.AdaOklahomaLocal rooms for Ada.Arbuckle MountainsOklahomaWhere the springs run clear and the hills hold stories.StillwaterOklahomaCowboy spirit, small-town heart.KingfisherOklahomaGolden wheat, blue skies, and open heartsMcAlesterOklahomaWhere coal history meets lake lifeTulsaOklahomaGreen Country's vibrant heart
Shawnee, 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.