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7 Unique Oklahoma Food Festivals Across the State
Oklahoma sits at a crossroads in the U.S., stretching into Western states on one side and Southern states on another. All those connections, along with plentiful farmland, mean that the state offers several noteworthy food festivals offering an eclectic mix of dishes and plenty of small-town charm. From chili cook-offs to cheese celebrations, you won’t want to miss out on these seven unique Oklahoma food festivals.
Blackberry Festival
McLoud
For one weekend in July, the town of McLoud undergoes a transformation into party central with carnival rides, games, fireworks, a parade and much more. All the fun is centered around one of the summer’s favorite treats – blackberries! The Blackberry Festival makes the most of this sweet summertime fruit with activities for the whole family to enjoy. Fill up on the berries by entering the Cobbler Gobbler Contest or simply check out all the entries in the blackberry baking contest featuring pies, cakes, muffins and more.
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Exchange Club Chili & BBQ Cook-Off
Muskogee
Craving a slice of slow-smoked brisket? How about a big bowl of tender grilled pork infused with chiles and special seasonings? The Exchange Club Chili & BBQ Cook-Off has been serving some of the best ‘cue around for over 30 years. Visitors can sample more than 100 different contests during the event, which is held the second weekend in April every year. While the event offers several activities, including a Kid’s Zone, live music and yard games, expect to spend the better part of your day sampling one bowl of chili after another.
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Frederick’s Fantastic Oyster Fry
Frederick
Frederick’s Fantastic Oyster Fry dates all the way back to 1952. Since then, festival organizers have been making their way down to the same coastal town in Texas each year to bring back 140 pounds of freshly caught oysters for the big event. The haul arrives the day before the festival so that the fresh oysters can be breaded and fried using the same batter recipe since the festival’s beginnings (they won’t tell you what it is). Besides all the delicious fried oysters, guests will also enjoy a craft show next door.
Kolache Festival
Prague
Visiting Prague, Oklahoma, will give you a taste – quite literally – of what it’s like to visit the Czech Republic’s capital city. During the Kolache Festival held on the first Saturday in May, the community honors its Czech heritage with celebrations and foods that showcase people of Bohemian ancestry. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample several varieties of Czech kolache – a palm-sized pastry made of sweet, yeast dough surrounding fillings like fruit, poppy seeds and cheese. Guests will also enjoy polka dances as part of this whimsical, family-friendly festival that’s been going on for 60-plus years.
Rush Springs Watermelon Festival
Rush Springs
If you’re a fan of juicy, seed-speckled watermelon, then this is the event for you. Since 1948, the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival has been celebrating the best of the season with carnival rides, live entertainment and activities for the whole family. You can take your pick of fair food while walking through the classic automobile show. And since this festival is all about watermelon, why not consider signing up for the watermelon seed-spitting contest? This one-day festival takes place every year on the second Saturday in August.
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Watonga Cheese Festival
Watonga
The Watonga Cheese Festival starts with “Cutting the Cheese” and goes on to give guests plenty of chances to sample delicious cheeses. The event has been going on for more than 40 years and includes kids’ activities, entertainment acts, a quilt show and a variety of unique contests. For example, contestants can enter the Rat’s Nest Hair Contest, The Cheeziest Dog Show and the Cheese Food Contest. Pop into the Watonga Cheese Tasting Line or grab a few samples from various on-site food trucks before heading to the wine and cheese tasting area for those ages 21 and over.
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World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Off
Vinita
In the small town of Vinita, the fryers get going early on the first Saturday in June for the World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Off. Held at the Craig County Fairgrounds, the festival involves frying up almost 1,000 pounds of meat to feed hungry attendees. Besides the calf fry, there are also cobblers, cowboy breads, hot dogs and the like.