EXTRA! - "Labor Omnia Vincit"

THIS SATURDAY!!

2023 Oklahoma Folklife Festival 

The 2023 Oklahoma Folklife Festival will be held at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This community-wide event is free and open to the public! Take part in the festival held largely indoors to watch and listen to dancing and singing performances, and more! Several educational resources and various craft opportunities for attendees of all ages will be offered during the festival. Food vendors will be on-site at the event.

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Labor Omnia Vincit

Oklahoma’s motto, Labor Omnia Vincit, means “work conquers all things.” Today, many people see it as a nod to the hardworking nature of our state’s citizens. In reality, it’s a tribute to organized labor, which was a significant political force in the formation of Oklahoma’s constitution and early laws. In this episode of A Very OK Podcast, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the business and agricultural climate in the United States that led to the labor movement in Oklahoma starting in the 1880s. The discussion includes Oklahoma’s early political leaders such as Peter Hanraty, Charles Haskell, and Kate Barnard who rose to power thanks to the support of labor organizations. Their guest is Bob Burke, an Oklahoma City attorney and historian who has written over 125 historical non-fiction books.

Halloween Night at the Museum

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host Halloween Night at the Museum on Tuesday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. This event combines trick-or-treating with an opportunity for children and their families to visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Area businesses and individuals will share treats at locations outside on the spacious museum grounds. There will be a costume contest with prizes for the best costumes. Halloween Night at the Museum is free and open to all ages.

This event has attracted hundreds of costumed characters to the museum on Halloween night since the first event in 2014. The family-friendly environment provides a safe place to enjoy the holiday and has brought many people to the museum for the first time.

For more information, please call 918-341-0719 or visit willrogers.com.

Movie Night featuring Dracula 

Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film Dracula (1931) in its theater on Friday, October 27, at 7 p.m.

Admission to the movie is free, and guests can also enjoy free popcorn and drinks while watching the film, thanks to the Bank of Commerce’s sponsorship. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.

Cemetery Symbols

The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host a program on the meaning of Cemetery Symbols on Saturday, October 28, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. There will be a lunch break, but lunch is not provided. The event will also include a guided tour of the IOOF Cemetery in Ponca City, led by the museum’s historical interpreter.

Tickets are $10 per person. For more information or to purchase a ticket, call the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue at 580-765-6108. 

Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival

On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host Pawnee Bill’s Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival, presented by the Old Time Saturday Night Car Club.

All proceeds will help purchase a new team of draft horses and help maintain animal programs at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum. This event will be sponsored by the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association, the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce and the Old Time Saturday Night Car Club. For all of the details about this fall festival, click here.

Ghost Stories Tours

Following the Rolling Thunder event, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will have its annual Ghost Stories Tours on Saturday, October 28, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Guides will lead guests through outdoor tours in the park telling spine-tingling, ghostly tales about Oklahoma, the surrounding area, and the Pawnee Bill Ranch. Tours leave every 30 minutes from the museum building, so bundle up for cool weather. Admission is $5 per person, and the event is for ages eight and older.

Visit the ranch or call 918-762-2513 to purchase tickets or set up tours for large groups.

"History Never Dies" Halloween carnival

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie will host its “History Never Dies” Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will have a haunted house with the gang from Scooby Doo theme.

Families can enjoy carnival games, treats, prizes, and a cake walk at the two-hour event. Hotdogs and nachos will be served free to all guests. Enjoy Halloween-themed activities inside the museum—all ages and costumes are welcome! The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library galleries will be free and open to the public during this annual event. For more information, please call 405-282-1889.

The Oklahoma Historical Society is seeking proposals for the 2024 Oklahoma History Symposium. Formats may include traditional presentations, research sessions, discussion sessions, and panel discussions.

The proposal submission deadline is Thursday, November 30, 2023.