2026 Boots on the Boulevard and Lilac Festival

Celebrate Western & Native American Culture

Claremore, Oklahoma, is bringing new life to its historic downtown with a packed spring and summer schedule in 2026, blending settler heritage and Native American cultures, along with high-energy fun. This year, the town is spotlighting its unique Lilac District with a dedicated festival and kicking off the rodeo season in style with the Boots on the Boulevard event and following the next day with the Lilac Festival. Admission is free and open to the public.

You’ll want to dress comfortably in western or native flair and melt into this unique spirit of excitement! These events are Memorial Day weekend, Thursday and Friday, May 21st and 22nd from 6 pm to 9 pm in the downtown Claremore Lilac District, 412 W. Will Rogers Blvd.

Boots on the Boulevard – May 21, 6 pm – 9 pm

“Boots on the Boulevard”, the official street party to start the 80th Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo. The downtown area will be closed off to traffic during the event hours on both days for a concert and street dance with live music, featuring the HWY69’ers. “Boots on the Boulevard” rodeo-themed party is fun for the entire family and includes food trucks, late-night shopping at downtown stores, in a lively community atmosphere. Locals and visiting rodeo-performer families love this opening event and look forward to the festivities every year.

Immerse yourself in the joy of rodeo royalty, interactive games, learn roping tricks, arts, crafts, and community vendors!

The Lilac Festival – May 22, 6 pm – 9 pm

Following the rodeo kickoff, downtown Claremore blooms with the Lilac Festival, a heritage event that honors the town’s roots, specifically native and Cherokee playwright Lynn Riggs who penned the popular book and play “Green Grow the Lilacs”. Free admission and activities.

The Lilac Festival will be packed with children’s activities, Cherokee culture and artisans, music provided by New Skool DJ Productions from 6 pm to 9 pm and local Leslie Cohen teaching line-dancing from 7 pm to 8 pm. A Native American Ribbon Skirt fashion show will be a highlight to this event. The Ribbon Skirt is representative of indigenous female status. Many of the ribbon skirts modeled will be the result of pre-festival sewing classes and learning about Ribbon Skirt making sponsored by the Cherokee Arts Program.

Children’s activities will include a variety of arts & crafts at the east end of the street including rock painting for kids of all ages. We’ll be using the rocks to make our rock snakes in the parking area longer and more fun for passersby to observe. We’ll also have a coloring contest with age-appropriate coloring projects in rodeo and native themes, and sun-catcher crafting.

Pie Auction – May 22, 6:45 pm

One of the highlights of the Lilac Festival will be the Pie Auction featuring local auctioneers and perhaps a visit from “Aunt Eller”! You are truly in for a treat because there is nothing more delightful than made-from-scratch pies. The pie auction is from 6:30 to 6:45 so arrive early for a good spot.

No doubt the combination of Boots on the Boulevard and Lilac Festivals will be memorable for young and old alike…and one’s you won’t want to miss.

Boots On The Boulevard Thursday, May 21, 6-9 pm

• The HWY69’ers concert with street dance bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music
• Food trucks
• Community Vendors
• Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol
• Cherokee Artisan Vendors
• Family activities area with coloring and crafts
• Local Breweries
• Quilt Show
• Kids Roping
• Highland Cattle
• Rodeo Royalty
• Rodeo Ticket tee shirts sales
• Trick Roping

Lilac Festival Friday, May 22

• 6-9 pm DJ w/ New Skool DJ productions
• 7-8 pm Line Dancing classes with Leslie Cohen
• 6:30 pm Ribbon Skirt Fashion show & people’s choice award
• 6:45 pm Old fashioned Pie auction
• Food trucks
• Community Vendors
• Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol
• Cherokee Artisan Vendors
• Family activities area with coloring and crafts
• Local Breweries
• Quilt Show