Fall has officially begun and with its arrival, Stillwater and the surrounding area offers many opportunities for good ol’ fashioned family fun. Wonderful fall weather doesn’t last long in Oklahoma, so seize the day with our picks for some of the best local, fall activities!

While we don’t have room to share all that the area has to offer in our print publication, we encourage our readers to check this post often as we update it with additional events.  Also, be sure to search the calendar at VisitStillwater.org/events for more performances, events, and activities. 

PICK A PUMPKIN!

Pumpkin Palooza, Oct. 6, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at The Botanic Garden at OSU, 3300 W. 6th Ave.  Grab the kids and visit the garden for pumpkin painting and cheerful music performed by the Misspent Ukes. Cost: $10 per family – includes paint supplies and pumpkins. Supplies are limited so please RSVP to laura.payne@okstate.edu to save your place. The Misspent Ukes are performing from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Grider Farm Pumpkin Patch, Sept. 29 – Oct. 31, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. everyday. Located 14500 S. Country Club Road south of Perkins, Oklahoma. 405-547-2722. Forty acres of pumpkins and gourds from $1 to $100. For more information call 405-547-2722.

Lost Creek Safari, 1200 W. 80th St., 405-707-0403.  Open every full weekend in October from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. No reservation required. Feed the animals and pick out a pumpkin. More information available at lostcreeksafari.com and facebook.com/lostcreeksafari.

Oh My Gourd Pumpkin Patch, 9212 E. Glencoe Rd., Glencoe, OK. 580-336-8509. Open Thurs. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sun. 1 – 7 p.m. With a variety of gourds and pumpkins available, you are sure to find what you are looking for. Bring the kids for crafts, games, hayrides, and pumpkin chucking. On Fridays, weather permitting, there will be face painting and movies in the patch. Visit facebook.com/OhMyGourdPumpkinPatch for more information.

Pumpkin Jubilee, Oct. 1 – 31 at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 524 N. Stallard. Open Mon. – Fri. 1 – 7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun. 12 – 6 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Stillwater Noon Lions. Pumpkin and gourd sales help fund church missions and the Lions Club projects. Activities will include: pancake breakfast, bake sale, quilt raffle, popcorn, pecan sales, spaghetti lunch, carriage rides, kids carnival, and trick-or-treating. Visit HighlandParkUMC.org or facebook.com/hpumcstw for more information about activities and the specific dates and times for each.

GO TO THE RODEO!

Cowboy Stampede, Oct. 11 – Oct. 13, 7 p.m. at the Payne County Expo Center. Hosted by the OSU Rodeo Team and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Tickets are $10 each and kids aged 5 years and under are free. Discounted tickets ($5) available with OSU ID, school ID, or OSU Alumni Association membership. Tickets available for purchase at Cavender’s in Stillwater and online at orangeconnection.org/cowboystampede. Tickets will also be sold at the gate while supplies last. Gates open at 5 p.m. For more information visit Rodeo.okstate.edu or call 405-744-5167.

ATTEND A CONCERT!

Stillwater is a great place to enjoy all kinds of live music. There are far too many to list them all here, so we’ve chosen to highlight just a few of a plethora of community-oriented concerts. To find many more live music performances, visit the event calendar at VisitStillwater.org/events.

OSU Jazz Orchestra & Jazz Ensemble at The Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Tues., Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. $10 general admission, $7 students and senior citizens.  For more information visit music.okstate.edu.

OSU Wind Ensemble at The Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Thurs., Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. $10 general admission, $7 students and senior citizens.  For more information visit music.okstate.edu.

Fall Concert in the OSU Botanic Garden at 3300 W. 6th Ave.  Evenings are a magical time in the garden. Relax in the great outdoors with friends and family while listening to live music. Val Gladden Band will perform on Fri., Oct. 5, 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. Free Admission. For more information visit botanicgarden.okstate.edu/events.

Stillwater Community Band in Concert at the Stillwater Community Center, 315 W. 8th Ave. Thurs., Oct. 11, 7 – 8 p.m. Free Admission.

Monday at Modella, 721 S. Main. Mon., Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. Brian Ashley Jones, Nellie Clay, and Chris Blevins will perform. Suggested donation $10. For more information please contact the gallery at (405) 880-4434 or visit modellaartgallery.org.

OctubaFest at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Thur., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Free Admission.

The Blind Boys of Alabama at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Sat., Oct. 20, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Presented by Church of God in Christ and the Messengers Gospel Singers. For more information click here.

Nobunto Presented by OSU Allied Arts at The Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Wed., Oct. 24, 8 – 10 p.m. $20 Adults, $10 students and senior citizens. Season passes available at tickets.okstate.edu.  Nobuntu is a five-part A Cappella Vocal ensemble made up of young women from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Performing a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean rooted music, Afro Jazz, Gospel, and Crossover with minimalistic percussion. For more information and Tickets click here.

Halloween Pops at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Thur., Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Featuring the OSU Symphony Orchestra and music from Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Wicked! Instrument Petting Zoo in the lobby from 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Costume Contest for cutest, scariest, and most original. General admission $10; Students and Seniors $7. More information at music.okstate.edu. 

SEE A PLAY!

Town and Gown Theatre presents Wait until Dark on Oct. 4-7; 11-14. For more information visit townandgown.org.

OSU Department of Theatre presents “The Three Musketeers” at the Seretean Center on Oct. 11-14. For more information visit https://theatre.okstate.edu/.

GO FOR A RUN (OR WALK)!

Domestic Violence Survivors’ Walk 2018, Thur., Oct. 11, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Boomer Lake. Hosted by Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services. For more information call 405-372-9922.

Eskimo Joe’s 31st Annual Juke Joint Jog, Sat., Oct. 13, 9:30 a.m., at Eskimo Joe’s, 501 W. Elm Ave. This year’s event includes both a 5K and a fun run, plus kids’ activities provided by Stillwater Medical Center.  The event benefits the United Way. Register at EskimoJoes.com/jog.

Jack-o-Lantern Jog, Sat., Oct. 20, 2 p.m. at The Botanic Garden at OSU (use north entrance).  Family friendly 1 mile run/walk/jog. Upon completion of the 1-mile event, all participants can grab a pumpkin and paint it. Come dressed in costume for your chance to win one of the giveaways from the raffle. Registration is $5 per person. Register in person at the Seretean Wellness Center (cash, check, credit or Bursar). For more information contact Kim Beard 405.744.6907/kimberly.beard@okstate.edu. More information available here.

Stillwater FFA Cans for Community 5K Color Run, Sun., Nov. 4, 8 a.m., at Boomer Lake. The cost to participate is 20 canned good items which will benefit the Salvation Army in Stillwater. Register at stillwaterffa.com/30863.

SEE A HOT AIR BALLOON

Stillwater Balloon Festival, Fri., Oct. 19 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Sat., Oct. 20 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.  Location: 7611 W. 6th Ave. at a 20 acre field accessed from Cottonwood Road just south of State Highway 51, directly east of Stillwater Bible Church.  Profits to benefit Mission of  Hope and Habitat for  Humanity. Admission good for two days is $10 for adults and $5 for age 15 and younger. $5 parking donation appreciated. Visit stillwaterballoonfest.com for more information.

AMERICA’S GREATEST HOMECOMING!

OSU Homecoming: Cowboys Ride On. OSU’s homecoming celebration involves so much more than the football game on Oct. 27. Homecoming isn’t just a football game though, it’s an entire week of activities and events that stretch beyond the campus grounds and out into the community. The week begins with the dying of the Edmon Low Library fountain on Sun., Oct. 21. Other traditional Homecoming events include the Harvest Carnival and Chili Cook-Off on Oct. 23, Hester Street Painting on Oct. 24, Walkaround and Homecoming & Hoops on Oct. 26, and the Sea of Orange Parade on Saturday morning before the game. For more information about OSU Homecoming including a complete list of homecoming events visit OrangeConnection.org/homecoming.

HALLOWEEN FUN!

Mummy and Son Dance, Fri., Oct. 19, 7 — 8:30 p.m. at the Stillwater Community Center, 315 W. 8th. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Preschoolers and above are welcome to accompany their mothers to the dance. The Community Center will be decorated for a sock hop theme. Tickets are on sale until Oct. 18, $25 per couple, $10 each additional son. Tickets will not be available at the door though, so be sure to get yours while you can. Visit Tickets.Stillwater.org or call 405-533-8433.

Ghost Stories at Pawnee Bill Ranch. Guides will take guests through the park, telling true ghost stories of Oklahoma and the Pawnee Bill Ranch. Two nights only. Sat., Oct. 20 and Sat., Oct. 27, 6:30 — 9 p.m. Tours leave every 30 minutes from the museum building.  Recommended for ages 8 and up. $5 per person. Tickets available in advance or in the museum store. Call 918-762-2513 for more information. Please call ahead to set up a tour for large groups. Tickets are selling fast!

Roller Dome Halloween Party, Fri., Oct. 26, 7 p.m. – 12 a.m., $20 admission all ages.  There will be a costume contest, sumo wrestling, inflatable boxing, dances, free pizza and dodge ball. Visit TheRollerDome.com for more information.

Halloween Costume Contest at Stilly Arts, 1207 S. Main.  Sun., Oct. 28, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Glow in the dark party and up to $1000 in cash and prizes. For more information visit facebook.com/stillyarts.

Stillwater Downtown Halloween Festival, Tues., Oct. 30, 5-8pm. This annual downtown event includes trick-or-treating with area businesses and organizations. Enjoy some of your favorite local food trucks, great music, and entertainment. Free inflatables and carnival games are hosted by OSU recreation management and recreational therapy students. Everyone is encouraged to dress up for the festivities.

Halloween at Roxie Weber Plaza, Tues., Oct. 30, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Located east of the Post Office at 807 S. Lowry. Celebrate Halloween with the Stillwater Housing Authority and Roxie Weber residents. Games, treats, candy. Costume contest for ages 0-4, 5-9, and 10-18. Afterwards families can walk to the Downtown Stillwater Halloween Festival.

Trick-or-Treating, Wed., Oct. 31. Neighborhood trick-or-treating is always on Halloween night in Stillwater. Many area churches also host trunk-or-treat and harvest festivals on Halloween or the weekend before or after. Some of the churches who have held these events in the past or we have heard are planning to this year include: Countryside Baptist, First Nazarene, Eagle Heights, Crosspointe, First Baptist, Southside Baptist, and Sunnybrook Christian. As we go to print with this issue, we have not been able to confirm any of these, so please follow up with each church before making plans to attend.

SEE A SCARY MOVIE!

Shockwater Horror Film Fest at Modella Gallery, 721 S. Main, Fri., Nov. 2 6 p.m., Sat., Nov. 3 8:30 p.m. Costumes Encouraged. Two nights $15, One Night $10

ATTEND A FALL FESTIVAL OR CRAFT SHOW!

Heart of America Craft and Vendor Show at the Payne County Expo Center. Thur., Oct. 18, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Fri., Oct. 19, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.. Sat., Oct. 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Open to the public and held in conjunction with the Southwestern National Brown Swiss Dairy Show.

Fall Festival at Sparrow Event Center, 5317 S. Harford St. Fri., Oct. 26, 2 – 8 p.m. Enjoy craft vendors, games, pumpkin carving, and more. Outdoor movie at dusk. More information available at Sparrowbeginnings.com, facebook.com/sparrow or call 405-402-0262.

Iowa Tribe Fall Festival, 335588 E. 750 Rd., Perkins, OK. Fri., Oct. 26 6 – 10 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 27, 3 – 11 p.m. This two-day event features carnival-themed fun with laser tag, rides, and food! Tickets are $10 for 1 night and $15 for both.  Purchase tickets in advance at nativemarketplace.com.

Stillwater Fall Festival Arts, Crafts, & Gift Show at the Payne County Expo Center. Fri., Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. Nov. 3, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sun. Nov. 4 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The annual fall festival features arts, crafts, and gifts with over 150 booths. Get a head start on your holiday shopping at this indoor event. Free Admission. For more information contact Sue Roberson at 405-747-7206.