OKLAHOMA CITY — While Labor Day has traditionally been treated as the end of summer, we know better in Oklahoma. The heat is likely going to stick around right up until winter, and nothing meteorological will change much after Monday’s holiday.
But even if Labor Day in OKC doesn’t really represent any ceremonial changing of the seasons, it does signal the transition toward the year’s latter months and largely marks the end of the outdoor summer event period.
So of course, there’s no better time to get outside and enjoy it while you still can with the time-honored cookouts and lake days that’ll be filling most Oklahomans’ schedules.
But if you’re looking to stay in town and soak up the events and city culture on offer all weekend long, we’ve got you covered right here.
OKC Philharmonic presents: Marvelous Music of the Movies – Sunday, September 3rd – 8:30 pm
By now, it’s a given that the best outdoor weekend events in the city are the free Scissortail Park performances from the Oklahoma City Philharmonic led by Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, showcasing the transcendence of a finely tuned live orchestra alongside fireworks or late summer sunsets.
For the Labor Day Weekend performance, however, they’re taking things in a slightly different direction by presenting a full program of songs and scores from beloved movie classics and fan-favorite films, featuring vocals by hometown hero Graham Colton.
If your Labor Day proper on Monday is set to be full of sizzling grills and rock-n-roll, then consider relaxing in the park and taking in this symphonic cinema showcase the evening before.
For more information, visit okcphil.org.
Pooch Pals Adoption Event – Core4 Brewing – Saturday, September 2nd – 5:30 pm
There’s no better buddy for hanging around the grill or splashing around in the pool on Labor Day than a loving canine companion, and if you need one in your life (or need another one!) the Edmond-based Pooch Pals Foundation will be hosting an adoption drive at Core4 on Saturday.
It’s always better to adopt than to buy from a store or seller when getting a new pet, and Pooch Pals is making it easy with local animals all looking for homes available to meet right in the heart of Film Row.
Also, Shepp’s BBQ & Burgers will be on hand to get the Labor Day eats off to a perfect start (and to get the dogs all excited from the meat smells.)
For more information, visit poochpalsfoundation.org and core4brewing.com.
ReaderCon 2023 – Renaissance Waterford Hotel – Monday, September 4th – All Day
The 2023 installment of WriterCon runs all weekend long, with panels, meetups, and events for aspiring writers of all types and ages.
But on Labor Day, WriterCon becomes ReaderCon, a full day of free events for book lovers and readers to meet the visiting writers for signings, seminars, discussions, live readings, and more.
Headline writers on hand this year include New York Times bestsellers Lisa Gardner and Tosca Lee, among a host of others.
Oh, and of course there’s also an open spelling bee, so if you think you can still out-spell anyone, here’s your chance to prove it.
To register, and for more information, visit writercon.com/readercon.
Group Rides with The Bike Lab OKC – Monday, September 4th – 7:00 am and 6:00 pm
With bicycle-focused infrastructure finally on the rise and becoming more of a reality in OKC (and with gas prices surging yet again,) there’s been no better time to get into the city’s ever-developing biking community.
To that end, The Village-based bike shop and cycling community leader, The Bike Lab OKC, hosts a full schedule of open “group rides,” encouraging both veteran and novice riders to come together and take in some of the city’s trails together.
The early morning Labor Day ride is open to all riders and features a 42-mile path that visits lakes and trails around the city before a stop at Harvey Bakery on NW 13th for coffee and breakfast.
In the evening, there’ll be a special Labor Day “women’s ride” hosted by The Bike Lab and OKC Velo Women’s Cycling Club to bring bike-riding women together for a shorter, learner-friendly 17-mile ride with drinks after provided by Stonecloud Brewing.
For more information, visit thebikelabokc.com.
Rocklahoma – Pryor, OK – Friday, September 1st through Sunday, September 3rd
Of course, we’d be remiss if not to mention the biggest Labor Day Weekend party in the state. Maybe in the country, even.
It’s two hours away, it’s hot, muggy, and muddy, and it’s three straight days and nights of enough headbanging to do some serious neck damage, but if you’re a diehard of the rock and metal of the late-90s, then there’s nowhere you’d rather be this weekend.
Just don’t forget to hydrate.
For tickets and more information, visit rocklahoma.com.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
