Looking for a summer adventure the whole family will love? Take the family on a short day trip to join the celebrations of an Oklahoma musical legend, Woody Guthrie. Just a little over an hour’s drive east of Oklahoma City, Okemah, the birthplace of Guthrie, hosts the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, July 9-12, featuring an impressive lineup of live performances, special events and the WoodyFest Children’s Festival, a free family-friendly music festival celebrating creativity, storytelling and music.
For a convenient schedule of events and a map of venues, the WoodyFest festival app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
Honoring a Folk Legend
As a singer-songwriter and composer, Woody Guthrie was one of the most influential folk musicians in the 20th century. His music involved earnest storytelling within iconic ballads that most often represented his life experiences and political commentary. Some of his most famous songs include “This Land is Your Land,” “Pretty Boy Floyd,” “Oklahoma Hills” and “Hard Travelin’.”
Born on July 14, 1912, Guthrie spent his childhood and teen years in Okemah, experiencing the town’s rise and fall during its oil boom in the 1920s. During his prolific career, he penned more than 400 children’s songs—making it all the more fitting that his namesake festival includes special programming for young fans.
A Festival Just for Kids
The WoodyFest Children’s Festival, on July 11-12, is an excellent combination of creativity and summer fun happening at multiple venues around Okemah. All children’s festivities are FREE for the whole family to enjoy!
You won’t want to miss the following special events:
Children’s Stage, Concerts and Creative Writing
Ongoing through July 11-12 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 202 N. 3rd St.
Children of all ages can take the stage during the Children’s Open Mic session and sing along during a special kids’ concert featuring the Red Dirt Rangers. Middle and high school students can attend a creative writing workshop led by educators from the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan Centers in Tulsa with programming designed by Anna Canoni, Guthrie’s granddaughter and vice president of Woody Guthrie Publications.
Storytelling, Music Lessons and More
Ongoing through July 11-12 at Benson Media Center, W. Date St.
Fostering creative inspiration and hands-on experiences, Okemah’s Benson Media Center will feature a “Buffalo Tales” presentation by children’s author Desiree Webber, an interactive recording session with veteran artist R.T. Valine, harmonica lessons with Joe Baxter and John Williams (and everyone gets their own harmonica!) and Native American storytelling and flute building with Nelson Harjo, one of the few remaining traditional flute-makers of the Muscogee Nation.
Family Day at the Park
July 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Okemah City Park, located at the corner of Ash St. and S. 2nd St.
Okemah City Park hosts Family Day, a special time for families to enjoy live performances by WoodyFest artists, interactive art stations, face painting and a giant water slide, a fun way to cool off. Free hot dogs and sno cones will be available, or you can grab a bite to eat at a nearby cafe.
More About WoodyFest
Now in its 27th year, the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival has grown into a beloved family-friendly music festival, hosting more than 100 artists during its four-day run. Music genres include new and traditional folk, Americana, roots, red dirt, bluegrass and a bit of rock and roll. There are open mic sessions and the opportunity to view Woody Guthrie’s life and legacy through various collections of historic memorabilia.
As an added bonus, all Woody Guthrie Folk Festival programming is FREE for children accompanying a ticketed adult. For tickets, visit www.woodyfest.com/tickets.
Want More than a Day Trip?
For anyone wanting to experience more of the festival and in need of a place to stay, lodging options include area camping and RV parks and hotel accommodations within the surrounding communities. Lodging options in Okemah are limited since many of the artists stay in town.
