OU football’s return to Norman and the opening of the Oklahoma State Fair are among multiple events happening this weekend.
Norman
Party at the Palace, 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday: Check out pre-game traditions including the Walk of Champions, appearances by the Pride of Oklahoma, OU Spirit Squads and the Sooner Schooner. There will also be food trucks, music and giveaways on the lawn north of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Ink the Block Party, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday: Oscillator Press’ second annual free block party, featuring art vendors, live music, mural and steamroller painting, will be held at the East 300 Block on Crawford Ave. between Main and Gray Street.
Main stage schedule:
• 3 p.m. Scissortail
• 4 p.m. Belle Riots
• 5 p.m. That Sick Feeling
• 6 p.m. Poolboy
• 7 p.m. S. Reidy
• 8 p.m. Polistes
• 9 p.m. Afterparty featuring ember.wav
OU vs New Mexico, 6:30 p.m. Saturday: OU (1-1) returns home to play New Mexico (2-0) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium after losing 17-10 to Michigan (2-0) in Ann Arbor. Tickets are available online.
Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma State Fair, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday: The Oklahoma State Fair opens Thursday at OKC Fair Park, celebrating a century of Route 66 — the historic highway that spanned across the United States. Last year’s event brought in approximately 825,000 visitors.
There’s plenty to do at the fair with a range of carnival rides, including the America 250 Wheel, a 230-foot-tall Ferris wheel ride giving views up to 14 miles of the OKC skyline. The America 250 Wheel is the largest portable observation wheel in the world, according to a press release by the Oklahoma State Fair.
There are also multiple food deals at the fair this year; such as the $5 book of coupons, offering over $250 of discounts. Food items include a donut smash burger, pork belly lollipops, churro Korean corndogs and very berry nerdy watermelon, among other items.
Map of the 2026 Oklahoma State Fair.
Some events to check out this weekend at the fair include:
Film Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday: Oklahoma State Fair’s Family-Friendly Short Film Exhibition & Competition will take place at the Modern Living Building, featuring short films with ties to Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Mural Challenge, Saturday and Sunday: 21 artists will face off in a live mural challenge at the General Pershing Median.
Farmhand Olympics, 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday: The Farmhand Olympics will feature calf roping, hay bale tossing, cow milking and more Barn 3.
Free live music with fair admission will be held at the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage:
• 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aaron Watson with Alex Miller
• 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sebastian Bach with Great White
• 7 p.m. Saturday, Route 66 Red Dirt Music Festival featuring Wade Bowen, William Clark Green and Cam Allen
• 7 p.m. Sunday, Let’s Sing Taylor, a tribute to Taylor Swift
Admission ticket prices may vary, and are available online or at the gate. A list of discounted admission days is available online.
Carnival armbands allow riders to enjoy unlimited rides during their visit, with the exception of the America 250 Wheel. Armband prices cost $25 Thursday and $50 Friday to Sunday.
Single day parking costs $15 and only accepts card payments. More parking information can be found online.
Disney on Ice, 7 p.m. Thursday, 3 and 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday: Watch performances featuring iconic Disney characters from Zootopia, Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Toy Story, Encanto, Frozen and more at the OG&E Coliseum. Tickets are available online.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Kylie Caldwell and Larkin Bock copy edited this story.
