Last Updated on October 1, 2023, 7:27 AM | Published: September 30, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — The 24th Annual Plaza District Festival kicked off the morning of Saturday, September 30th, running from noon through the rest of the night.
The Plaza District on 16th Street is an Oklahoma City staple with its colorful murals, celebrated restaurants, and a warmth that speaks to the closeness of the Plaza community. There’s an undoubtable magnetism to this local revitalized district, which comes especially alive each fall at the annual Plaza District Festival.
This yearly festival is focused on the local community and is filled with opportunities to engage with local businesses, artists, musicians, and restaurants.
“We are so excited to bring the community to the Plaza and offer so much art and music,” Anna Farha Miller, co-chair of the Plaza District Festival, said.
Performances
One of the most anticipated aspects of the festival is the music, which comes as no surprise since the festival lineup is filled to the brim with a variety of local performers across several stages.
The Main Stage at 16th and Gatewood featured dancers, performers, and musicians from noon to 9:00 PM, with Oklahoma-based dream-punk band stepmom closing out the night. Plaza District Executive Director Rachael Leonhart said earlier in the day that she was looking forward to that final performance, especially since stepmom will soon be embarking on a tour during October.
Dance performances were also a large part of this year’s festivities. For the past two years, the Plaza District was home to the Calderon Dance Festival, which has ignited a desire to more prominently highlight dance at other annual events.
This year, Groovemeant, a street-style dance group, performed on the corner of 16th and Indiana, outside of Bad Granny’s Bazaar, from noon to 9:00 pm.
The ACM@UCO Stage is located by 16th and Blackwelder and featured even more music from Indie artists, electronic musicians, and more from 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Sofar Sounds, which is known for its pop-up concerts in obscure locations across the world, had its own stage at Plaza Fest in the Plaza Backyard behind Aurora with music from 5:15 pm to 7:30 pm.
There was one indoor stage for anyone looking to catch a late-night show. Grand Royale is a dive bar that has only opened within the past year and is already featuring over 20 performances from musicians, drag performers, and more each month. They showcased local music from 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Grand Royale was not the only late-night hang for a Plaza Fest after-party.
Rad Bar, which is a bar from the mind of the Plaza Walls’ Kristopher Kanaly and Empire Slice House, the Plaza District’s New York-style Pizza staple, stayed open until midnight.
“I am really excited about the fact that nightlife has made a comeback in the plaza,” Leonhart said. “When the festival ends, there’s actually stuff to do in the plaza district until it’s closing time all across the city. We’re keeping the party going.”
In addition to performances, 16th Street had activities for people of all ages. The Kids area, located in the Everything Goes Dance parking lot on 16th and Gatewood had activities all day like a bounce house, cornhole, balloon animals, face painting, and more. Plus, from 3:00-4:00 PM, Joe Coover brings his magic show to the kids’ area. And fan-favorites, the OKC Ghostbusters were posing for pictures with their Ectomobile.
A festival isn’t complete without vibrant and varying vendors. Lining the Plaza District were more than 30 artist vendors with everything from photography, pottery, jewelry, and more.
Paige Gaglio, an Oklahoma-based ceramic artist set up her booth at Plaza Fest for the third year in a row along with fellow ceramicist Cecelia Otero. Paige said it’s the only festival she will sell at because her experience has been so positive.
Teresa Haderer, the artist behind the Painted Surface (named for its use of texture) is also set up as one of many Plaza District vendors. She’s been painting for 8 years and is a resident artist at 3Sixty Restaurant and Bar.
In addition to the art that’s for sale, the buildings themselves boast impressive works of art year-round on the “Plaza Walls,” a collaboration between the Oklahoma Mural Syndicate and the Plaza District. On Saturday, artists gathered to finish their work on the murals, coming from down the street and across the nation, bringing their talents right to the walls of the Plaza District. Over 40 different artists are featured on the Plaza Walls.
Attendees could walk through the backs of the Plaza businesses to view some of the painting being done live, and some already finished. There was also live entertainment and DJs to keep the Plaza energy alive through the murals.
Oklahoma-based artists Cara Rich and Lauren Mitchell collaborated together on a Plaza Walls mural. They said this festival gives artists a good amount of flexibility on what they’d like to create, and, for some artists, this is the biggest canvas they’re given.
“It gives us the opportunity to truly express ourselves,” Rich said.
There was also no shortage of food options with vendors like Big Biang Theory, Ohmygogi, and Let’s Do Greek. Drink vendors like Anthem Brewing are serving drinks, and Queer-owned, Oklahoma-based non-alcoholic beverage company Mood BrÜ is serving non-alcoholic drinks at the corner of 16th and Indiana.
For those who would rather enjoy a meal inside, the Plaza District is home to several iconic restaurants like Ma Der Lao Kitchen, home of James Beard finalist chef Jeff Chanchaleune.
For another indoor event, the Let’s Fix This civics panel was held inside OKC Improv at 4:00 pm with Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon, Senator Kay Floyd, and Representative Mauree Turner, moderated by Let’s Fix This’s Andy Moore.
The Plaza District’s Lyric Theatre showed one of the last performances of Concerto. As an added perk, attendees of the performance had parking reserved across from Empire Pizza.
Experience Local Together
One of the things that stands out about the Plaza District Festival is the way the entire district comes together, placing an emphasis on local enthusiasm, partnering with organizations like Let’s Fix This OK and Rock the Native Vote.
The motto for the Plaza District is ‘Experience Local Together,’” Leonhart said. “There is power and deep economic impact in doing this festival.”
Leonhart also said this day, even more than the Holidays, is the most successful day for sales for many of the brick-and-mortar shops.
Amanda Martinez, owner of Punk and DIY-centered boutique store Dig It!, said they were ready for the busiest day of the year and were excited to welcome in familiar faces and introduce new customers.
Even more than in years passed, this passion for supporting local businesses holds more power after a global pandemic.
“I don’t think we talk enough about the effects of the pandemic,” Leonhart said. “Community festivals are so important because of the physiological effect of everything that our community has been going through the past few years. It’s so important to offer some kind of time when people don’t have to worry about anything else besides having a good time. That, to me, is what Plaza Festival is all about.”
With food, drinks, all-ages activities, music, art, and dance, this festival had something for everyone, but, more than that, it was a chance to connect with the hardworking artists and business owners in Oklahoma City.
Zoe Travers has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks. She is also Oklahoma City’s most enthusiastic connoisseur of cheese danishes.
