 Newspaper View
 Print
 Email
 Comment
 RSS
 Bookmark
If you would like to bookmark this article you will need to Login to your tulsaworld.com account
close
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
And other things Winterfest, all at the BOK
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Published: 11/26/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/26/2009 5:37 AM
Think of it as "30 Rock" — minus Tina Fey, but with a much bigger cast.
Actually, it's not Fey's NBC show we want you to visualize but the actual address in New York City, 30 Rockefeller Plaza. More precisely, Rockefeller Plaza this time of year, with skaters figuring eights across the ice under the twinkle of that famous Christmas tree.
Now, transport yourself back to the 918 — downtown, specifically, in the immediate glow of the BOK Center's holiday-hued lights. With a stories-high tree and skating rink, it's Tulsa's spin on the Big Apple's yuletide tradition — and what could very well become Oklahoma's iconic spot for holiday family fun.
The second annual Arvest Winterfest rings in the season Friday through Jan. 4, 2010, with myriad merry-making opportunities.
Winterfest is packed with cool activities
Last year's inaugural Winterfest was put together pretty quickly, said Jeff Nickler, the BOK Center's special events manager. Nearly 48,000 people attended that event.
This year, Nickler is expecting between 80,000 and 100,000 people, thanks to advanced planning and a host of entertainment and enhancements.
Like that tree we alluded to — a 44-footer, about 9 feet taller than last year's tree, Nickler said. It will be the tallest in the state (yes, he called around and checked); and, with 35,700 glowing lights, no doubt it will be among the brightest. Talk about holiday photo op.
The tree isn't the only thing bigger, though; the entire event has grown, including the skating area, Nickler said. This year's ice rink measures 60-feet by 150-feet, just a triple axel or two away from the tree.
Rosie Gomez came last year — with about 90 kids.
She and her husband took students from Booker T. Washington High School's band, plus the dancers, flag team and majorettes, for some fun on the ice.
"Even the most serious kids really got into the skating," said Gomez, who joined others just to watch and have fun. "It just felt like Christmas."
But when it starts feeling less like Christmas and more like the North Pole, fret not — one of the other new things Nickler told us about is the warming tent, a 50-by-40-foot, climate-controlled haven with 250 seats.
You can also nab a seat in the back of one of the horse-drawn Dreamcatcher Carriages, which each holds up to six people. You can catch a 15-minute ride ($10 adults, $5 for kids) on the west curb of Denver Avenue adjacent to the main entrance of the BOK Center.
On Fridays and Saturdays, a variety of live outdoor entertainment is planned on the ONEOK Stage, with area nonprofits, school choirs, bands and other local talents taking the stage.
Chilly? Warm up with a cappuccino or latte ($3.50 each), or coffee, hot cocoa or apple cider ($2.50 each). You'll also find eggnog ($3), as well as select canned beers and a hot, hard apple cider ($6.50 each).
If you're hungry, choose among sweets from s'mores ($3) to gingerbread men ($2.50), or savory snacks, such as soups ($3), Polish sausage ($4) and chili ($6).
Of course, expect a variety of events happening inside the BOK Center, from Oilers hockey games to concerts, including Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Curious George Live, KISS and Daughtry.
For more about Arvest Winterfest, visit
tulsaworld.com/winterfest09
.
And for a printable calendar of all scheduled events, see
tulsaworld.com/winterfest09cal
.
Get your skates on
Arvest Winterfest’s ice rink, the focal
point of festivities occurring on Third Street
between Denver and Frisco Avenues, will be
open to the public Friday through Jan. 4.
Prices are $8 per person, including skate
rental; $5 for those with skates; and $5 for
children ages 3 and younger.
Mondays are half-priced with donation
of a can of nonperishable food; and “Toys
on Tuesdays” offer half-price skate rentals
with donation of an unwrapped toy to The
Salvation Army.
Hours are 4-10 p.m. weekdays Friday
through Dec. 18; and 12-10 p.m. all other
days, except 12-5 p.m. Dec. 24. The rink will
be closed Dec. 25.
For more, visit tulsaworld.com/winterfest09cal.
Go figure
The Tulsa Figure Skating Club will perform
(weather permitting) about 10 exhibitions at
Arvest Winterfest’s ice rink.
The rink will be closed for roughly 20
minutes each time as Tulsa’s rising figure
skating stars take the ice.
The public is invited to watch the holiday
routines free of charge.
Here’s the schedule:
1-1:20 p.m., Sundays, now through Jan. 3;
6:30-6:50 p.m., Thursdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17
and 31
Don’t rain (or snow)
on my parade
This year’s PSO Parade
of Lights has a new route
that goes right by Arvest
Winterfest.
Sponsored by the Public
Service Co. of Oklahoma,
the holiday parade is an
annual Tulsa tradition. This
year’s parade will feature
70-plus entries, including
floats, giant helium
balloons, marching bands,
equestrian units, dance
groups, clowns and more.
For more, visit tulsaworld.com/paradeoflights.
Santa’s new wheels
Apparently, Santa Claus traded in his sleigh
for a Segway.
St. Nick himself will make appearances at
Winterfest each Sunday through Christmas.
He’ll be riding his tinsel-covered Segway,
handing out candy canes on the main plaza
of the BOK Center (the corner of Third Street
and Denver Avenue) and around the festival
site on Third Street.
Weather permitting, here’s when you can
expect to see Santa:
1-4 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20; and 4-7
p.m. Dec. 12.
For more, visit tulsaworld.com/winterfest09.
Seasoned greetings
Ice skating will no doubt
work up an appetite — or
freeze you nigh to frost-bit,
one of the two.
In either case, Arvest Winterfest
has a concession hut.
Here’s the menu:
Warm Snow Cookies, $2.50
S’mores, $3
Assorted candy, $3
Gingerbread men, $2.50
Apples slices with caramel
sauce, $4
Chicken noodle soup, $3
Tomato soup, $3
Grilled cheese sandwich,
$3
Hot dog, $3.50
Polish Sausage, $4
Homemade chili, $6
Frito chili pie, $7
Beverage items include:
Eggnog, $3.00
Cappuccino, $3.50
Latte, $3.50
Hot chocolate, $2.50
Hot apple cider. $2.50
Coffee, $2.50
Bottled soda/ water, $3.00
Coors/Coors Light products
(24-ounce cans), $6.50
Miller/Miller Light products
(24-ounce cans), $6.50
Hot hard Apple cider (alcoholic),
$6.50
Live entertainment
You’ll find it Fridays and
Saturdays, weather permitting,
on the ONEOK Stage near the
BOK Center.
Here is a list of scheduled
performers, with more to be announced
soon.
Friday: A Pocket Full of Hope
(7 p.m.)
Saturday: Salvation Army
Brass Ensemble (2 p.m.); Catheryn
Brock (3 p.m.)
Dec. 4: Lighthouse Church
Sanctuary Choir (6 p.m.);
Lighthouse Church Youth Choir
(7 p.m.)
Dec. 5: Bell Elementary School
(2 p.m.); Brassfield Swing Choir,
Bixby fourth-sixth Grade Center
(3 p.m.)
Dec. 11: Cascia Hall’s Command
Performance (6 p.m.);
Cascia Hall Upper School
Handbell Choir (7 p.m.)
Dec. 12: Grissom Elementary
School (4 p.m.); Skelly Elementary
Choir (5 p.m.); Victory
Christian School (6 p.m.)
Dec. 17: Phillips Elementary
(6 p.m.); Salvation Army Brass
Ensemble (7 p.m.)
Dec. 19: Memorial High School
Concert Choir (1 p.m.); United
Way Youth at Heart (3 p.m.)
For more, visit tulsaworld.com/winterfest09.
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Copy Text
Search for this phrase/name
Close
Newspaper View
Print
Email
Comment
RSS
Bookmark
If you would like to bookmark this article you will need to Login to your tulsaworld.com account
close
 |
|
