From Vegas-style table games available around the clock to classic slots, find your next big win when you sample from Shawnee's five gambling experiences curated by four tribes. Black Hawk Casino Home to 620+ of the latest and classic slot machines, including private High Limit and Hunt for Neptune’s Gold rooms. Open 24/7; restaurant & bar onsite. 42008 Westech Rd | (405) 275-4700 | theblackhawkcasino.com Kickapoo Casino Over 300 of the latest and hottest E-Games with a great variety of denominations to choose from; newly renovated! Sports Bar inside. Open till 2 am. This is a property of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. 38900 W MacArthur St | (405) 395-0900 | kickapoo-casino.com/shawnee Firelake Casino & Entertainment Center Firelake is home to more than 700 e-games and a variety of table games, including Blackjack and Texas Hold’em. Let your non-player fam join in the fun at the Bowling Center + Arcade across the parking lot. Open until 2 am; bistro and bar onsite, with live music most Saturday nights. This casino is a property of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. 41207 Hardesty Rd | (405) 878-4862 | firelakecasino.com Grand Casino Hotel & Resort The Grand features 1,800 of the hottest slots in addition to blackjack, poker and the haute player's club experience. Enjoy the full resort, including the rooftop club, Brazilian Steakhouse, Grand Spa, and so much more in this truly Vegas-style experience right off I-40.This casino is a property of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. 777 Grand Casino Blvd | (405) 964-7263 | grandresortok.com Thunderbird Casino Play anything from a penny to $10 on Thunderbird's collection of egames. If you’re more of a strategist, try your luck at poker or bonus spin blackjack. Bar & Grill onsite. Hours vary. This casino is a property of the Absentee Shawnee tribe. 2051 S Gordon Cooper Dr | (405) 273-2679 | playthunderbird.com Stay the night in one of our cozy hotels and make it a weekend trip! See you soon in Shawnee.

The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO), in conjunction with the City of Shawnee and the Shawnee Film and Music Office, is proud to announce the community of Shawnee has achieved ‘film friendly’ certification after completing the requirements for OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program. Shawnee has a history of working to cultivate the film, television and music industries within their community dating back over ten years ago as host of the former Southern Winds Film Festival to presently serving as home to companies like Outsiders Productions and Grand Casino’s Emmy Award-winning singer/songwriter series Play It Loud . Additionally, Shawnee has welcomed production on a variety of film and television projections, including the feature “Out of Exile” from Oklahoma’s own Kyle Kauwika Harris , as well as the film “Help Wanted”, which just wrapped production in the community last week. "For lack of more elegant words, the growth of the film industry in Shawnee is just really cool," proclaimed Shawnee Mayor Ed Bolt. "We've heard about the film business happening in Oklahoma, but it seemed some faraway dream. Now, film crews are right here on Shawnee's Main Street, in our restaurants and shooting other locations around our community. It is a privilege to get to show off Shawnee to the world as these films and TV episodes are released.” - Shawnee, OK Mayor, Ed Bolt He continues, “Others get to see what I've long known, that Shawnee is a vibrant, beautiful place for our citizens, our guests, and now the film industry. It is fun to think about what the future holds for Shawnee and Oklahoma." In addition to becoming certified through OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program, Shawnee City Commissioners voted in May to approve the creation of the Shawnee Film and Music Office within the city’s tourism department. Headed by Tourism Director Stacy Cramer Moore, the Shawnee Film and Music Office will support film, television and music production in the area by coordinating the necessary permits, streamlining communications, promoting local assets and ensuring the health and safety of both the community and industry guests. “When you start to think about the scope of services, required by even a mid-budget production, from craft services to carpentry, our local businesses and city's tax revenue increase when film crews are in town,” said Shawnee Film and Music Office Director Stacy Cramer Moore. “Our citizens start to look at our locations in a different way, seeing them as unique and interesting. It has ignited a spark of pride. Shawnee has a long legacy of participating in the film industry, and now, we have the opportunity to grow and diversify the kinds of projects shot in Shawnee.” - Director, Stacy Cramer-Moore The Shawnee Film and Music Office is the latest organization established to help drive and support the entertainment industry on a localized level, joining organizations such as the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture, the Cherokee Nation Film Office and the El Reno TV & Film Commission. As a certified film friendly community, the City of Shawnee now joins El Reno and Broken Arrow who previously completed the program’s requirements, which require the designation of a film liaison, the creation of a filming permit and the promotion of the community’s locations via OF+MO’s online directory. “We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Stacy Cramer-Moore over the last two years as she and her city’s leadership have worked to further promote the City of Shawnee to the state’s film, television and music industries, and we couldn’t be more proud of their successful efforts.” - OF+MO Director, Tava Maloy Sofsky “We applaud Shawnee’s commitment to both their community and the future film, television and music production in the state, and look forward to our continued work together.” For more information on the Shawnee Film and Music Office, visit shawnee.info/film . For more information on OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community program, visit okfilmmusic.org/filmfriendly . About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office: Under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) works to promote the state as a viable hub for film, television and music production as well as further develop opportunities for workforce, business and community growth within these sectors. For more information on the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, including the state's film incentives and additional resources, visit okfilmmusic.org .

Geeks Unite! Nerd travel is actually cool with geek tours and geeky travel destinations. While not DC with the Smithsonian Museums or San Francisco with the Yoda fountain at LucasFilm headquarters, Shawnee still offers plenty of fun for you and your co-geeks to unleash your inner nerds. Bibliotech is Shawnee’s largest used bookstore. Of special note to geeks are the new and used comics. As the only comic bookstore in Shawnee, they take their job seriously to provide folks with vintage, rare, and collectible comics as well as back issues. The game is also on with their selection of entertaining board games, card games, and more. Find great gifts for friends including vintage collectibles, toys, and more. Opened in 2023, The Guilded Grayland is a tabletop games shop where you can play games from a library of new and vintage games as well as purchase your next favorites, plus gaming events onsite and more. Nerd out with the pirate, wizards, and heist themed escape rooms at House of Hints ! How about ancient Egyptian mummies? The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art has one on display! There’s other Egyptian, Greek and Roman objects on display alongside traditional art and traveling exhibits. No matter which Star Wars movie you like the best, there’s plenty to see in Shawnee. Plan you trip now !

While Oklahoma averages 231 sunny days a year, some of those sunny days can be on really cold days. And it does snow in Oklahoma. On those really cold, snowy days (or blistering hot ones!!), you’re looking for fun things to do indoors. Here’s all the fun things to do indoors in Shawnee! See a mummy at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art . Father Gregory Gerrer traveled Europe, Africa, and South America and amassed quite a collection of artifacts and art. See Egyptian, Greek and Roman objects and art including Tu Tu - Oklahoma’s only mummy! At the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center , you can stroll galleries that feature tribal history ranging from pre-contact history to present day. Bonus! Admission is free. See a stuffed Alaskan bear, player piano, antique phones, railroad memorabilia, several model train sets and a scale model of downtown Shawnee in the Pottawatomie County Museum . Stroll (or slide) across the complex to see the historic Depot. House of Hints offers unique escape room experiences in historic downtown Shawnee! Just down the street, Lumberjack Johnson's offers axe throwing and "break" rooms. At the Pier Arcade has classic arcade games for all ages, located right at the heart of Shawnee Mall! Also in the mall, the Community Art Gallery . They have tables and supplies for visitors to walk in and paint at their leisure for a small fee. Take in a movie at Cinema Centre 8 ; bowl at Shawnee Bowl ; or roller skate at Shawnee Star Skate . Indoor Fun Nearby Shawnee Jasmine Moran Children's Museum in Seminole offers the unique experience for children of all ages to pretend to be everything from a surgeon to a pilot! There are hands-on activities like duck races, a bubble factory, the Jasmine Ark and Playground Towers and a 16-foot climbing labyrinth. Seminole Nation Museum in Wewoka chronicle the events and stories that shaped the home of the Seminoles for more than a century. And the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler is an A/V museum highlighting all aspects of Route 66. Bundle up and visit Shawnee. Many fine, local restaurants offer hot comfort food and at the end of your fun, snuggle in a warm hotel bed - then do it all again the next day!

Brickhouse Saloon is Shawnee's premier nightlife destination, tucked away on the second & third floors of a historic building off Main & Bell Street in Shawnee's iconic brick-set downtown. Some of Oklahoma's best country, rock, and even hip-hop artists perform every weekend, and with a full service bar, pool tables, plenty of space to sit or dance, you're guaranteed a good time. Scroll to see who's performing at Brickhouse Saloon next! Live music starts every Saturday and some Fridays @ 9 pm.

Every Friday night year-round in Theo's Backyard from 7 - 10 pm, you can enjoy incredible musical artistry from a variety of genres while you sip signature cocktails, beer or wine, and enjoy eats from Theo's special Backyard menu! Enjoy the music under the Oklahoma sky Spring through Fall, and in Theo's heated tent during the winter. No chill stopping the vibe here! To find out who's playing this Friday, check their Facebook page.

Summers in Oklahoma admittedly can be hot! When visiting Shawnee during the summer, you'll inevitably want to find a cool spot or two. There are plenty of ways to beat the heat if you know what to do, which is why we’ve made a list of the best ways to cool off around the Red Bud City! 1. Shawnee Splash Water Park Dive in to the outdoor complex featuring a shallow play area, regulation pool area, spray ground area, diving area, climbing wall, slides, diving boards, and much more. The park also hosts several events throughout the season including movie nights, military appreciation, and swim days for pets if you want to plan your trip around those events. 2. Twin Lakes Swim, boat and/or ski in one of the lakes in Shawnee. There are dedicated swim areas and boating permits are required so know the requirements and restrictions before heading out. 3. Museums Fully air-conditioned, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art , Citizen Potawatomi Culture Center , and Pottawatomie County Museum are great places to cool off and see (and – gasp! – learn) cool things! 4. Go Bowling The bowling alleys are air-conditioned and provide respite from the outdoors. There’s other indoor activities like skating, inflatables, and axe throwing , but you may work up a sweat doing those. 5. Shop the Mall By the time you walk the Shawnee Mall and browse the 50+ stores, you’ll cool down. Some Rolling Cow Ice Cream Treats will surely help too! If you've got littles with you, stop in to Laynie's Treehouse indoor playground for a backyard experience right inside the mall! Visiting Oklahoma requires one to be weather aware. With ample planning of indoor or water fun during the heat of the day, you’ll enjoy your visit to Shawnee. To further help plan your visit, order a visitors guide !

Fun and games indoor and out. Mummies. Trains. Dinosaurs. Cowboys. Everyone can be a kid in Shawnee. Here are some of the best family-friendly adventures: 1. House of Hints Unique escape room experiences (new puzzles and rooms often!) on historic Bell Street. Private parties and paint splatter experiences also available. 2. Coffee N' Crafts Walk in and grab a drink and canvas or ceramic and paint to your heart's content! Special craft classes available throughout the year in addition to walk-in painting. 3. Shawnee Splash Water Park Beat the summer heat at the outdoor complex featuring a shallow play area, regulation pool area, spray ground area, diving area, climbing wall, and slides. 4. Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Want to see the only ancient Egyptian mummy in Oklahoma? Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art features permanent exhibitions of Egyptian, Greek and Roman objects; art from the Renaissance through the early 20th century; and large holdings of Native American, African, pre-Columbian, and Eastern cultural artifacts. 5. Pottawatomie County Museum See how your kiddo sizes up against the World's Largest Overalls and a stuffed Alaskan bear, or see the model train sets. The Pottawatomie County Museum located alongside the historic Santa Fe Depot & Beard cabin shows the history of life in Shawnee and Pottawatomie County in the newly-built Milburn Center. 6. Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma (L.O.C.O.) They’re a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of large scale model railroading . Ride the outdoor railroad on the five acres of land about 16 miles west of Shawnee. 7. Jasmine Moran Children's Museum Learn to ride a Segway. Find your way through the Castle Maze. Let your little learn to be a judge, grocery cashier, restauranteur, or mechanic! Explore these interactive exhibits at the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in nearby Seminole. 9. More in OKC The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is home to 1,900 animals. The Science Museum Oklahoma is the state's only hands-on science museum and one of the largest science museums in the nation. And at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum kids can stroll the streets of Prosperity Junction, an authentic turn-of-the-century Western prairie town. Peek in store windows, listen to antique player pianos, and actually walk into some of the fully furnished buildings. Any dinosaur loving kid will want to visit the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman. Explore ancient dinosaur life, Oklahoma natural life, or the culture of Native Americans in Oklahoma. With so many family fun adventures, get a hotel room and make a weekend of it in Shawnee. Order your Visitors Guide and start planning your fun!

Shawnee has a rich history! Four Native American Tribes. Cattle drives. Oklahoma Baptist University. The railroad. Astronauts. And Round House Overalls. The many volunteers with the Pottawatomie County Historical Society have worked to preserve Shawnee's history, and you can see it on display at the Pottawatomie County Museum. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Learn more about the Pottawatomie County Museum here. Here are the top 10 things to see when you visit the Pottawatomie County Museum in historic downtown Shawnee! 1. The World's Largest Pair of Overalls! Guinness Book of World Records verified ! 17-foot tall; nearly 15-foot waist; and buttons that are 8 inches in diameter. The overalls celebrate the rich history of Round House Jeans in Shawnee. 2. A model of Downtown Shawnee. The buildings and streets are to scale and meticulously detailed. You feel like you're flying over Downtown Shawnee as you walk around and see the model! 3. The Gordon Cooper, Astronaut display Shawnee's own United States Air Force pilot and astronaut piloted the longest and last Mercury spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 9. During that 34-hour mission he became the first American to spend an entire day in space, the first to sleep in space, and the last American launched on an entirely solo orbital mission. Learn more about "Gordo" - Shawnee's son - at the Museum. (Learn more about other famous people from Shawnee here .) 4. A one room schoolhouse Walk in the room. Sit at the desk. And imagine school on the plains. Be sure to ring the bell! 5. A replica 1930's bank There's no teller to take your deposit (although the museum staff would welcome the donation,) but walk in a replica bank long before direct deposit and ATMs. 6. Buddy the Bear Buddy is the large stuffed bear on display and the most fun of Buddy is what color he is the day you visit. He's been white to represent polar bears. The day we visited he was as black as a black bear can get. 7. A Model T car. A 1917 model. Looks as new as the day it was driven off the lot! (Were they called 'car lots' in 1917?) 8. The model trains. There are three model trains. Watch as they travel through town, through the countryside, then back to town. Is anything more relaxing than model trains? 9. The tractor models. Shawnee has a rich agriculture history. That history and the fun side of tractors is on display with an impressive collection of John Deere tractor models and toys. 10. The slideshow of historic pictures. In the Museum's theater is a continuous running slideshow of historic pictures. A heads up - it's a long slideshow and you probably won't sit through all of it, but it is a great place to grab a seat and rest between exhibits. Bonus tip: the bricks you drive on when you arrive to the Museum are the original brick pavers of the 1905 Main Street! Get a preview of the Museum and our must-sees by watching this: More fun videos on our YouTube channel.

From incredible fine art galleries and studios to contemplative public art installations and multi-dimensional art-related events, art lovers will want to visit Shawnee. Here is a virtual guide to some of the Red Bud city’s best artistic expressions. Art Galleries & Art Classes Music & Entertainment Live Theatre Murals & Sculptures Art Museums, Art Galleries & Classes In addition to museums, Shawnee's art community features several art galleries, each with a unique character where you can view, purchase, and even make your own masterpieces! The Arts at 317 A self-proclaimed "home for the arts," this gallery features the work of over 50 Oklahoman artists from glasswork and ceramics to fine oil paintings. They host monthly third Friday block pARTies featuring a new artist or author each month, and host fine art workshops and classes in multiple mediums throughout the year. Advance registration required for classes and workshops. theartsat317.com Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center Inside the CPNCHC's Long Room, a rotating gallery features photography and art demonstrating present-day tribal life alongside the permanent tribal veterans exhibit. Tribal art and culture workshops regularly. potawatomiheritage.com Community Art Gallery 100+ rotating artists sell diverse works in this large Shawnee Mall gallery. Home to some of Oklahoma's biggest art shows! Group classes available. All ages open paint during regular mall hours. VisitShawnee.com/cag Coffee N' Crafts A classic coffee shop experience plus canvas, wood, and ceramics you can purchase and paint while you sip. Special classes held regularly, and private events available. coffee-n-crafts.com The Inkwell Gallery Step into another world and let your imagination take flight with this collection of fantastical artisan crafted items. The Inkwell Gallery features local art and other unique items in historic downtown Shawnee, opening April 2023. theinkwellgallery.com Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Oklahoma's oldest art museum and home to Oklahoma's only mummies, the MGMoA brings internationally acclaimed exhibits, classes and lectures year-round to their rotating gallery. MGMoA showcases the founder's collections of artistic and ethnological objects of value from his travels to Europe, Africa and South America. The featured object is the Egyptian Mummy, Tutu . Advance registration required for classes and workshops. Meeting space available. mgmoa.org MGMoA Gallery at SSM Health Inside the SSM St. Anthony's Hospital, this long hall gallery features a new artist regulary, curated by the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. facebook.com/mgmoa Oklahoma Baptist University Student & Faculty Galleries Student and faculty art shows happen throughout fall & spring semesters in two galleries on the OBU Campus, in the Art building and in the student union. instagram/obu_art_and_design Live Theatre Shawnee Little Theatre Shawnee's community theatre has been producing quality live theatre since the 1960s. This beautiful "little" theatre in the round seats 250 and is home to a fresh season of live musicals and plays each year. Season details at shawneelittletheatre.com . OBU Fine Arts Department Oklahoma Baptist University's Fine Arts program is one of the best in the nation, with student and faculty performances throughout the school year. To see what's playing next: Art music: okbu.edu/arts/music/events Theatre performance: okbu.edu/arts/theatre Music & Entertainment Music, film, live theater, and even opera ring out at arenas, stages and patios across Shawnee most every Friday and Saturday night. Whether you want to grab a beer at a downtown saloon and jam or watch a theatrical masterpiece live onstage, it's here in Shawnee. Live music in Shawnee ranges from orchestral and jazz performances by OBU students to contemporary. Local bands frequent numerous bars and restaurants. The Ritz puts on a variety of shows ranging from jazz to rock, comedians and popular tribute bands. National artist tours stop at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center and Firelake Arena ! Brickhouse Saloon is a classy downtown watering hole on historic, bricked Bell Street with top acts in country, rock, and more every weekend. See who's performing next . Firelake Arena is home to the Potawatomi Fire pro basketball team, the first ever tribally owned professional basketball team. Firelake Arena also hosts a variety of musical acts, fighting competitions, exhibitions, car shows, and more. See what's next: firelakearena.com . The Grand Casino Hotel & Resort's event center holds everything from top artists' national tours to pro bowling, and is located just 2 miles outside Shawnee on I-40. See what's on the schedule at grandresortok.com . Shawnee's premier event complex, the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center holds new acts and adventures nearly every weekend, from the circus to concerts of all genres. See what's coming up at shawneeexpo.com ! A recently renovated 1920s theater, The Ritz hosts music, comedy, mediums, and more from around the nation. One of Oklahoma's most haunted venues, many believe some of the Ritz' patrons and employees never left... See who's playing next: ritzshawnee.com . In the "backyard" of Theopolis Social Club is a small outdoor venue that features some of OK's finest talent in cozy shows year-round. Find out who's playing on at fb.me/TheopolisSocialClub . Murals & Sculptures Painted Horses Nearly 3 dozen beautiful horses stand proud throughout Shawnee, hand-painted by local artists. Each horse shares a unique story and approach to craftsmanship. Designed by mostly local artists, the horses creatively showcase Shawnee's history and prominent places in history. Find them all at VisitShawnee.com/horses . Murals Shawnee's murals range from historic advertisements painted on brick buildings to new, modern and colorful designs on sheet metal. Find all the murals on our regularly updated list at VisitShawnee.com/murals . The murals capture the beauty of downtown thus, most murals are downtown. Take a stroll downtown to discover the great things in and learn of the unique history of the city of Shawnee.