Lilac Festival in Downtown Claremore

History, Community, Music, Arts, Food Trucks, and Fun

Claremore, Oklahoma, is gearing up for an exciting new tradition as the Lilac Festival prepares to take over historic downtown! From June 26 to 28, the Lilac Festival will immerse visitors in the city’s rich cultural heritage, blending native and settler traditions in a vibrant celebration filled with music, food, art, and family-friendly activities. The Lilac Festival welcomes everyone to enjoy all three days with no admission fees and free parking while exploring the Lilac District which is comprised of downtown proper plus the blocks to the east encompassing the Gazebo Park, Museum of History and Belvedere Mansion.

Claremore Main Street, Inc is the hosting organization working in collaboration with local businesses and volunteers to create this Festival celebrating Claremore’s unique history and traditions. The title sponsors for the event are the Cherokee Nation and Value News Magazine with supporting contributions from a variety of local businesses and volunteers including Three Twenty on Main, David Merriman Insurance Agency, the Claremore Progress, Crooked Roots Design, Beacon Hill Ranch, New Skool DJ Productions, RCB Bank, MMS Payne Funeral Home, Studio B Artworks, the Claremore Museum of History.

The Claremore Main Street Board couldn’t be more excited about this year’s festival and has already started planning for expanding it next year as one of Claremore’s Route 66 Centennial events. Steve Robinson and Susan Gebhart, committee members for the event explain that the festival is all about honoring Claremore’s past while celebrating the growth and revitalization of the Lilac District. The festival’s name itself pays tribute to Claremore native and Cherokee playwright Lynn Riggs, whose play “Green Grow the Lilacs” inspired the world-famous musical “Oklahoma!.”

Festival Kick-off is Thursday, June 26

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 26, during downtown’s popular Food Truck Thursday from 6-9 PM. Music and line dancing in the street with New Skool DJ Productions in charge of the fun will kick off the entertainment. A wide variety of food trucks will be on site, local food & beverage establishments offering specials, evening shopping with businesses highlighting lilac-inspired products, and a variety of Cherokee Artisan vendor booths will be included. A ribbon skirt exhibition and fashion show will take place – if you have one be sure to wear it! There will also be fun photo opportunities, a Lacrosse exhibition (the modern successor of Native American stickball), pony rides, and a Kids Zone with family fun designed for the kiddos.

More Festival Fun on Friday, June 27

Friday, June 27, from 6-9 PM the Lilac District streets will come to life again. Music, a square-dancing exhibition, and the opportunity to join the dance, learn to square dance, and join in line dancing too. There will be an old-fashioned pie and sweets auction, reminiscent of the hamper auction scene in the movie, benefiting two community causes, the Lilac District Beautification Fund and the Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club Scholarship Fund. Rounding out the evening will be shopping and dining, food trucks, Cherokee Artisans, Pony Rides, the Kid Zone, and a “Ropin’ Arena” for the kiddos where they can learn to rope from local cowboys! Festival-goers will love this family-friendly evening ending in a viewing of the movie “Oklahoma!” in Gazebo Park under the stars. It is the perfect way to experience a little nostalgia while making new memories.

Main Street Market on Saturday, June 28

Saturday, June 28 from 9 am to noon sees Main Street Market Day in full swing. Downtown businesses will open early at 9 AM, offering specials and lilac-themed surprises. Just a block away, the Farmer’s Market at the Claremore Courthouse parking lot opens from 7 am to 11 am providing local farmers and vendors offering fresh produce and artisan goods. Families will love the sidewalk chalk art area for kids, as well as a special Cherokee storytelling sessions held at Gazebo Park. Children can also join in art projects learning to paint rocks to create symbolic animals like water spiders, turtles, and a colorful snake that will become a feature in the Lilac District. All these animals hold significance in Cherokee folklore. Quilt lovers will enjoy an exhibition by the County Fare Quilters Guild, featuring local quilter/artisans bringing settler-era traditions and craftsmanship to the present day.

Recent Lilac District Upgrades

The festival will also highlight ongoing efforts by the Claremore Main Street Inc, a non-profit dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the historic downtown district, to enhance the Lilac District’s charm. According to Steve Robinson, CMS Executive Director, the event will highlight the initial stage of a new CMS initiative to transform the facade of Claremore Main Street. The project includes adding flower baskets to light poles, branding Main Street with the new CMS logo, painting the light poles, and installing more planting areas to produce an overall visual that ties in with the name Lilac District.

With free admission and parking, the Lilac Festival promises to be a weekend filled with community spirit, cultural appreciation, and plenty of fun. “Claremore has a very active downtown business district, committed to keeping it attractive, vibrant, and filled with community-oriented events,” said Gebhart. “We hope attendees walk away with a deeper connection to our town’s history and a fantastic family experience.”

Don’t miss the chance to experience the Lilac Festival—where history and community come to life!