Things to Do in Oklahoma This Weekend: Sept. 25-27
Things to Do in Oklahoma This Weekend: State Fair, Festivals, Powwow and Family Events
From the final weekend of the Oklahoma State Fair to bluegrass music, hot air balloons and one seriously spicy competition, there are plenty of things to do in Oklahoma this weekend. Events scheduled for Friday through Sunday, September 25-27, include options in Oklahoma City, Tahlequah, Owasso, Arcadia and Marble City.
Several of this weekend’s events are free to attend, making it possible to plan a day trip or family outing without spending much beyond food and transportation. Here are some of the highlights happening around the state.
Things to Do in Oklahoma This Weekend: Festivals and Celebrations
The biggest event of the weekend remains the Oklahoma State Fair, which wraps up its 2026 run Sunday at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.
The fair includes carnival rides, livestock competitions, exhibits, concerts, shopping and, of course, the annual collection of fair food. Visitors can check the Oklahoma State Fair schedule and ticket information before heading to the fairgrounds for the final weekend.
In Tahlequah, the Bluegrass and Chili Festival takes over downtown Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27.
The free festival combines live bluegrass music on three stages with a chili cook-off and car show, giving visitors a full weekend of entertainment in northeastern Oklahoma.
Saturday also brings the 4th Annual Owasso Cherokee Organization Powwow to Redbud Festival Park at 109 N. Main Street in Owasso.
Activities begin at 11 a.m. September 26, with traditional dancing, singing and community fellowship celebrating Cherokee culture and heritage. Admission is free.
For an early Sunday outing, Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch in Arcadia hosts the Route 66 Balloon Festival beginning at 7 a.m. September 27.
The event combines morning hot air balloon activities with the seasonal attractions at the pumpkin patch. Admission and ticket requirements vary by activity.
Oklahoma City Offers Fair, Iris Sale and Outdoor Family Activities
Oklahoma City residents have several options without leaving the metro.
Gardeners can start Friday morning at Oklahoma’s Largest Annual Iris Sale, beginning at 8:30 a.m. September 25 inside the Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Building at 3400 NW 36th Street.
Thousands of bare-root irises in different colors and varieties will be available. Prices range from $1 to $18, with most plants priced below $8.
Will Rogers Gardens is operated by OKC Parks, and visitors can find information about the gardens and facilities through the City of Oklahoma City.
Families looking for an outdoor-themed Saturday activity can head to Cabela’s at 1200 W. Memorial Road for National Hunting and Fishing Day.
The free event begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and includes activities designed to introduce families to outdoor skills, including an inflatable archery range and casting challenge.
Combined with the final weekend of the State Fair, the events give Oklahoma City families options ranging from gardening and outdoor recreation to rides, food and entertainment.
Hot Pepper Contest Brings the Heat to Marble City
Anyone looking for something considerably hotter can head east to Marble City on Saturday.
The 4th Annual Hot Pepper Contest begins at noon at the Marble City Farmers and Art Market, 103 Main Street.
Contestants will work their way through increasingly intense peppers, including varieties such as ghost peppers and Carolina reapers.
The event is free for spectators and contestants, providing one of the more unusual stops on this weekend’s Oklahoma calendar.
Before making the drive, visitors planning weekend activities should check directly with organizers for weather-related changes, parking information and updated schedules.
For even more ideas, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department’s statewide events calendar provides additional festivals, concerts, community celebrations and attractions happening across Oklahoma.
Whether the plan is bluegrass in Tahlequah, a powwow in Owasso, balloons in Arcadia, scorching peppers in Marble City or one final trip to the Oklahoma State Fair, there are events happening across the state throughout the final weekend of September.
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