Here’s Everything You Could Possibly Want To Do In Tulsa This Winter

Oklahoma troubadour John Calvin Abney said it best: “It’s been a long drawn gravel road of a year.” But you don’t need us to tell you that. What you do need are ways to find some bright spots through this winter. Here’s The Pickup’s guide to the season: festive gathering places, stocking stuffer ideas, Santa visiting hours, holiday markets, concerts to help you feel something, New Year’s Eve parties, and suggestions for Dry January and Valentine’s Day. 

Winter Activities

Yes, winter is for sitting on your couch wrapped in a blanket reading books and drinking tea. (More on that below!) But! It’s fun to get out and be stupid sometimes. Careful of those knees.

Go ice skating at WeStreet or ArvestWinterFest

Go sledding on one of Tulsa’s inclined planes (wait until it snows, please):

Rogers High School (4th and Yale)
DoubleTree (61st and Yale)
Chandler Park
The reservoir at 193rd and 21st
Minshall Park
McClure Park
The reservoir at 91st and Yale

And we don’t know what “HACK. HAMMER. HOG LINE. HOUSE.” means, but Tulsa Curling Club promises to teach you.

Winter Decorations + Vibes

White Lion Pub
It doesn’t get cuter than this. White Lion goes all out for the holidays, but it’s been bringing a British pub vibe to this little corner of 71st and Yale every Tuesday through Saturday for two decades: think warm wood paneling, maps on the walls, vintage beer ads, little floral paintings on the rafters. With a menu that includes Welsh rarebit, a classic cheese and biscuit plate, and a full range of British beers, it’s a perfect little getaway.

Roosevelt’s
This is the big papa of restaurant holiday decorations, an absolute glut of glorious cheer. Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come first-served basis, or you can take a shot at reserving a spot.

Holé Molé
With a heated patio and $5 margs—and during the holidays, a full spectacle of festive decor—this Cherry Street spot gives a good vantage point for staring at Christmas-panicked passersby while you take your time with the kitchen’s Oaxacan specialties. 

Saturn Room's "Sippin’ Santa" Tiki Holiday Pop-Up (through December 31)
Saturn Room has fully transformed for the season, serving new tropical holiday cocktails including the Coco Ho Ho, Frost Bite, and Wreck the Halls, plus fan-favorite Jingle Bird, Sugar Plum Mai Tai, and the original Sippin’ Santa.

Sapulpa Christmas Chute POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT YEAR
This one’s a blow to my morale, if I’m being honest. Sapulpa’s Christmas Chute was a charming and bright strolling destination, the perfect Christmas date. Sadly, we’ve known all year that it wouldn’t go up in 2025 due to streetwork—but the city says it’ll come back next year. I can wait. I think. - Z.B. Reeves 

Hot Drinks, Hot Soups

Hot chocolate at Pancho Anaya, Glacier, or Cricket & Fig
Tea at H2Oasis
Borscht at Taste of Poland
Posole at La Tertulia
Pho at Pho Nhi, Pho-Filled, Trange Le (Broken Arrow), Mekong River
Khao soi at Lisu Thai

Local Stocking Stuffers & One-Size-Fits-All Gifts

• Gift cards to local coffee shops (Topeca, Cirque)
• Gift subscriptions to The Pickup 
• Cassettes from Monad Records
• This Land merch
• Local zines and screenprint goodness from Friendship Friend Shop
• Fancy cheese at The Meat & Cheese Show
• Pretty paper and housewares at Jenkins & Co.
• Oddities and curiosities at Black Moth

Stuff To Do Indoors When It's Cold And Dark

Red Heat Ceramics
Warm up this winter at Red Heat Ceramics, where Tulsa’s clay community offers affordable access to studio space, equipment, and classes for all skill levels. From hands-on workshops to visiting artist sessions, it’s the perfect cold weather spot to get creative.

Mess Around at WeStreet Ice Center

Browse at Bygone or Oak Tree Books or the book nooks at Meadow Gold Mack
Sitting! Reading! Sniffing that old book smell! Finding something cool without the hive-brain of the algorithm! These three spots are prime territory for analog comfort and joy this holiday season. Park yourself in the cozy stacks and get lost for a while. And keep an eye out for Meadow Market Books, a tiny bookshop opening in January on Cherry Street. 

Write with Saturday Scribe

Make something at Community Craft
Build skills while making brag-worthy projects at Community Craft, where classes are designed to spark creativity. With sewing, quilting, paper making, and more, there’s a workshop here for every kind of maker, plus open studio time and hands-on guidance so you'll leave inspired and with something to show for it.

Go sit in the glow at Materia
Tyler Thrasher’s new shop Materia offers a one-of-a-kind experience, especially for those who love nature, crystals, and flowers. When the lights are on, Materia sells Thrasher’s unique glow-in-the-dark flowers and crystallized cicada shells, among other alchemy/art projects. When the lights turn off, those glow-in-the-dark flowers turn on, creating a gasp-worthy display. 

Play some pinball

Take a dance class
It's art, fitness, a brain game, and an endorphin rush all in one, where you can get sweaty without feeling like you’re working out—and do it in the company of other people who probably feel just as awkward as you do. Temple of Dance offers a range of classes for adults; Giddy Up Two Step hosts partner dance lessons across the city, from beginner to advanced levels; Latin dance nights happen regularly all over town.  

Go to a museum or gallery

Restaurants Open On Christmas

India Palace
Celebrate the holidays with bold flavors at Tulsa’s oldest Indian restaurant, holding it down at 71st and Lewis since 1993. Open on Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, it’s the perfect spot for a festive feast that warms the heart and the palate.

Cheng Du
Cozy up with vibrant Chinese cuisine perfect for the cold season. Dishes balance heat and quality ingredients to delight your tastebuds. Whether you crave spice or comfort, there’s something to satisfy every appetite. 

Mandarin Taste
A Christmas Day tradition. 

Family Thai
This hidden gem on 11th Street is one of our favorites: warm golden walls, friendly service, and terrific Thai cuisine at reasonable prices. 

QuikTrip
Who doesn’t associate the holiday season with taquitos? 

Kilkenny’s
This place already feels like Christmas year around (my opinion), so it’s only natural that one could stop in for a Guiness and a boxty on Christmas day.

Valkyrie
Not technically a restaurant, but you might need to go here anyway?

Places To See Santa

Santa Fly-In
Tulsa Air and Space Museum
December 6, 10am-1pm
This one feels like a no-brainer. Flying sleighs, NORAD trackers—Christmas has “air and space” written all over it. Santa arrives via airplane at 11am sharp, and the first 500 kids in line get a free gift from the museum.

Sweets with Santa
Tulsa Zoo
December 13, 10am-1pm
Santa’s got some strong competition at this Tulsa Zoo event—namely, adorable animals—but this interactive come-and-go style day makes room for everyone. At Rajan’s restaurant in Lost Kingdom exhibit complex, families can enjoy animal chats, participate in crafts and story time, and most importantly, meet the big man. $5 per person for Zoo members; $10 for non-members.

Santa Storytime 
Tulsa International Airport
December 18, 10am
A quick little winter-inspired storytime with Santa at Tulsa’s version of the North Pole—i.e., the airport. Free, all ages.  

Breakfast with Santa
Arvest Winterfest at the BOK Center
December 13, 9am
This is the all-out holiday meet-and-greet, with a breakfast buffet, a hot chocolate bar, Christmas music, letters to Santa, and a classic photo op. Tickets are $40 per adult and $20 per child and include one free Winterfest ice skating pass.

Santa at Philbrook Festival
Phibrook Museum of Art
6pm-8:30pm, nightly through December 23
During Festival nights, Santa and his helpers set up in the Summer House (at the end of the South Formal Garden) for pictures. Take a break from the lights show, hot cocoa, and strolling through the art and garden to tell him hello. Philbrook Festival tickets are $12 for members ($3 for kids) and $27 for nonmember ($10 for kids) tickets. 

Santa’s House
Utica Square
Various times, through December 24
You’ll find Santa’s house set up in the big empty lot behind GAP these days, not in the middle of the Square as in decades past, but it’s still got plenty of the charming old elements: sleigh with reindeer, 16-foot Christmas tree, Nutcracker tableaux, free snickerdoodle cookie for the kids, and a chance to pose crucial questions to Mr. Claus. There’s no charge for Santa visits; pictures come with a $15 fee. 

Santa Photo Experience 
Woodland Hills Mall, Center Court
Various times, through December 24
This is one hardworking Santa: he’s taking requests and checking lists up to 10 hours a day between now and Christmas. Photo packages range from $19.99 to $59.99. 

Holiday Festivals, Markets & Events

Philbrook Festival
Philbrook Museum of Art
Through January 3
Philbrook fills its gardens with lights and tinsel for Festival, its annual Christmas event. Be sure to catch the always-magnificent lights show in the gardens, say hi to Santa, and get a hot chocolate to sip as you stroll. Philbrook Festival tickets are $12 for members ($3 for kids) and $27 for nonmembers ($10 for kids). 

Arvest Winterfest
Outside the BOK Center
Through January 4
A downtown staple since 2008, Winterfest transforms the street next to the BOK Center into a skating rink, “Igloo Village,” and ice slide. Tickets start at $15. 

Botanic Garden of Lights
Tulsa Botanic Garden
Dec. 10-14, Dec. 17-23
Every year, Tulsa Botanic Garden dresses the gardens in festive colors for a beautiful nighttime stroll. Enjoy holiday music and s’mores by the fire. $17 for members ($8 for kids), $22 for non-members ($10 for kids).

Winter Wonderland
WeStreet Ice Center
December 12-January 5
Admission is free, with ticketed opportunities available. 

White Christmas Sing-A-Long
Circle Cinema
December 12-24
Interactive movie fun for the whole family! It’s like your own little karaoke party inside the theater with running lyrics onscreen so you can all sing along to Irving Berlin’s classic. 

Drag Brunch Christmas Extravaganza
Elote Cafe & Catering
December 13, 11am and 1:30pm
Every second Saturday, Elote hosts Drag Brunch, and this time, it’s a Christmas Extravaganza! All ticket sales go directly to the drag performers. Tickets are $10 and up; this does not include food and drink.

Alternative Holiday Market
Boman Twin Event Center
December 13, 11am
Boman Twin will host the Alternative Holiday Market, with tons of creators and artists selling wares you won’t find at the big box stores. 

Tulsa Christmas Parade
Downtown Tulsa
December 13, 11am
A Tulsa tradition since 1926, the Christmas Parade winds through downtown, starting at Detroit and 6th. 

OKEQ Holiday Market
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
December 13, 1pm
Oklahomans for Equality will host their Holiday Market, selling gifts and art from Tulsa’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

Movie Screening: A Christmas Carol
Central Library
December 13, 2pm
Catch the 1951 classic at Central Library’s Monthly Movie Matinee complete with coffee and cookies.

Chanukah Winterlight Festival
B’nai Emunah Synagogue
December 14, 5:30pm
Celebrate the first night of Chanukah with fire performances and Ryan Lindsey of BRONCHO.

Community Christmas Caroling
Chapman Green
December 14, 5pm
A night of Christmas caroling hosted by Trinity Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church Tulsa. 

Candlelight: Christmas Special
German-American Society of Tulsa
December 20
A live string quartet will perform classic Christmas works by Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Debussy and more.

Kwanzaa Celebration Dinner
Rudisill Regional Library
December 26, 6:30pm
Join the African American Resource Center for an evening of warmth, tradition and togetherness honoring the first day of Kwanzaa—Umoja (Unity)—with a community dinner. Registration required. 

Global Gatherings: Holiday Edition
Gathering Place ONEOK Boathouse
December 27, 1pm
Ring in the New Year early with performances, international cuisine, and a holiday market as a part of the Gathering Place’s Global Gatherings series.

Big Music

Cliffdiver
Cain’s Ballroom
December 13
Hometown emo band Cliffdiver will headline Cain’s Ballroom with support from Hit The Lights, Red Sun, and Leisure Hour. Advance tickets start at $20. 

Annie Ellicott & The Lucky 7 “On Ice”
LowDown
December 13
A little classic, a little sexy, a lot of talent: this group’s holiday shows sell out for good reason. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas
LowDown
December 19 & 20
Hear Vince Guaraldi’s holiday charmer performed live by the Tommy Poole quartet in the coziest listening room in town.

Tovar’s Christmas at Cain’s
Cain’s Ballroom
December 19
Tulsa’s honky tonk hero returns with his annual holiday show. Reserved tables available.

Tom Pevear & The Backyard Band
Mercury Lounge
January 3

HortonFest (Celebrating 20 Years of Horton Records)
Cain’s Ballroom
January 24
Hortonfest honors 20 years of Tulsa’s own Horton Records with live performances, complimentary gumbo, and a lively celebration for music lovers of all ages. Tickets are $25 each in advance, $30 at the door.

Dad Rock Night
Vanguard
February 7
Jam out to classic 2000s dad rock favorites in an all ages show, complete with crowd-pleasing hits and $26 general admission.

GHOST
BOK Center
February 7
Direct from Sweden, here’s your depths-of-winter heavy metal drama fix. With costumes!

King Cabbage Brass Band: Collabages
Cain’s Ballroom
February 13
On break from touring with Zach Bryan, King Cabbage is coming home to throw a spotlight on some of Tulsa’s best musicians with this concert featuring Dane Arnold, Kalyn Fay, Chris Combs, Steph Simon, Micaela Young, and Jacob Tovar, benefitting KCBB’s Brass in the Ballpark summer camp for kids. 

Dropkick Murphys
Cain’s Ballroom
February 25
The best of Celtic punk since 1996. 

Nine Inch Nails
BOK Center
February 27
Um, does anybody want to buy me a ticket to this? —Matt Carney

Other The Pickup-Coded Winter Events

American Theatre Company: A Christmas Carol
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
December 4-23

Ok So Story Slam: “Holiday Disasters”
Living Arts of Tulsa
December 12

Black Broadway Tulsa: “A Christmas Story”
Maya Angelou Auditorium at Central High School
December 19

"Haxan: Witchcraft Through The Ages" with Live Score by Dustin Edward Howard
Circle Cinema
December 20

Tulsey Town Two-Step 
VFW Post #577
December 27

Theatre Tulsa: FROZEN
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
January 9-25

Hadestown
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
January 13-14

Chili Bowl
EXPO Center
January 17-17

PBR Rodeo 
BOK Center 
January 23-24

Tulsa Opera: The Pirates of Penzance
University of Tulsa Lorton Performance Center
January 30-February 1

13th Black Wall Street Heritage & History Festival
Historic Greenwood District
February 7

Vintage Tulsa Show
EXPO Square
February 20-22

New Year's Eve Celebrations

Noon Year’s Eve
9:30am at Discovery Lab, 3123 Riverside Dr.

Noon Year’s Eve: Silent Disco
11:30am at Mother Road Market, 1124 S. Lewis Ave.

Noon Year’s Eve with Hot Toast Music Co. 
11am at American Solera

New Year's Eve at The Bin
6pm at Loony Bin Comedy Club, 6808 S. Memorial Dr.

New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl
6pm at Ripley’s Bar & Grill, 112 S. Elgin Ave.

Billie (Holiday) + Billie (Eilish) Tribute with Mike Cameron & Trio
7pm at Belafonte, 306 S. Phoenix Ave.

Twangers & Bangers: New Year's Eve Edition
7pm at Mercury Lounge, 1747 S. Boston Ave.

Spotted at Midnight NYE Celebration
8pm at The Mayo Hotel, 115 W. 5th St.

The Oklahoma Swing Syndicate NYE Dance
9pm at Southminster Community Center

New Year’s Eve at The Tulsa Club
9pm at Tulsa Club Hotel, 115 E. 5th St.

New Year’s Eve Party & Balloon Drop
9pm at 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, 8330 Riverside Pkwy.

Ladies Love R&B: New Year’s Eve 2026
9pm at Gateway Event Center, 851 E. Admiral Blvd.

New Year’s Eve at Brut
9pm at Brut Hotel, 1840 S. Boulder
Did somebody say rooftop party? 

Some Suggestions For Dry January

Dropping the booze in the new year? Here are a few ways to refocus that “what do I do with myself now” energy, give yourself a boost of support, and still have fun when you’re out with your friends.

• Get strong at State Barbell
• Get sweaty at Sweat Club (women-focused)
• Get upside down at Updog Yoga
• Get quiet at Shambala Tulsa Meditation Community
• Get your literal kicks at Midtown Martial Arts
• Get Zen at Osage Forest of Peace
• Get a mocktail or NA beer at 473, Valkyrie, Saturn Room, American Solera, or Nothing’s Left Brewery

What To Do On Valentine's Day

• Get reservations (do it ASAP!) at one of the fancy places: Bull In The Alley, Boston Title & Abstract, The Hemingway, Juniper
• Have a fancy picnic 
• Do a couples’ massage or a float at H2Oasis 
• Listen to other couples' horror stories with Ok So Tulsa's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"
• See a movie at Circle Cinema 
• Stroll through Philbrook’s gardens 
• Single? Read our article on the best places to find a date
• While you’re at it, read Ask Tulsa Bae, our dating column

Places To Get Ashed On Ash Wednesday

Officially marking the beginning of the end of winter, Lent starts on February 18. We're not suggesting that you're going to need repentance four days after Valentine's Day, but it can’t hurt to be reminded that all of this is fleeting. The Pickup staff makes no guarantees about the size of the smudge that the clergyperson will leave on you. 

• “Ashes to Go” at Trinity Episcopal Church and Boston Avenue United Methodist Church
• Art Deco ashes at Christ the King
• Inclusive ashes at St. Jerome in The Heights
• If you're not planning to fast that day: On-the-way-to-Trencher's ashes at Church of the Madalene