Wilson Rawls novel “Where the Red Fern Grows” was set in the Ozark hills in and around Tahlequah Oklahoma. The novel tells the tale of an adventurous young boy who saves his money to travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to purchase two red-bone hound hunting dogs. The first film was made in 1974 and featured many locals from the Tahlequah community and surrounding areas and was remade in 2003, both filmed in and around the Tahlequah area. It’s only fitting that Tahlequah host the Red Fern Festival.
The festival spans seven blocks and hosts over 150 arts and crafts vendors and gourmet food trucks. There are many activities for all ages. The inflatables, petting zoos and kids games naturally attract kids, while the showcase of live music attracts the young and the young at heart. There is an annual Chili cook-off that’s a hit with all festival-goers and the rubber duck race through the Town Branch Creek is always a must. Coon Hunters come out to compete in the Hound Dog Field Trials to find out who’s top dog. Everyone enjoys the annual classic car show and there is always the anticipation of who is crowned the next Little Miss Red Fern.
The Red Fern festival continues to grow each year both in size and in heart. What once started as an event of under 1,000 attendees has grown to an estimated 20,000+ attendees with people coming from all over the United States.
The festival spans seven blocks and hosts over 150 arts and crafts vendors and gourmet food trucks. There are many activities for all ages. The inflatables, petting zoos and kids games naturally attract kids, while the showcase of live music attracts the young and the young at heart. There is an annual Chili cook-off that’s a hit with all festival-goers and the rubber duck race through the Town Branch Creek is always a must. Coon Hunters come out to compete in the Hound Dog Field Trials to find out who’s top dog. Everyone enjoys the annual classic car show and there is always the anticipation of who is crowned the next Little Miss Red Fern.
The Red Fern festival continues to grow each year both in size and in heart. What once started as an event of under 1,000 attendees has grown to an estimated 20,000+ attendees with people coming from all over the United States.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Tahlequah Main Street Association board has made the difficult decision to cancel the Red Fern Festival for 2020 due to the increasing concerns of the spread of COVID-19.
“The safety of our community is of the utmost importance to our organization and we feel as though it is best to cancel this year’s event altogether and begin planning for the Spring of 2021,” said Jamie Hale, TMSA director. “When we made the choice to postpone the festival until October, our hope was that we would be able to move forward with confidence that our volunteers, vendors, entertainers, sponsors, and festival-goers would be able to attend the festival safely in the fall. Due to the rising numbers that we are experiencing both here and all over the state and the country, we simply must face the reality that this pandemic has presented.”
Hale added that plans for events over the next several months like Movies in the Park and Second Saturdays, Ladies Night Out, The Big Idea and Cookie Stroll on Main continue to move forward.
“We will also be using this time to partner with the City of Tahlequah to design this year’s Christmas Light display. We know that this will be something our community can look forward to and we think they will be pleased with this year’s additions,” she said.
TMSA President Rian Crager said the board and many community members consider the Red Fern Festival a staple for Tahlequah and it’s something she looks forward to every
year.
“TMSA’s Executive Committee made the difficult decision to not move forward with hosting the
festival in October. We feel as though this was the most responsible option for everyone
involved with the event,” Crager said. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you to our wonderful community for their continued support of the Tahlequah Main Street Association. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Red Fern Festival in April 2021!
For more information on the cancellation of this event and for vendor questions please email manager@tahlequahmainstreet.com.
“The safety of our community is of the utmost importance to our organization and we feel as though it is best to cancel this year’s event altogether and begin planning for the Spring of 2021,” said Jamie Hale, TMSA director. “When we made the choice to postpone the festival until October, our hope was that we would be able to move forward with confidence that our volunteers, vendors, entertainers, sponsors, and festival-goers would be able to attend the festival safely in the fall. Due to the rising numbers that we are experiencing both here and all over the state and the country, we simply must face the reality that this pandemic has presented.”
Hale added that plans for events over the next several months like Movies in the Park and Second Saturdays, Ladies Night Out, The Big Idea and Cookie Stroll on Main continue to move forward.
“We will also be using this time to partner with the City of Tahlequah to design this year’s Christmas Light display. We know that this will be something our community can look forward to and we think they will be pleased with this year’s additions,” she said.
TMSA President Rian Crager said the board and many community members consider the Red Fern Festival a staple for Tahlequah and it’s something she looks forward to every
year.
“TMSA’s Executive Committee made the difficult decision to not move forward with hosting the
festival in October. We feel as though this was the most responsible option for everyone
involved with the event,” Crager said. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you to our wonderful community for their continued support of the Tahlequah Main Street Association. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Red Fern Festival in April 2021!
For more information on the cancellation of this event and for vendor questions please email manager@tahlequahmainstreet.com.
2020 Schedule
Red Fern 2020 Canceled to Covid 19 concerns. We will see you in 2021
October 16 - Friday
12:00 PM - Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors - Downtown
4:00 PM - Kids Zone - Norris Park
6:00 PM - Live Music- Oklahoma Moon- Norris Park Pavilion
7:30 PM - Live Music- Ragland - Norris Park Pavilion
7:00 PM - Coon Hunt - 520 N. 520 Rd (Look for signs)
October 17 - Saturday
9:00 AM - Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors- Downtown
9:00 AM - 5 c's car show - Cherokee Peace Pavilion (water street)
9:00 AM - Fly -In - Tahlequah Municipal Airport
10:00 AM - Traditional Native Games throughout the day from 10 PM-4 PM- Cherokee Square
10:00 AM - Movie "Where the Red Fern Grows (2003)" - Tahlequah Public Library (indoors)
10:00 AM - Hound Dog Field Trials - Sequoyah Park
10:00 AM - Kids Zone - Norris Park
10:00 AM - Little Miss Red Fern Pageant- Norris Park Pavilion
11:00 AM - Living Story Corner – Cherokee National History Museum Beth Herrington will read excerpts from the book and provide history of the local places mentioned in the book
1:00 PM - Miss Red Fern Pageant - Norris Park Pavilion
2:00 PM - Movie "Where the Red Fern Grows" (1974) - Tahlequah Public Library (indoors)
2:00 PM - Kids Make and Take Craft – Cherokee National History Museum 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday – craft and admission is free
4:00 PM - Rubber Duck Race- Sequoyah Park
5:00 PM - Live Music -Joe Mack & Friends - Norris Park Pavilion
6:30 PM - Live Music RC& The Ambers- Norris Park Pavilion
All dates and times are subject to change - Additional Information will be added soon
October 16 - Friday
12:00 PM - Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors - Downtown
4:00 PM - Kids Zone - Norris Park
6:00 PM - Live Music- Oklahoma Moon- Norris Park Pavilion
7:30 PM - Live Music- Ragland - Norris Park Pavilion
7:00 PM - Coon Hunt - 520 N. 520 Rd (Look for signs)
October 17 - Saturday
9:00 AM - Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors- Downtown
9:00 AM - 5 c's car show - Cherokee Peace Pavilion (water street)
9:00 AM - Fly -In - Tahlequah Municipal Airport
10:00 AM - Traditional Native Games throughout the day from 10 PM-4 PM- Cherokee Square
10:00 AM - Movie "Where the Red Fern Grows (2003)" - Tahlequah Public Library (indoors)
10:00 AM - Hound Dog Field Trials - Sequoyah Park
10:00 AM - Kids Zone - Norris Park
10:00 AM - Little Miss Red Fern Pageant- Norris Park Pavilion
11:00 AM - Living Story Corner – Cherokee National History Museum Beth Herrington will read excerpts from the book and provide history of the local places mentioned in the book
1:00 PM - Miss Red Fern Pageant - Norris Park Pavilion
2:00 PM - Movie "Where the Red Fern Grows" (1974) - Tahlequah Public Library (indoors)
2:00 PM - Kids Make and Take Craft – Cherokee National History Museum 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday – craft and admission is free
4:00 PM - Rubber Duck Race- Sequoyah Park
5:00 PM - Live Music -Joe Mack & Friends - Norris Park Pavilion
6:30 PM - Live Music RC& The Ambers- Norris Park Pavilion
All dates and times are subject to change - Additional Information will be added soon
Food Vendor and Arts/Crafts vendor registration Now open!
Registration closes April 1st.
The maps below represents available vendor space, both food and retail. You can expand the map by clicking in the upper right-hand corner. To view the legend click in the upper left-hand corner.
Food Vendors
This map marks food vendors locations. You can expand the map by clicking in the upper right-hand corner. To view the legend click in the upper left-hand corner.
Coon Hunt and Field Trials- Canceled due to Covid 19 concerns
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Coon Hunt -
Presented by the Green Country Coon Hunters Association 6:00 PM - Hound dog Bench Show, entry fee $10.00 (is a show which requires dogs to be on display in an assigned location. The purpose is for spectators and breeders to have an opportunity to see all the entered dogs.) 8:00 PM - Night Hunt, entry fee $20.00 Location: North 520 Rd From east side of Tahlequah on the Bertha Parker by-pass 62, 82, 10 and 51 junction, go north 3.3 mi. on Hwy. 82 to log cabin store. Turn east, go 1/2 mi. Turn north, go 2/10 mi. Signs posted. - (See map) Hound Dog Field Trials The Hound Dog Field Trials will be held on Park Avenue right behind the Armory Municipal Center, at 201 E. Delaware Street. Registration is at 10 am Saturday morning. Contact: Robert Ryals Jr. Phone: 918-822-8888 |
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Car Show- CANCELED due to covid 19 concerns
5C's Car Show
The 5C's Car Show is back again. Located at The Peace Pavilion in Downtown Tahlequah. Original and modified automobiles from decades past come together on April 26th for all to see.
Show entries are judged by paid professionals chosen from area auto body shops and garages. Entries compete in 32 categories, including original and modified cars, original and modified trucks, Mustangs, Rat Rods, and muscle cars. Each category awards first and second prizes.
The 5C's Car Show gives visitors and car enthusiasts the opportunity to visit with show participants.
If shiny chrome, boss paint jobs and the cherry rides are your thing, you won't want to miss Red Fern Festival's 5C's Cruisin' Classic Car Show.
"These folks put so much time and effort into their vehicles, and absolutely love to share that enthusiasm with others," said Jon Edwards, 5C's club president.
Take a stroll back in time and revisit old memories at the 5C's Car Show.
Call Jon Edwards at 918-822-0074 or email at jonedwards@5ccarclub.com to register.
The 5C's Car Show is back again. Located at The Peace Pavilion in Downtown Tahlequah. Original and modified automobiles from decades past come together on April 26th for all to see.
Show entries are judged by paid professionals chosen from area auto body shops and garages. Entries compete in 32 categories, including original and modified cars, original and modified trucks, Mustangs, Rat Rods, and muscle cars. Each category awards first and second prizes.
The 5C's Car Show gives visitors and car enthusiasts the opportunity to visit with show participants.
If shiny chrome, boss paint jobs and the cherry rides are your thing, you won't want to miss Red Fern Festival's 5C's Cruisin' Classic Car Show.
"These folks put so much time and effort into their vehicles, and absolutely love to share that enthusiasm with others," said Jon Edwards, 5C's club president.
Take a stroll back in time and revisit old memories at the 5C's Car Show.
Call Jon Edwards at 918-822-0074 or email at jonedwards@5ccarclub.com to register.
Volunteer Opportunities
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The Red Fern Festival is ran by volunteers and logs hundreds of volunteer hours throughout the weekend. There are many opportunities to be involved in this beloved community event. If you are interested in volunteering please click the registration button below.
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