June Must-Dos - 405 Magazine

June Must-Dos

Native cultures commingle for the Red Earth Festival, Prix de West lauds the best in Western art, OKC Jazz Fest’s smooth operators and more.

 


► Crimson City

The Red Earth Festival has pomp and pageantry in plenty – tens of thousands gather to cheer for the grand parade, witness the unparalleled Native dancing and browse the massive collection of exceptional artwork – but this annual event is more than mere spectacle: It’s a three-day celebration of the cultures, traditions, creativity and spirits of dozens of Native American tribes. Now in its 30th year, this gathering June 10-12 in downtown OKC and the Cox Center remains an entertaining, educational, perspective-expanding marvel.


Tim Cherry, “River Mates”


► The Gold Standard

With a subject as broad in scope as the American West – spanning portraiture, landscapes, wildlife scenes and more– how do you go about finding the very best art? It helps when the experts do the selection work for you. More than 300 elite paintings and sculptures fill the annual Prix de West for appreciation and potential purchase. The exhibition remains on display into August, but a bevy of seminars, panels and special dinners make the opening weekend a must-attend main event for collectors and aficionados. Go West!


► Home Sweetness

A masterful, charismatic violinist and Oklahoma Creativity Ambassador, Kyle Dillingham is a frequent world traveler. Now he’s showing his appreciation for all the support he’s received at home with the 405 Thank You Tour, playing in Minco, Piedmont, Guthrie and more – check horseshoeroad.net for updates.


Al Jarreau


► Smooth Operators

The third time will be plenty charming for listeners as OKC Jazz Fest returns to the heart of the city, bringing tip-top practitioners of jazz as well as hip-hop, rhythm and blues and more. Headliners include Tulsa funksmiths The Gap Band, multi-Grammy-winning crooner Al Jarreau and a homecoming for OKC-formed R&B group Color Me Badd.


► Yada, Yada, Yada

Lovers and liars, brigands and braggarts, mendacity for purposes both foul and fair – the Bard’s masterpiece might be “Much Ado About Nothing,” but that’s no reason to miss out, as the most excellent players of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park launch into a new and delightful season of outdoor theater.