For family fun, head to the annual Chuck Wagon Festival at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum each May. This fun-filled two days features chuck wagon food samples, First American food samples, butter-making, artisan demonstrations, bandanna decorating, live music, rope making with Ward Family Trick Ropers, Western re-enactors, face painting, children’s craft stations, photos with a longhorn, giant puzzles, dress up areas and more!
$15 per person Free for children 12 & under and Museum Members
Free for foster families, thanks to the Arnall Family Foundation
Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (each day)
Food
Returning for the second year, Native American food samples will be available at this year’s festival in Liichokoshkomo’, the Museum’s interactive outdoor addition showcasing the diversity of the West with inter-tribal native dwellings, a pioneer village and interactive natural history features. Visitors can chat with the chef and learn more about the histories and traditions of Native foods. Chuck Wagon cooks, several of whom are long-time festival participants, will travel from around Oklahoma and surrounding states to provide visitors with a taste of traditional cowboy cooking.
Activities
Visitors can also enjoy artisan demonstrations, a petting zoo, archery, hands-on craft stations and more. Back by popular demand are activities and demonstrations like ropemaking, flint knapping, painting, basket weaving, quilting and more. For the first time this year, the Museum education team will help families build a model of Prosperity Junction, The Cowboy’s old West town, entirely out of Legos. All crafts and activities are free with admission, except food from The Museum Grill and souvenirs from The Museum Store
Entertainment
Live entertainment at the event will include country and western dancing, live music performed by Rodeo Opry and on-stage Western reenactors. This year’s festivities will also feature a Native American Hunters Camp with re-enactors in period 1700s-era clothing and a dugout canoe demonstration, both new additions to Chuck Wagon.
