WHERE & WHEN | ENTERTAINMENT SANTA FE TRAIL Through
May 8 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Us-
ing material culture and art objects from the museum’s collection this exhibition will recognize the bicentennial of this most important National Heritage Trail. nationalcowboymuseum.org
SPORTS OKC THUNDER BASKETBALL Dec. 1, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 26, 31 Paycom Center See
Oklahoma’s NBA team play regular season games. pay-
comcenter.com
2021 NRHA FUTURITY SHOW Through Dec. 4 State
POLLARD THEATRE PRESENTS: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Through Dec. 23 Pollard
Theatre, Guthrie This beloved holiday classic tells the story of George Bailey as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. thepollard.org
CONCERTS THREE DOG NIGHT Dec. 3 Choctaw Casino Resort Durant One
of rock’s biggest names visits Durant. choctawcasinos.com
TIM MCGRAW Dec. 4 Choctaw Casino Resort Durant Beloved
country music star Tim McGraw comes to Choctaw Casino. choctawcasinos.com
Fair Park Equine experts and
DUSTIN LYNCH Dec.
grounds.com
Durant End 2021 on the right foot with country star Dustin Lynch. choctawcasinos.com
their horses converge on the Jim Norick Arena for several days of competition. okcfair-
OKC FUTURITY Dec. 8-12 State Fair Park Heart-
31 Choctaw Casino Resort
SPORTS
pounding equine enjoyment can be found at the State Fair Park. okcfairgrounds.com
HOOSIER ARENACROSS NATIONALS Dec. 3-4 Claremore
THE 2022 JR. OPEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP Dec. 31-Jan. 1 State Fair
high-flying nights of motorized, adrenaline-pumping arenacross action. travelok.com
Park See some of the state’s best wrestlers compete for top prizes. okcfairgrounds.com
COMMUNITY
Expo Center Experience two
COMMUNITY MINCO HONEY FESTIVAL Dec. 4 Minco High School
FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Dec. 3 Paseo
Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Minco Honey Festival with pure Oklahoma honey. minco-
enjoy art openings, wine tastings, live music and other activities. thepaseo.org
WOOLAROC WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS Through
Arts District Visitors can
OKC TRAIN SHOW Dec. 4-5 State Fair Park Locomotive
enthusiasts won’t want to miss this two-day event. okcfairgrounds.org
THE POLAR EXPRESS
Through Dec. 31 Oklahoma Railway Museum Get in the
holiday spirit with a festive ride on the Polar Express. okcthe-
polarexpressride.com
DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER Through Jan. 30 Downtown OKC Spend
ok.com/minco/festival.htm
Dec. 19 Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville Embark on a winter
adventure to the Woolaroc Ranch. woolaroc.org
MIDWEST CITY HOLIDAY LIGHTS SPECTACULAR
Through Dec. 25 Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, Midwest City Celebrate the magic of
the season as over one million lights transform Joe B. Barnes Regional Park into a twinkling winter wonderland. midwest-
your holidays experiencing fun activities as downtown Oklahoma City. downtownin-
cityok.org
THE STATE
holiday event include the 50-foot, multi-colored, lighted Christmas tree, the Santa Express Train ride and an ice skating rink. travelok.com
THE POLAR EXPRESS IN CONCERT WITH THE TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Dec.
HOLIDAYS ON ICE Through
december.com
PERFORMANCES
2 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater
Experience this beloved movie as you never have before – with a live symphony orchestra. mck-
nightcenter.org
THE CEMENT OPRY Dec. 4 410 N. Main, Cement The Cement
Opry is a monthly live variety show held in the Jesse James Ballroom. travelok.com
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK
Through Dec. 31 Yukon City Park Highlights of this beloved
Jan. 2 400 S. Independence Ave.,
Enid Located in the Stride Bank Center’s parking lot, you will have the opportunity to skate under festive twinkle lights. skateinenid. com
THE WOOLAROC RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBIT & SALE Through
Dec. 31 Woolaroc Museum and
Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville If you love art or just have a great appreciation for wildlife and nature, you won’t want to miss this exciting exhibit. woolaroc.org
FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.
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FILM AND CINEMA
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2021
A STRONG CLOSER
A movie in just about every genre can be found at theaters and on streaming platforms this month.
D
ecember is here, and there are soooo many movies. Strap in, we’ve got a lot to cover! Prepare yourself for some song and dance numbers as we begin the month with West Side Story. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Rachel Zegler in her film debut, it looks like the Oscar contender of the season. With massive choreographed spectacles and dazzling costumes, Spielberg hopes to get the whole family together starting on Dec. 10. Next up, the Netflix comedy Don’t Look Up. It tells the story of two astronomers, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, who must warn all of humankind about a comet and its impending collision course with Earth. Written and directed by Adam McKay (The Big Short), the story should have his usual black comedy elements, along with some great performances from a stellar cast. It releases on Dec. 10. Amazon is gifting us with a sci-fi thriller called Encounter. Starring Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) as a veteran Marine, the story finds him trying to keep his kids safe from both the army and an alien invasion. The trailer leads me to believe there might be some body horror elements, so take a look when it releases on – you guessed it – Dec. 10. A psychological thriller courtesy of Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) graces the screen this month. Based on the 1946 novel of the same name, Nightmare Alley boasts an all-star ensemble cast including Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett,
Toni Collette and Willem Dafoe. The trailer is full of carnies, grifters, femme fatales and some truly eye-catching scenery. It will hit theaters Dec. 17. Marvel’s next heavy hitter comes this month with Spider-Man: No Way Home. As the fourth film in Phase 4 of (what I assume will be the unfortunately never ending) Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to use his magic to restore his secret identity, but the results are ... not quite perfect. Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx return from previous films, with heavy rumors that previous Spider-Mans Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield will show up. We’ll all find out together on Dec. 17. Over twenty years later, we’re getting another installment in The Matrix franchise with The Matrix Resurrections. Directed by Lana Wachowski, the story continues with Neo (Keanu Reeves) as Thomas A. Anderson, living a seemingly normal life back inside the Matrix. However, things quickly take a turn to open his mind back up. Carrie-Ann Moss returns as Trinity, along with a host of both new and familiar faces. You can jack in on Dec. 22 ... as long as you take the red pill. Lastly, Joel Coen directs a Shakespearean classic with The Tragedy of Macbeth. Starring Denzel Washington in the title role, with Frances McDormand and Brendan Gleeson supporting, the film looks absolutely stunning. Shot in black and white and in 4:3, the tragedy will surely be a spectacle when it releases on Christmas Day. DREW JOSEPH ALLEN
