Some months are so stacked with things to do that I, whose literal job it is to keep up, struggle to keep up. Let’s zoom out a little bit, so we can navigate this insane spring-summer transition with style. Here are 17 events we want to make sure you don’t lose track of in the flurry of our weekly Tulsa Picks lists—festivals, shows, and under-the-radar happenings that you’ll want to plan ahead for as you move through May.
Mayfest
May 9-11
Tulsa Arts District
Invitational galleries, art and craft vendors, kids' activities, food trucks: you know the drill. It’s Mayfest, Tulsa’s annual springtime art extravaganza and the unofficial start of festival season. This year's music lineup features the likes of Mýa, Kaitlin Butts, Casii Stephan, Damion Shade, and more throughout the three-day festival. Don’t miss the series of talks and special events for creatives on Saturday, including a Creative Social Hour at 2pm.
Oddities & Curiosities Expo
May 10-11
EXPO Square
“For lovers of the strange, unusual, and bizarre,” says this annual expo’s website. More like: for me, personally. Tulsa is one of 40 stops on this year’s national vendor tour of all things dark and weird, from taxidermy to horror-inspired clothing to jewelry, bones, and “funeral collectibles.” Weirdly, there’s an incredibly warm and friendly vibe in this space; with zero tolerance for discrimination, it’s a welcoming zone for anyone who values the odd and the curious.
Black Wall Street Rally
May 15-17
Historic Greenwood District
Every year, motorcyclists from around the nation meet up for a three-day rally celebrating the spirit of Black Wall Street. Gather in Greenwood to take in the rally, as well as tours, guest speakers, and a headliner event featuring guitarist Jubu Smith and the iconic funk band Zapp.
Community Conversations with Mayor Monroe Nichols
May 15, 5:30pm
OU Tulsa, Founders Hall, 4502 E. 41st St.
May 19, 5:30pm
Crossover Community Center, 1010 E. 36th St. N.
What’s on your mind, Tulsa? Your city officials actually want to know, and they’re visiting neighborhoods across town all month for a series of community conversations. Bring your questions for Mayor Nichols, your City Councilors, and the City Auditor, and join your neighbors in much-needed dialogue.
Asian American Night Market
May 16, 5pm
Hannah Hall, 1801 S. Garnett Rd.
The Tulsa Global District shows its stuff at this year’s free Asian American Night Market, with 14 performance groups (everything from a K-Pop crew to taiko drumming and Hmong dance), local AAPI vendors, and some of the best street food you’ll find in Tulsa.
Oklahoma Fashion Alliance: “I Drew Myself On Fire”
May 16 & 17, 9:30pm
Arco Building, 119 E. 6th St.
Shows from this fashion collective tend to be, in a word, incendiary. “I Drew Myself On Fire”—its fourth annual offering, featuring the work of more than 60 Oklahoma-based designers creating 18 unique looks—is shaping up to be another hot one. Expect jaw-dropping designs, political consciousness, and a focus on fashion as a catalyst for communal expression.
Screening: "Rebel With A Clause"
May 17, 6pm
Circle Cinema
Grammar nerds, we see you. Grammar guru Ellen Jovin—whose Grammar Table has her traveling the country answering questions about syntax, punctuation, and all those other pesky issues—is the subject of this delightful documentary presented by the Hot Springs Documentary Festival and Circle Cinema. Jovin will be present to answer your own queries after the screening of her rollicking grammar road trip movie.
Tulsey Town Two-Step
May 17, 7pm
Tulsa VFW Post #577
It’s the last two-step of the season, y’all. The team behind these stellar nights is taking a break for the summer, so if you’ve been putting off going, now’s the time. This edition features emcee Jacob Tovar, a guest house band from Austin, country crooner Theo Lawrence, and L.A. rockabilly icon Deke Dickerson, plus two-step lessons before the show and a vintage western wear pop-up from Buck’s Vintage.
Record Club: Dark Side of the Rainbow
May 17, 7:30pm
Guthrie Green
Guthrie Green, take me away. Our favorite downtown park has a gigantic screen and world-class sound system, perfect for spinning Pink Floyd’s masterpiece in perfect sync with The Wizard of Oz—which is exactly what you can experience at the return of Record Club. Doc Free starts the night off with a DJ set. Bring your blanket, bring your comfort foods, and let’s space out together.
Blue Whale Comedy Night: “Okie Homies” Character Showcase
May 17, 8pm
LowDown
Tulsa’s best friend Evan Hughes is celebrating his birthday with some, uh, interesting characters: Peter Bedgood as "Pyder Notz," a German tourist; Brady Leach as "Dumbass McGee," your redneck neighbor who was not home on January 6, 2021; and Prism Cafe’s Aimee Hunter as "PrismNoise," a noise-punk musician who just needs to be heard, among others. Pop in for a night with some of Tulsa’s most unhinged comedians as they unleash their alter egos underground at LowDown.
Sperry Sounds: Kalyn Fay + Country WiFi
May 18, 3pm
Sperry, OK; DM organizer for location
Recently we brought you a story on how house-based shows are changing how Tulsa experiences art. Here’s a chance to see for yourself, in the gentle environment of a former carpenter’s garage about 20 minutes north of the city. Musician and educator Nathan Alexander Pape opens the doors here now and then for some of the most uncannily beautiful concerts you’ll ever hear. They’re BYOB, with good homemade food on offer in the kitchen: nourishing in every way.
Screening: "Secret Mall Apartment"
May 18, 7pm
Center for Public Secrets
Dreamland Tulsa—whose screenings are dependably thought-provoking and conversation-sparking—brings us the story of eight young Rhode Islanders who created a hidden apartment inside a mall: "Far more than just a wild prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for all its inhabitants—a personal expression of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, and finally, a 750-square-foot space that sticks it to the man."
Book Launch: Jennifer Hope Choi’s "The Wanderer’s Curse"
May 22, 7pm
Philbrook Museum of Art
A former Tulsa Artist Fellow, Jennifer Hope Choi is a National Magazine Award-nominated editor at Bon Appétit. Her new memoir is a mother-daughter story about immigration, Korean-American identity, and the blessings and curses of a vagabond spirit. Here she’ll be in conversation with Christina Chaey, who shares recipes and writes about cooking and mental health in her newsletter, Gentle Foods, and who will provide light bites inspired by the book.
Missed Connections
May 23, 7pm
Mixed-Use Space Tulsa
Part mixer, part game show, part Tulsa Creative Engine x ASLUT experience—to be honest, I don't exactly know what this is, but anywhere Thunderwof, Beth Henley, and DJ NONAME are in the mix is a very solid place to have a very fun time. Expect an immersive experience with creative prompts, challenges, prizes, and free Dante's pizza.
Four Mothers Collective Opening Celebration
May 24, 12pm
1306 E 11th St., Suite C
You might have seen Four Mothers Collective’s fall exhibit at Positive Space Tulsa—if you missed it, you can read about its many wonders here. They’re an art collective formed by Indigenous womxn, with a mission to provide resources to facilitate the voices and success of BIPOC women and Two Spirit artists. And they’re just getting started. Stop by their brand new space around the corner from Wildflower Cafe to talk with them and get to know the extraordinary work they’re doing in the city.
Kate Barnard’s 150th Birthday Party
May 24, 2pm
Oak Tree Books
Leave it to Oak Tree Books (which once employed Lee Roy Chapman) to keep its finger on the pulse of critical Oklahoma history. As the first woman to be elected to state office in Oklahoma, in 1907, Kate Barnard helped enact reforms in education and labor conditions, took action against the abuse of prisoners, and spoke out on behalf of Native children who were being cheated out of their land. Her office produced the first official investigation into the Osage murders. Mark her 150th birthday at Oak Tree Books with noted Oklahoma authors Connie Cronley, Michael Wallis, Rilla Askew, and Randy Krehbiel.
5th Annual Black Wall Street Legacy Fest
May 31, all day
Historic Greenwood District
Headliner Tobe Nwigwe lights up the stage at this year’s Legacy Fest, commemorating the victims, survivors, and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. It’s a day packed with joy, truth-telling, and generational excellence. Expect incredible live music, food trucks, an African street festival, and more; keep an eye on the Legacy Fest website for updates.
