Hello Tourism Partners,
We ended June with the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association Redbud Awards, and even though they took place in Norman, it was definitely Tulsa time!
The Tulsa Regional Tourism team brought home five awards, including “Tourism Organization of the Year”:
- Tourism Organization of the Year (Large Budget)
- Social Media Campaign — Big Dam Party
- Media Coverage — Outsiders Broadway cast Tulsa tour
- Outstanding Event — Big Dam Party (with Gathering Place and River Parks Authority)
- Outstanding Marketing Brochure (Large Budget) — FY 23/24 Annual Report (Merit Award)
It was so much fun to look back at all that Tulsa has done in the last year and celebrate with our partners at River Parks Authority and Gathering Place. Congratulations to Guthrie Green for winning “Outstanding New Event” for “Inspyral Circus Fire Show” and Cherokee National Cultural Tourism for their “Outstanding New Attraction” Redbud for the Cherokee Cultural Pathway and “Best Partnership” Merit Award for their work with Amazon Prime. What a night!
Earlier in June, I spent a week in Chicago with Tim Chambers and Sarah Inboden at the industry’s largest international travel event, U.S. Travel Association’s IPW. We focused heavily on Route 66 and preparing for the Centennial celebration, and also, cast members from The Outsiders musical were on-hand to perform as well! We leveraged that with a unique, Tulsa-focused meet-and-greet and a contest on social media for a chance to win tickets to the nationwide show—which, of course, opens in Tulsa this October!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Congratulations to Cat Cox of Country Bird Bakery for bringing home Tulsa’s first James Beard Award! Cat accepted the award for “Outstanding Pastry Chef” at the awards in Chicago. Lisa Becklund (FarmBar) was a finalist as well for “Outstanding Chef.” Elliot Nelson (Outstanding Restaurateur) and Noche (Best New Restaurant) were also named semifinalists. Tulsa continues to emerge as a top market for foodies!
July is Tulsa Music Month, and a couple of Tulsa’s own artists have big shows coming up. Joleen Brown will celebrate the release of her album “A Good Place to Hide Away” at Mercury Lounge this Friday, June 27. Former Turnpike Troubadours member John
Fullbright will perform a free concert at Guthrie Green on Saturday, and Bixby native Corey Kent returns to Cain’s Ballroom for two shows on July 10 and 11. For more on Tulsa Music Month and even more performances, check out the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture website.
Break out the beanbags! The American Cornhole Organization World Championships of Cornhole will be in Tulsa for the first time from July 21-26 at Arvest Convention Center. It’s completely free for spectators, so go check out the best cornhole players from around the world
In closing, to each and every one of you, THANK YOU for your continued support, partnership and collaboration. The people make Tulsa special, and it is so exciting to see our city’s momentum continue to grow!
Now, on with the tour...
Renee McKenney, President
+ Your Tulsa Regional Tourism Team!
Tulsa Tourism in National News
- Kaitlin Butts' TikTok Song 'You Ain't Gotta Die (To Be Dead to Me)' - Rolling Stone
- Top 10 Most Expensive Classic Muscle Cars Sold at Tulsa 2025 - AutoEvolution
- Experience Juneteenth In These Cities Honoring History And Culture - Forbes
- From Book to Screen to Broadway: Staying Gold Will Offer an Oral History of The Outsiders - People
- A Look at America’s Most Notorious Criterium: Tulsa Tough - Velo
- This Bakery Just Won Tulsa’s First James Beard Award - Eater
Tulsa Tourism in Local News
- From Black Wall Street to Wall Street: Riders depart on "Ride for Equity" - News on 6
- Tulsans pack the streets for Cry Baby Hill 2025 - KJRH
- ‘Cowboy Bob’ statue joins Tulsa’s growing Route 66 landmark lineup - News on 6
- Andrea Bocelli offers interview ahead of his Tulsa debut - Tulsa World
- Pinto World Championship brings big crowds, bigger economic impact to Tulsa - News on 6
- TIA celebrates 30th anniversary of Airport Ambassador Program | News - FOX23
Visit Tulsa News
Leisure Travel
Tulsa Route 66 Capital Cruise Announced for Centennial Celebration
The Centennial celebration in The Capital of Route 66® will now be record-breaking. The Tulsa Route 66 Commission announced “Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise: World-Record Classic Car Centennial Parade” will take place along Tulsa’s stretch of Route 66 on May 30, 2026.
The Commission hopes to include more than 3,000 cars, which would make it an official world record verified by an internationally acclaimed record-keeping organization. More than 200,000 spectators are expected to attend as well, making Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise the crown jewel of the Centennial year.
For more information on the parade and how to be involved, visit capitalofroute66.com!
Convention & Visitors Bureau News
Meetings & Conventions
Your CVB Recently
- Stoa Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate NITOC
May 25-31
5,000+ room nights
$3.74M estimated Direct economic impact | $6.56M estimated Total economic impact
Oral Roberts University - Pinto Horse Association of America World Championship Show
June 7-21
6,000+ room nights
$10.1M estimated Direct economic impact | $17.5M estimated Total economic impact
Expo Square
Sports Commission News
Professional & Amateur Sports
Your TSC Recently
- 1 Movement Hoops Premier Nationals
May 30-June 1
1,100+ room nights
$872.1k estimated Direct economic impact | $1.5M estimated Total economic impact
Arvest Convention Center - US Club Soccer National Cup South Central Regional
June 11-16
1,400+ room nights
$703.5k estimated Direct economic impact | $1.2M estimated Total economic impact
Mohawk Sports Complex
Tulsa FMAC News
Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture
Tulsa celebrates inaugural Make Music Tulsa
- Thanks to the efforts of the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture, and manager Natalie Bowling, Tulsa took part in the worldwide “Make Music Day” celebration for the first time on June 21, where over 150 U.S. cities hosted thousands of performances across the country.
- Performances took place citywide in places like Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa City Parks, Philbrook Museum of Art, Gathering Place, and many more. In all, there were 34 events were listed on Tulsa FMAC’s Make Music Day website starting at 8:30 a.m. that morning and lasting until midnight.
Photo Credit: Bethany Kirby
Tulsa Ballet Makes Waves across the Pond
- The Tulsa Ballet recently toured through Europe for their sixth international tour, gracing stages in Italy and Germany.
- The company performed “Made in America,” a program that showcased “the evolution and diversity of American dance” through classical European tradition and contemporary American ballet.
- After opening in Modena, Italy at the Teatro Luciano Pavarotti, the tour continued through Vicenza, Rovigo and Treviso, and closed with performances at the world-renowned Theater Bonn in Bonn, Germany, where they received a four-minute standing ovation for their performance.
Circle Cinema Film Festival Set for Mid-July
- As Circle Cinema celebrates its 97th birthday, the Circle Cinema Film Festival returns to the venerated theater, once again showcasing films “made in, by and for Oklahomans.”
- Tulsa FMAC is a sponsor of the event, which runs from July 11-15.
- As part of the festival, the recipients of the 2025 Walk of Fame Medallions will be recognized:
- Hank Byrd, writer/director
- Vera Miles, actor
- Ben Johnson, actor
- William F. Matthews, set designer
Questions? Contact jonathanhuskey@visittulsa.com.
Follow Us!
