OKLAHOMA CITY — The 2023 Folklife Festival will be held inside the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
This festival is designed to engage visitors with opportunities to experience other cultures and traditions. Visitors are there to participate in the activities, not just observe. This community-wide event will celebrate and recognize what the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has called “the everyday and intimate creativity that all of us share and pass on to the next generation.” The “creativity” mentioned will come in the form of dancing, singing, crafts, food and more. A variety of food vendors, musical performers and educational resources will be present to offer their time and talents. There will also be several craft opportunities for attendees of all ages.
This program is funded in part by Oklahoma Humanities (OH) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily represent those of OH or NEH.
This project is supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides hundreds of grants to organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural sector, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.
This event is also sponsored in part by the Inasmuch Foundation.
The 2023 Folklife Festival will coincide with the annual sale put on by the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Research Division. It will feature thousands of rare and out-of-print books, magazines, comics and vinyl records. Visitors can shop for collectibles, puzzles and Oklahoma playing cards. Reproductions of historic posters, maps, photographs and more will be available. The Oklahoma History Center’s Museum Store will also have a sale on books and items made in Oklahoma during the Folklife Festival. There is no admission required to visit either sale. All proceeds from both sales help fund and support the missions and programs of the Oklahoma History Center and Oklahoma Historical Society. Family memberships to the OHS will also be on sale for $50.
The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call 405-522-0765 or visit www.okhistory.org/historycenter for admission costs and group rates.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.