Attend Mayfest 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma

I feel like I get Tulsa, ya know. I’ve always been the guy who’d rather to see the low-key drama than the effects-fueled blockbuster. I wanted to try the halibut cheeks with foie gras pâté when my friends just wanted burgers. I like to delve into tireless 20-minute prog-rock suites while everyone else just wants to “rock out” and “feel good”. I was the only kid in school who actually liked Moby Dick.

What does any of that have to do with Tulsa, Oklahoma? Tulsa, too, is something that doesn’t always fit in. The passion for art, performance, independence, personality and originality inspires thoughts of New York City or San Francisco. Whether it’s widely known now or will ever be, Tulsa is a cultural and artistic icon of the middle United States. And for proof, you need only visit the annual Mayfest.

(142 words before getting to the point. A new Travel Guide record?)

One of the most anticipated annual events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, if the the most, Mayfest is a four-day celebration of art, music, craft and creation hosted in the heart of downtown Tulsa. It’s fun, it’s family-friendly and what’s best, it’s free!

The massive Mayfest has two main sections: indoor and outdoor. Indoors you’ll find a host of specialized art galleries, not to mention a nice place to cool off. The works of invitation-only Tulsa area artists as well as younger artists are given a respectful display.

Outdoors is where the real story is at. You can peruse the voluminous rows of jewelry, crafts and fine arts tables, or do what I do and head straight to the performance stage. Mayfest 2010 has three stages, with acts as wildly different as 1950s rock & roll and traditional Hawaiian dance. You’ll also see bluegrass, indie rock, acoustic rock, hand bell choir, clog dancing, square dancing, country, Latin, blues, funk, pop, jazz, calypso, world music, African and a label they use all too often on American Idol, “singer-songwriter”.

Many groups are local, but the Mayfest music stage entices acts from all over as well. Retro-rock outfit Cherry Poppin’ Daddies headline on Saturday, May 15.

Mayfest always has a big family focus, and 2010 is shaping up no different. If you bring along the little ones, a stop by the KidZone is absolutely in order. This year the KidZone has its own performance stage featuring family-friendly entertainment acts from Tulsa and beyond, as well as a slew of hands-on activities for what they call “children of all ages”. You be the judge.

It’s an easy sell: four days of live music, dancing and entertainment dished up free, plus miles of art, crafts and jewelry for you monetarily inclined. Not to mention, you get to discover middle-America’s little told secret – Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mayfest 2010 will be held in downtown Tulsa May 13-16, 2010. Admission to all attractions and performances are free. Food and beverage are sold on-site (think festival favorites with a few surprises thrown in). Learn all about it here.

Have fun at Tulsa Mayfest 2010!

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