May 04 Saturday
Attend the Fried Onion Burger Day Festival in downtown El Reno to witness the cooking of the world's largest fried onion hamburger, weighing over 850 lbs. This annual event is a tribute to the popular fried onion hamburgers that have been cooked daily in diners and cafes throughout El Reno since the early 1900s.
An all-American event, the El Reno Fried Onion Burger Day Festival traces its origins back to Ross Davis, who owned and operated the Hamburger Inn on Route 66 in downtown El Reno. During the Depression, when onions were cheap but meat was expensive, Davis began adding shredded onion to five-cent meat patties in order to make the burgers look bigger. What resulted on the grill of the Hamburger Inn was a hamburger with a tremendous amount of flavor and the birth of a local tradition and delicacy.
In celebration of El Reno's unique slice of Americana, it was decided that the city's Fried Onion Burger Day Festival would revolve around the cooking of the world's largest fried onion hamburger. Come and watch as a 12-ft convection oven and a 10-ft circular grill cooks, rises, flips and lowers 250 lbs. of beef, 150 lbs. of onion and 350 lbs. of bun layered with mustard and pickles. Watch in amazement as this tasty behemoth is created, then stick around to help eat the massive burger. Volunteers will be on hand to divide the giant burger into individual portions and pass them out to hungry festival-goers for free.
This El Reno festival, which attracts over 20,000 visitors each year, also includes games, live entertainment and more. Browse rows of classic cars in the festival's car and motorcycle show, or enjoy shopping for handmade goods and merchandise in a wide variety of craft and vendor booths. Clowns and magicians will be on hand to entertain the kids, while a burger eating contest invites participants to chow down on delicious onion burgers in the hopes of claiming the top prize.
Dine on authentic German fare, listen to live polka music and watch as skilled folk dancers grace the stage at the annual Germanfest in Tulsa. Held at the German-American Society of Tulsa (GAST) Event Center, Germanfest is a fun-filled, family-friendly festival that invites all ages out to celebrate and learn about German culture. Entertainment will include polka band and folk dancers. Snack on polish or smoked bratwurst piled high with sauerkraut on a bun or try the savory schnitzel sandwich.
The three-day event will also feature numerous children's activities and the traditional crowning of the May Queen, a German ritual dating back to pagan times. There is plenty of on-site parking, and everyone is invited to have a great time at Germanfest. You won't want to miss this fun cultural extravaganza in Tulsa.
May 05 Sunday
See hundreds of orchids on show and for sale at Oklahoma Orchid Society’s “Close Encounters—with Orchids” Spring 2024 Show & Sale, the Society’s AOS-sanctioned event of the year. This two-day Show & Sale will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 & 5, from 10am to 4pm at Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK. Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to the public.
Vendors will have hundreds of beautiful orchids from around the world for sale, and OOS will have growing supplies for sale. Be sure to stop at the Welcome Booth to speak with OOS members about growing and re-blooming orchids, ask questions, purchase raffle tickets, engage your children in an orchid scavenger hunt, and learn how to become a member of the Society. Come, have a “close encounter with orchids”!
For additional information, visit okOrchidSociety.org. Oklahoma Orchid Society is a member of Oklahoma Garden Clubs, Inc.
The annual Trail of Tears Art Show, hosted on the grounds of Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, presents authentic Native American art in one of Oklahoma's oldest art shows. Open to artists from all federally recognized Native American tribes, the Trail of Tears Art Show displays a wide range of creativity and artistic style. This diverse art show attracts artists, art dealers and visitors from across the nation.
One of the most prestigious multi-tribal art shows in the country, the Trail of Tears Art Show began as a means of cultivating the art form of painting as a way of expressing Native American heritage within the Cherokee Nation. Peruse this year's Trail of Tears Art Show and view categories that historically have included basketry, pottery, graphics, sculpture, miniatures and the annual "Trail of Tears" theme.
The Stillwater Public Library and the local chapter of the League of Women Voters present a special screening and panel discussion of the documentary “Who She Is” (2022, 37m) on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. The film highlights the individual stories of four women caught in the national epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). Register & learn more at stillwaterok.gov/Library.
Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion led by individuals working to bring awareness to the topic and help change how Oklahoma handles these cases, including LaRenda Morgan (Governmental Affairs Officer for Cheyenne & Arapaho tribes & integral to passing Ida's Law) and Special Agent Josh Patzkowski (OSBI's liaison for missing & murdered Indigenous people).
The documentary was co-directed by Jordan Dresser and Sophie Barksdale and produced by Caldera Productions. The film was made possible with funding from the Wyoming Division of Victim Services on behalf of the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force. More information about the film can be found at CalderaProductions.com/WhoSheIs.
May 06 Monday
The OSU Division of Research partners with Stillwater's Iron Monk Brewery to host a community engagement event with guest experts from a wide range of research fields. Researchers from all discipline areas join the Vice President for Research to have a conversation regarding their work and the impact it has on the community. This event is open to the public - and community members are encouraged to attend!
May 07 Tuesday
Join us May 7-9, 2024 for this virtual event, featuring live and on-demand sessions centered on ways to ignite change together using our Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony, and Ties (also known as the 5Ts of Philanthropy)We Give Summit features 40+ incredible speakers including: Deepa Iyer, Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project; Dan Pallotta, Activist, TED Speaker & Author of Uncharitable; and Baratunde Thurston, Writer, Activist, & Host of How to Citizen PodcastAll sessions are FREE. Donate $50 or more when registering and you’ll receive swag in the mail, including a copy of Infectious Generosity by TED’s Chris Anderson and a card game to help you activate the 5Ts (while supplies last!). Register today at https://WeGiveSummit.org