Film and Cinema

May 8 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Using 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 BASKET-

BALL Dec. 1, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 26, 31 Paycom Center See Oklahoma’s NBA team play regular season games. paycomcenter.com 2021 NRHA FUTURITY

SHOW Through Dec. 4 State Fair Park Equine experts and their horses converge on the Jim Norick Arena for several days of competition. okcfairgrounds.com OKC FUTURITY Dec. 8-12 State Fair Park Heartpounding equine enjoyment can be found at the State Fair Park. okcfairgrounds.com THE 2022 JR. OPEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP Dec. 31-Jan. 1 State Fair Park See some of the state’s best wrestlers compete for top prizes. okcfairgrounds.com

COMMUNITY

FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY

WALK Dec. 3 Paseo Arts District Visitors can enjoy art openings, wine tastings, live music and other activities. thepaseo.org 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. okcthepolarexpressride.com DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER Through Jan. 30 Downtown OKC Spend your holidays experiencing fun activities as downtown Oklahoma City. downtownindecember.com

THE STATE

PERFORMANCES

THE POLAR EXPRESS IN CONCERT WITH THE TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Dec.

2 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater Experience this beloved movie as you never have before – with a live symphony orchestra. mcknightcenter.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 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 DUSTIN LYNCH Dec. 31 Choctaw Casino Resort Durant End 2021 on the right foot with country star Dustin Lynch. choctawcasinos.com

SPORTS

HOOSIER ARENACROSS

NATIONALS Dec. 3-4 Claremore Expo Center Experience two high-flying nights of motorized, adrenaline-pumping arenacross action. travelok.com

COMMUNITY

MINCO HONEY FESTIVAL

Dec. 4 Minco High School Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Minco Honey Festival with pure Oklahoma honey. mincook.com/minco/festival.htm WOOLAROC WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS Through 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. midwestcityok.org CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK Through Dec. 31 Yukon City Park Highlights of this beloved holiday event include the 50-foot, multi-colored, lighted Christmas tree, the Santa Express Train ride and an ice skating rink. travelok.com HOLIDAYS ON ICE Through 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. A STRONG CLOSER

A movie in just about every genre can be found at theaters and on streaming platforms this month.

December 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 lm 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 Net ix 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 ( e 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- thriller called Encounter. Starring Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) as a veteran Marine, the story nds him trying to keep his kids safe from both the army and an alien invasion. e 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. e 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 lm 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 lms, with heavy rumors that previous Spider-Mans Tobey Maguire and Andrew Gar eld will show up. We’ll all nd out together on Dec. 17.

Over twenty years later, we’re getting another installment in e Matrix franchise with e Matrix Resurrections. Directed by Lana Wachowski, the story continues with Neo (Keanu Reeves) as omas 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 e Tragedy of Macbeth. Starring Denzel Washington in the title role, with Frances McDormand and Brendan Gleeson supporting, the lm 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