Red Fern Festival
April 28th and 29th, 2023
Vendor Registration
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
About
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 Miss Red Fern Pageant that’s a hit with 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.
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 15,000+ 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 Miss Red Fern Pageant that’s a hit with 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.
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 15,000+ attendees with people coming from all over the United States.
2023 Schedule
Red Fern 2023 April 28th and 29th
Friday, April 28th
12:00 PM- 3:00 PM- Cherokee Traditional Games Demonstration and Cultural Craft Making -Cherokee National Capitol Square
12:00 PM - Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors - Downtown
12:00 PM - Gelly Ball - Splash Pad
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Train Ride - Corner of Muskogee Ave & Delaware Ave
4:00 PM - Kids Zone - Norris Park
5:00 PM - Live Music - STAY TUNED - Pavilion
6:00 PM - Live Music - STAY TUNED - Pavilion
7:00 PM - Coon Hunt - N. 520 Rd (Look for signs)
Dark- Screening Movie (1974) - Where the Red Fern Grows - Norris Park
Saturday, April 30th
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM- Kiwanis Club of Tahlequah Pancake Breakfast- Emery's Grill 407 N. Muskogee Ave
9:00 AM - Downtown Arts, Crafts and Food Vendors
9:00 AM - Touch the truck (First responders) - NSU Parking lot (see map)
9:00 AM - Gelly Ball - Splash Pad
10:00 AM - Movie Screening (2003) - Tahlequah City Library
10:00 AM - Miss Red Fern Pageant - Pavilion
10:00 AM - Hound Dog field trials - Sequoyah Park
10:00 AM - Kid Zone- Norris Park
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Train Ride - Corner of Muskogee Ave & Delaware Ave
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM- OverAll yoga in the park. Hosted by 108 Yoga studio- Cherokee National Capitol Square
11:00 AM- 2:00 PM- Cherokee Traditional Games Demonstration and Cultural Craft Making -Cherokee National Capitol Square
12:00 PM - Miss Red Fern Pageant - Pavilion
2:00 PM - Movie Screening (1974) - Tahlequah City Library
4:00 PM - Rubber Duck Race - Sequoyah Park
5:00 PM - Live Music - STAY TUNED - Pavilion
6:00 PM - Live Music - STAY TUNED - Pavilion
7:15 PM - Live Music - STAY TUNED - Pavilion
**Red Fern Merchandise Available at Info Booths (see map)
All dates and times are subject to change - Additional Information will be added soon
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Thank you to our 2022 Red Fern Partners!
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Volunteers needed!
Be a part of Tahlequah's favorite event of the year!
Would you like to serve your community? Do you need community service hours?
Do you have a business looking to get involved in the community?
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.
Tahlequah Main Street Association is looking for volunteers in the following categories:
Set- Up/Break down
Registration
Fundraising
Photography
Wayfinding
and many more...
Let your skills serve the Tahlequah community.
Sign up today
Would you like to serve your community? Do you need community service hours?
Do you have a business looking to get involved in the community?
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.
Tahlequah Main Street Association is looking for volunteers in the following categories:
Set- Up/Break down
Registration
Fundraising
Photography
Wayfinding
and many more...
Let your skills serve the Tahlequah community.
Sign up today
Arts & Crafts and Food Vendors
Nearly 100 Arts, Crafts and Food Vendors join the festival each year!
Vendor Information
Arts & Crafts Vendors
Vendor Registration is now open following the vendor form below.
The maps below represents 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.
MISS RED FERN PAGEANT 2022 QUEENS!
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April 29th, 2023
Location TBD Tahlequah, OK
Hosted by the Tahlequah Main Street Association
Pageant Director, Kristy Eubanks
Newborn-36 Months- MISS RED FERN BABY
3-4 Years Old - MISS RED FERN TINY
5-7 Years Old - MISS RED FERN MINI
8-10 Years Old - MISS RED FERN LITTLE
11-13 Years Old - MISS RED FERN SWEETHEART
14-18 Years Old - MISS RED FERN
Child must compete at age on day of the pageant. Child must be resident of Cherokee County. Entry fee $50 per participant. Registration Deadline April 14th, 2023.
DRESS OF CHOICE. ONSTAGE CHAT: AGE APPROPRIATE.
Please fill out a NEW registration for each participant.
Location TBD Tahlequah, OK
Hosted by the Tahlequah Main Street Association
Pageant Director, Kristy Eubanks
Newborn-36 Months- MISS RED FERN BABY
3-4 Years Old - MISS RED FERN TINY
5-7 Years Old - MISS RED FERN MINI
8-10 Years Old - MISS RED FERN LITTLE
11-13 Years Old - MISS RED FERN SWEETHEART
14-18 Years Old - MISS RED FERN
Child must compete at age on day of the pageant. Child must be resident of Cherokee County. Entry fee $50 per participant. Registration Deadline April 14th, 2023.
DRESS OF CHOICE. ONSTAGE CHAT: AGE APPROPRIATE.
Please fill out a NEW registration for each participant.
Coon Hunt and Field Trials
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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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Plenty of Fun for the Young and Young at Heart.
Touch the Truck, Inflatables, Trackless Train, Gelly Ball, pony rides and much more!
Join in on the fun and visit with Local Heroes!
Take tours of helicopters, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and more! Bounce on the inflatables, play Gelly Ball and take a ride around on an 18 person train!
Take tours of helicopters, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and more! Bounce on the inflatables, play Gelly Ball and take a ride around on an 18 person train!
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