Tulsa’s Big Dam Party Starts Today
If you drive down Riverside past Gathering Place, you may see a huge, yellow dome sticking up above the trees. It’s a giant duck. Yes, a giant, inflatable duck. The duck, and Timmy, the smaller 10-ft. rubber duck that you may have seen at various places around town, are part of Tulsa’s Big Dam Party, which celebrates the opening of the new pedestrian bridge this Labor Day weekend.
Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge
Why a giant duck, you may ask? I don’t know… Tulsa does like its over-sized structures – praying hands, Golden Driller, Buck and Stella Atom, the giant baby in boots that is supposed to be installed at Cry Baby Hill (I’ve heard there’s some controversy surrounding this one, so wait and see…) Regardless, isn’t a 61-foot duck super fun? I’d love to see that thing float down the river. I doubt that will happen, but maybe they’ll put Timmy in for a swim.
There will be floating going on — Tulsa’s Great Raft Race is returning on Labor Day, coinciding with the grand opening of Zink Lake. The race begins at 8 a.m. But that’s just one event featured during the free, four-day celebration, which runs Fri., Aug. 30 – Mon., Sept. 2. Besides the opening of the Pedestrian Bridge and Zink Lake, visitors can view the Tulsa Wave Park, Williams Crossing and the expansion of Gathering Place’s riverfront.
The opening ceremony is today, Friday, Aug. 30, at 3:30 p.m. at Gathering Place’s Great Lawn.
The four-day line-up includes music (a Hanson concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Great Lawn stage!), a fun run, a parade, art exhibits, food trucks, rowing and sailing and more. Actor C. Thomas Howell (“The Outsiders”) will be participating in events on Sunday evening.
There’s too much to list here. For a full schedule of events and times each day, go to issuu.com/tulsaregionaltourism/docs/big_dam_party_schedule_2024?fr=sYTQxMjc2OTI1MTE
Shuttle Service
Please note that there is shuttle service from Tulsa Community College downtown and Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills:
DAY 1 (8/30) – Fri
- Shuttles ONLY running from Downtown Tulsa (TCC), 1:30-9 p.m.
DAY 2 (8/31) – Sat
- Shuttles running from BOTH Downtown Tulsa (TCC) and Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
DAY 3 (9/1) – Sun
- Shuttles running from BOTH Downtown Tulsa (TCC) and Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills, 12:30-10:30 p.m.
DAY 4 (9/2) – Mon
- Shuttles ONLY running from Downtown Tulsa (TCC), 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
More information and FAQs are available at bigdamparty.com!
Tulsans have waited years for planning and construction to be completed. It’s about Dam time. Join your friends, neighbors and relatives this weekend for a GIANT celebration at Tulsa’s Big Dam Party!
