Tulsa

Around Tulsa

Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Oklahoma · 1.1M people

Tulsa

Locals say Green Country · “T-Town”, “Oil Capital of the World”

Green Country's vibrant heart

Old GoldTulsa Blue

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Welcome to Tulsa! You'll find a friendly mix of art deco charm, riverfront fun, and down-home barbecue. Whether you're here for the music, the trails, or just to soak up Green Country, you're in the right place.

Clubs for Tulsa

No clubs for Tulsa yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Tulsa. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Tulsa. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Gathering Place Expansive riverfront park with playgrounds, gardens, and trails.
  • Philbrook Museum of Art Art museum in a historic villa with beautiful gardens.
  • Tulsa Zoo Large zoo with a variety of exhibits and a train.
  • Gilcrease Museum Museum of American art and history, set on a hilltop.
  • BOK Center Downtown arena hosting concerts and sports.
  • Cain's Ballroom Historic music venue known for its dance floor and live acts.
  • Outdoors Walk or bike the Gathering Place trails
  • Outdoors Hike Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness
  • With kids Tulsa Zoo
  • With kids Discovery Lab
  • Evenings Catch a show at Cain's Ballroom
  • Evenings Bar-hop in the Blue Dome District
  • Locals love Art Deco districts
  • Locals love Riverfront parks

Through the year

  • Tulsa State Fair September-October Oklahoma's largest fair with rides, livestock, and concerts.
  • Tulsa Mayfest May Downtown arts festival with live music, food, and crafts.
  • Tulsa Tough June Three-day criterium bike race drawing national pros.
  • Blue Dome Arts Festival May Street festival in the Blue Dome District with local art and music.
  • Tulsa International Film Festival October Showcase of independent films from around the world.

Humid subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. Expect frequent spring storms. Best: April-May and September-October are ideal with mild temps and low humidity.

Talk like a local

“T-town”
Nickname for Tulsa
“Green Country”
The region's nickname, referencing lush vegetation
“Coney”
A Coney Island hot dog, a local staple
“The GP”
The Gathering Place park

Getaways

  • Bartlesville See Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower and Woolaroc Museum.
  • Muskogee Visit the Castle of Muskogee and Honor Heights Park.
  • Stillwater Catch an Oklahoma State game and explore campus.
  • Tahlequah Float the Illinois River and explore the Ozark foothills.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Tulsa Drillers MiLB (Double-A)
  • Tulsa Oilers ECHL

Also rooting for Oklahoma State Cowboys (NCAA, nearby Stillwater), Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA, nearby Norman)

Eat and drink

  • Coney Island hot dogs (Coney I-lander style) A local institution with a distinct chili and mustard topping.
  • Chicken fried steak A Southern staple, often served with cream gravy.
  • Oklahoma-style barbecue Slow-smoked meats, often with a sweet and tangy sauce.

Where people go

  • Art Deco districts Downtown Tulsa has one of the finest collections of Art Deco architecture in the US.
  • Riverfront parks The Arkansas River and parks like the Gathering Place offer outdoor gathering spots.
  • Live music venues From Cain's Ballroom to local honky-tonks, music is a way of life.
  • Barbecue joints Smoke-filled, casual spots serving slow-cooked meats.

Heritage and traditions

Tulsa is proud of its oil-boom heritage, stunning Art Deco architecture, and the resilience of the Greenwood District, once known as Black Wall Street. The city also celebrates its Native American roots and its role as a birthplace of Western swing and the Tulsa Sound.

This time of year in Tulsa

  • Tulsa Oktoberfest September-October A fall tradition with beer, bratwurst, and polka music.
  • Tulsa Roots Music Festival Fall A fall showcase of Americana and blues.
  • Tulsa Oktoberfest September-October One of the largest Oktoberfests in the region, featuring German food, music, and beer.
  • Tulsa Roots Music Festival Fall A showcase of Americana, blues, and folk music at various venues.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something.

Festivals

  • Tulsa Oktoberfest September-October One of the largest Oktoberfests in the region, featuring German food, music, and beer.
  • Tulsa Greek Festival June A celebration of Greek heritage with food, dancing, and church tours.
  • Tulsa St. Patrick's Day Parade March A lively parade and street festival with green beer and Irish music.
  • Tulsa Pride June A vibrant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with a parade and festival.
  • Tulsa Christmas Parade December A holiday tradition with floats, bands, and Santa, drawing thousands downtown.
  • Tulsa Roots Music Festival Fall A showcase of Americana, blues, and folk music at various venues.

Landmarks with a story

  • Boston Avenue United Methodist Church A stunning Art Deco masterpiece, considered one of the finest examples of the style in the U.S.
  • Greenwood Cultural Center A museum and cultural hub commemorating the historic Black Wall Street district.
  • Cain's Ballroom Known as the home of Western swing, this dance hall hosted Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
  • Tulsa Historical Society and Museum Preserves the city's history through exhibits and archives in a historic mansion.
  • Harwelden Mansion A 1920s English Tudor mansion, now a venue for events and cultural gatherings.
  • Mayo Hotel A grand 1920s hotel that hosted celebrities and oil barons, now restored.

Food traditions

  • Fry bread and Indian tacos A staple at powwows and Native American events, reflecting the region's tribal heritage.
  • Oklahoma onion burgers A regional classic where onions are pressed into the patty, served on a bun with mustard and pickles.
  • Fried pies Hand-held pastries filled with fruit or meat, popular at local bakeries and festivals.
  • Sweet tea A Southern staple, often served over ice with meals, especially at barbecue joints.
  • Coney Island hot dogs A Tulsa institution, with a unique chili sauce and mustard, served at classic stands.

Music and arts

  • Tulsa Sound A genre blending rock, country, and blues, pioneered by artists like Leon Russell.
  • Western swing A dance-oriented style popularized by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys at Cain's Ballroom.
  • Greenwood jazz A historic jazz scene in the Greenwood District, celebrated at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
  • Tulsa Ballet A professional ballet company known for innovative performances.

A little history

  • 1901 Oil discovered at Red Fork
  • 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre destroys Greenwood District
  • 1920s-1930s Art Deco construction boom
  • 1950s Tulsa Sound music scene emerges
  • 1960s Civil rights movement and rebuilding of Greenwood

Rivalries

  • Jenks vs Union high school football The biggest prep rivalry in the state.
  • Bedlam Series (OU vs OSU) Local fans split between the two colleges.
  • Tulsa Drillers vs Arkansas Travelers Minor league baseball rivalry with nearby Little Rock.
  • Game day Friday night high school football
  • Game day Tailgating at TU Golden Hurricane football games
  • Outdoors Float the Illinois River
  • Outdoors Visit the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
  • With kids The Blue Whale of Catoosa
  • With kids The Center of the Universe

Tulsans speak a Southern-influenced Oklahoma English with a gentle drawl. They frequently use 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and often refer to soft drinks as 'pop.' Highway numbers are preceded by 'the,' as in 'the 44.'

Only here

  • The Center of the Universe, an acoustic anomaly where your voice echoes back loudly from a small circle on the ground.
  • The Blue Whale of Catoosa, a giant concrete whale on Route 66 that's a beloved roadside attraction.
  • Tulsa has one of the largest collections of Art Deco architecture outside of Miami, with over 100 buildings.
  • The Golden Driller, a 75-foot-tall oil worker statue, stands guard over the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
New here? A few tips
  • Embrace the weather: summers are hot and humid, winters can be cold with occasional ice storms. Always keep an umbrella and a jacket handy.
  • Learn to say 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'—you'll fit right in.
  • Drive on the 'the 44' (I-44) and expect traffic during rush hours, especially on the Broken Arrow Expressway.
  • Try a Coney Island hot dog with mustard and onions at a local stand—it's a Tulsa rite of passage.
  • Visit the Gathering Place on a sunny day; it's a world-class park that locals love.

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Part of Tulsa area

Nearby

Every area
Grand LakeOklahomaBig water, small towns, wide skies.BartlesvilleOklahomaWhere the prairie meets the skyMuskogeeOklahomaWhere azaleas bloom and the river runs wide.Lake EufaulaOklahomaWhere the lake meets the prairieVinitaOklahomaWhere the Mother Road winds through Green Country.StillwaterOklahomaCowboy spirit, small-town heart.TahlequahOklahomaRiver town, Cherokee heartPonca CityOklahomaBig skies, warm hearts, and a taste of the prairie.

Tulsa, 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.

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