20 Things to do in Tulsa in 2024
Wondering what Tulsans have to look forward to in the New Year? Here are our top picks. Let us know in the comments what you’re most excited about!
1. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve at Tulsa Zoo
After a June 2022 groundbreaking, Tulsa Zoo’s new elephant facility should be completed in 2024. We can’t wait to visit the elephants in their new space. In addition to a new indoor area, they’ll have 10 acres to roam around in.
2. Broadway in Tulsa
Celebrity Attractions always brings amazing Broadway tours to town! Here is their 2024 lineup, from what we know so far:
- Hairspray, Jan. 2-7
- Mean Girls, Feb. 2-5
- My Fair Lady, Feb. 27-March 3
- To Kill a Mockingbird, March 26-31
- Chicago, April 2-3
- Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, May 14-19
3. WeStreet Oilers Ice Center
The new WeStreet Oilers Ice Center should open at 41st and Yale in early 2024. Here, families can learn to skate, host parties and gatherings and more!
4. Stella Atom Installation
Beloved Route 66 roadside attraction Buck Atom is getting a friend – Stella Atom, Space Cowgirl! According to a Facebook post, Stella Atom should arrive May 2024. She will be 19 feet tall!
5. Jim and Cherry Bost Arboretum at Tulsa Botanic Garden
Tulsa Botanic Garden celebrated the opening of two new gardens in 2023 – and they have big plans for 2024 as well! Construction on the Jim and Cherry Bost Arboretum should start in January 2024, with an estimated completion in fall 2024. According to their website, “The Jim and Cherry Bost Arboretum will encompass approximately two acres and include a mix of over 100 trees as well as shrubs, pathways, an entry donor plaza and meandering walkways leading to a pavilion with an adjacent water curtain fountain.”
6. Gilcrease in Your Neighborhood
After a successful first year, Gilcrease in Your Neighborhood will be back for 2024, with some changes. Five outdoor locations will host installations of Gilcrease works, with each work being on display six months at a time. They will continue to offer engaging programming to complement the works. Learn more in our January 2024 issue.
7. Philbrook Museum
Philbrook Museum always promises high quality programming and installations. Their first major installation of 2024 is Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective, which will open in Feb. 2024. According to their website, this exhibition “features dozens of colorful multi-media blown-glass objects and elaborately framed lenticular prints that span the spectacular, genre-defying careers of artists and brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre.” It sounds vibrant and beautiful, and we can’t wait to visit!
8. Tulsa Premium Outlets
Yes, the long-anticipated outlet mall in Jenks should finally open this year! According to a December 2023 article by Tulsa World, the outlets should open in August. What stores are you hoping to see?
9. New Pedestrian Bridge
This was on our list for last year, but there’s still a way to go on the construction of Tulsa’s new pedestrian bridge across the Arkansas River. Rather than fall 2023, the City of Tulsa is now making plans for a Labor Day grand opening.
10. Tulsa City-County Library’s Summer Reading Program
TCCL’s Summer Reading Program will always be on our list of things to look forward to. They do such a great job of creating fun programming and events for all ages. The 2024 theme will be “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”
11. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert
Tulsa Symphony will once again be accompanying the first Harry Potter film, providing the soundtrack as the movie plays on the big screen. Attend one of three performances, happening March 9 and 10. Tickets available at secure.tulsapac.com/4016
They typically do a holiday movie performance in this style, so keep an eye out for details about that as well. In 2023, they accompanied “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and 2022’s film of choice was “Elf.”
12. BOK Center
Who’s coming to the BOK Center in 2024? Some of the biggest names – of those announced so far – include
- The Eagles with Steely Dan (Feb. 13)
- Tim McGraw with special guest Carly Pearce (April 13)
- Bad Bunny (April 24)
- Pepe Aguilar: Jaripeo Hasta Los Huesos (May 24)
- Hozier (August 10)
- P!NK (Nov. 8 – rescheduled from 2023)
- Zach Bryan (Dec. 12-14)
13. Tulsa Ballet
Tulsa Ballet will wrap up their 2023-2024 season with Strictly Gershwin (Feb.); Romeo & Juliet (March); Jack and the Beanstalk (April) and their annual Signature Series performance (May). Beyond that, they’re sure to announce another amazing season soon, which will no doubt include The Nutcracker in December!
14. Circle Cinema
Circle Cinema launched a new Family Membership option in late 2022. In 2023, they brought in several popular family shows, like “Wish” and “Elemental,” offering special programming on opening day. For example, Discovery Lab brought a fun bubbles experiment for an “Elemental” event. We look forward to seeing this kind of programming continue in 2024, as it was a lot of fun and a great opportunity for younger audiences to experience Tulsa’s historic theater.
15. Courts and Commons
If you’ve lived in Tulsa over a summer, no doubt you’re familiar with Josh’s Sno Shack. In July 2024, Josh Juarez, owner of Josh’s Sno Shack, is opening a new concept in Bixby, Courts and Commons. Courts and Commons will feature pickleball courts, a micro food hall and plenty of green space. Sounds like a good time!
16. Tulsa PAC’s Imagination Series
Tulsa PAC’s Imagination Series has been introducing young audiences to theater experiences for many years. Not only do their shows entertain, they also provide “STEM-related learning opportunities.” Their 2023-2024 season already saw “Janet’s Planet” in December, but there are still two shows to go. Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical and Call of the Wild on Feb. 29.
Also, Dinosaur World Live is coming March 21!
17. Discovery Lab
We don’t know what all Discovery Lab has planned for 2024, but keep an eye out because they do several fun events throughout the year. In the past, these have included Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day – and of course their annual Noon Year’s Eve party featuring a room full of balloons!
18. Sports!
We’re anticipating another year of cheering on Tulsa’s sports teams! Tulsa Drillers announced in October that they were sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings. However, according to milb.com, DBG is “dedicated to preserving the fan-first experience by continuing to support the amazing Drillers fans and staff and look forward to growing our partnership with both the Dodgers organization and the entire Tulsa community.” So it sounds like it should still be a fun season with the Drillers!
And of course, there will be FC Tulsa returning to play at ONEOK Field, Tulsa Oilers at BOK Center, Tulsa Athletic and all your favorite college and high school teams!
19. Scheels
Sporting goods store Scheels is scheduled to open at Woodland Hills Mall in fall 2024. More than just a place to shop, Scheels is known for its in-store experiences like a ferris wheel, arcade and more.
20. A Year With TulsaKids Magazine
Finally, we’ll end with a preview of some fun things TulsaKids has planned in 2024! There will be more, too, so please subscribe to our email list so you don’t miss a thing!
- January: Our Education Guide
- February: Our Health Guide – plus an Amazing Moms Contest! The winner will be featured on our May cover
- March: Family Favorites Nominations and Summer Camp Guide
- April: Awesome Dads Contest – nominees to be featured in our June issue
- May: Family Favorites Voting, Summer Family Fun Guide published last week of May
- June: Our Birthday Club will renew for its second year! Join here.
- July: Family Favorites Winners revealed! Plus our annual Cover Kid Contest
- August: Enrichment Guide
- September: Our College Planner and Baby Handbook are published
- October: Fall Family Fun Guide and Inclusive Resource Guide
- November: Holiday Kickoff
- December: Holiday Family Fun Guide
