El Reno Fried Onion Burger Festival

The 150 pounds of onions are peeled, the Big Burger �  850 pounds and 8.5 ft. in diameter � is almost ready to be cooked and the preparations downtown are in full swing for the Fried Onion Burger Day Festival El Reno, Oklahoma, on Saturday May 7 from 10am to 6pm.

Fun events include the Burger Eating Contest (one 10-and-under and one adult contest) from 10am to noon at the Big Burger Arena and the crowning of the �King of the Big Burger�. 

The Oklahoma Commemorative Wing Air Force will be making flyovers in World War II vintage aircraft. Check out some 200 classic cars and 100 cycles at Cycle World. Nearly 30 craft booths are expected this year, offering a variety of handmade crafts and various items. 

There will be headliner bands on the Main Stage - the EHS Jazz Band, The Wurlybirds, Truck, Blues Tiger, Greater Than Zero, One Armed Bandit and 4-1-1. There is plenty of entertainment for the children � choirs and dance groups on the Kid Stage, clowns, hula hoop contests and much else.

And of course there are enough Burgers (and other food) for at least 30,000 people.

The El Reno Main Street Program, host and organizer of the festival, is among only 50 communities nationwide to be honored with the Great American Main Street Award. Downtown El Reno plays host to an average of 30,000 people annually when the Main Street Program stages its volunteer-run Fried Onion Burger Day Festival, which has occurred on the first Saturday in May for the past 22 years. 

For more information about top events in Oklahoma take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Oklahoma.

For more information on the Fried Onion Burger Day Festival visit www.elrenoburgerday.com

Red Fern Oklahoma

Red Fern Reminiscent of Less Hectic Times

Come back to a time of searching for crawdads, hound dog field trials and just plain fun at the 5th annual Red Fern Festival on  April 29 and 30 at Norris Park in downtown Tahlequah, Oklahoma. 

Materializing as a way to honor native son Wilson Rawls and his best-selling book, �Where the Red Fern Grows,� the Red Fern Festival has matured into an award-winning event recognized nationally.

�We are proud that our event went from an intangible thing to a popular festival that so many visitors enjoy,� said Kate Kelly, tourism director with the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce. �Everyone in the state should be proud that one of our native sons authored �Where the Red Fern Grows,� she added.

Author Wilson Rawls grew up in the Tahlequah area where the story is set. Many may not realize the impact this story has had, and continues to have, said Kelly. The book is in the curriculum of at least fifty percent of schools in the United States, and its popularity does not seem to be waning.

            

The Festival is composed of some of the best aspects of the story with one of the highlights being the hound Dog Field Trials, held throughout the two-day event. 

            

Children�s activities are many and varied and range from old-fashioned 1930s-era games to modern art activities, and of course, catching crawdads.

            

Other events include Red Fern Chili Cook Off and Barbeque Extravaganza; live entertainment; 5K Run and One Mile Dog Jog; 5C�s Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show; Red Fern Poker Run; Tahlequack Duck Rack and more.

            

For more information about top events in Oklahoma take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Oklahoma. 

For more information on the Red Fern Festival, visit www.RedFernFestival.com