Shawnee offers a wide variety of events year-round. Celebrations of the arts and cultures, showing off classic cars, rodeo competitions, and family friendly holiday festivals fill our calendar of events. Plan your weekend in Shawnee around one or two of these annual events.
Independence Day Celebrations
Each year, Shawnee is home to nearly a week of fireworks displays highlighted by Grand Casino’s show which shines right over Shawnee’s Twin Lakes. Grab your sparklers, don your red, white, and blue, and join us! More here.
International Finals Youth Rodeo
'It's bulls and blood, dust and mud, boots and chaps, cowboy hats, the ropes and the reins and the joy and the pain, and they call the thing rodeo.' Shawnee annually hosts the IFYR. Each July, come see the best of the future of rodeo!
Fireflight Hot Air Balloon Festival & Outdoor Nation Expo
One of Shawnee's iconic events, Fireflight offers hot air balloon rides and mesmerizing glows. Free open-air concerts entertain between flights and glows. There is also a giant interactive outdoor expo and kid’s zone. It is fun for the entire family. Hosted by the Potawatomi Nation the second weekend in August.
Pottawatomie County Free Fair
Once an annual social ritual centered on agriculture and education, county fairs in Oklahoma have become iconic celebrations packed with mouthwatering foods and endless entertainment. In September, visit Shawnee and return to small-town simplicity with the rush of a thrilling carnival ride, the sweet aroma of hot kettle corn, and the sound of a crowd coming together to sing a classic country tunes.
Firelake Casino Car Show
Another car show for auto enthusiasts. With nearly 30 car classifications, you are guaranteed to see something that gets your motor running! Held in October.
Monsters on Main Downtown Halloween Festival
Shawnee’s annual spooky season celebration includes Monsters on Main (formerly Boo on Bell) which is held Downtown on historic brick-lined Bell & Main Streets. You’ll find a carnival, vendors, live performances, and of course, trick or treating!
Sunshine Shelly’s Pumpkin Patch and Nightmare Harvest
Pick your pumpkin from the vine at this 15-acre pumpkin patch. Other kid-friendly - not scary - activities include hayrack rides, a kiddie corn maze, a corn pit, inflatables, and movies at sundown. Nightmare Harvest is for those that want to get spooked. It’s Sunshine Shelly’s haunted corn maze. Consider yourself warned!
OK Classics Car & Memorabilia Auction
One of the biggest car shows in Oklahoma. This annual events gives car lovers a chance to see classic cars and trucks of all makes and models. Even if you don’t bid on any, you’ll enjoy seeing them before they are put on the block. Held in November. More details here.
Nighttime Christmas Parade
Oklahoma’s largest nighttime Christmas parade on historic Main Street in Downtown Shawnee features live music, a classic parade complete with Santa on his sleigh, and a fireworks finale. More here.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Reunion
The annual Family Reunion Festival of Citizen Potawatomi Nation is a celebration of Native culture for the Potawatomi. A powwow is held with group, social, and competition dances including men’s traditional, women’s traditional, jingle dance, and more. Held in June, this is a tribal-members only event.
Find these and more fun events on our Calendar of Events. Stay in-the-know about what's happening in Shawnee, OK with our weekly newsletter. Sign up here.