An event that was first organized in 1967 and is an annual spring highlight for Oklahoma City, the Festival of the Arts lasts for six days at its downtown venue. The Oklahoma City Council on the Arts sponsors this event, which takes place in Bicentennial Park in downtown Oklahoma City across from the Civic Center Music Hall. Visual artists from across the country combine with performance and culinary artists to present an incredible Oklahoma Spring Festival for the eyes and soul, as well as a true food feast.
The festival, which generally draws around 750,000 people, also features activities for the whole family.
Arts: visual, performance and culinary.
An all-inclusive arts event, the Oklahoma City Festival features much more than just visual art including sculpture, paintings, and furniture. There is also a wide variety of performance art with three stages of non-stop shows. And that doesn’t even include the amazing street entertainment.
The festival emphasizes the international flavors of Food Row, and each food vendor is associated with a local non-profit organization. You’ll find traditional favorites like Newport strawberries, Indian tacos, coyote chicken sandwiches, Baja tacos, and tequila bread pudding.
For the kids
This arts festival is not just for adults. Don’t worry.The kids won’t get bored. That’s because there is a lot specifically for families. By getting involved in the creations they see, children can create posters, explore pottery creation, and paint their faces. There is also a “Young-At-Art Mart” with affordable art purchases that is exclusively for children.
The 2018 festival
Admission to the 2018 Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts is free. It takes place from April 24 to 29, from Tuesday to Sunday. Tuesday through Saturday, hours are from 11 am to 9 pm Sunday hours are from 11 am to 6 pm
Nearby hotels and accommodations
You can choose from several nearby hotel options, all of which are less than a mile from Parque Bicentenario. Some possibilities, among the best in Oklahoma City, include:
- Hotel Colcord: The Colcord is a boutique hotel that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has many accolades. It was rated a AAA Four Diamond Award in 2017, was named Best Hotel in Oklahoma by Oklahoma Magazine in 2017, and was ranked # 4 on the Oklahoma News and World Report Best Hotels list of 2017.
- Sheraton Oklahoma City – The luxurious Sheraton hotel in downtown Oklahoma City is near the Bricktown entertainment district. It’s a posh venue with a Southwestern vibe that offers several dining options, including Block 23, Aria Lounge, and Library Coffee & Co.
- Renaissance Oklahoma City – This AAA four-diamond luxury hotel is close to Bricktown and the Oklahoma City National Monument and Museum. After the festival, relax in the cozy hotel bar at 10 North and choose from a wide variety of Scottish selections.
- Courtyard by Marriott: A less expensive but still nice option is the Courtyard by Marriott downtown. Located next to Bricktown, this hotel offers a daily breakfast buffet.
