A&E Writer for The Oklahoman. Initials so sweet they must be used. Always busy because I'm not to be trusted when I'm bored.
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Articles by Brandy McDonnell
Check out photos from our top OKC family-friendly Halloween events
Skip to main content Check out photos from our top OKC family-friendly Halloween events
Our top 5 family friendly OKC Halloween events from the zoo to Bricktown
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Our top 5 family friendly OKC Halloween events from the zoo to Bricktown
Looking for something beyond the usual neighborhood trick-or-treating to make your family's Halloween extra fun? Halloween actually arrives on Saturday, Oct. 31, but everybody knows that spooky season activities are already haunting Oklahoma City well ahead of the official witching hour.
Our top 5 family friendly OKC Halloween events from the zoo to Bricktown
From trick-or-treating at the OKC Zoo to a twilight parade with Factory Obscura, here are five family-friendly Halloween events in Oklahoma City. Looking for something beyond the usual neighborhood trick-or-treating to make your family's Halloween extra fun? Halloween actually arrives on Saturday, Oct. 31, but everybody knows that spooky season activities are already haunting Oklahoma City well ahead of the official witching hour.
Check out photos from our top OKC family-friendly Halloween events
Families participate in the free Brick-or-Treat Halloween event in downtown Oklahoma City. (Provided by Downtown OKC Partnership) Chris ties a balloon to Grave Digger, Phe, 3, before the parade starts. Factory Obscura's annual tradition, The Procession, where the OKC artist collective and the community join forces to "carry light into the night together." parade through Automobile Alley Oct. 31, 2024.
Bette Midler to receive 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at Tulsa's Cain's
A legendary actress, singer and activist is haunting Tulsa to accept a prestigious award. Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning entertainer Bette Midler is receiving the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize during an event Friday, Oct. 16, at the historic Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. For more than 50 years, Midler, 80, has inspired audiences around the world as a writer, comedian and producer.
'Tulsa King' renewed for fifth season ahead of season 4 premiere
The smash Paramount+ hit TV show "Tulsa King," has been renewed for a fifth season just ahead of its fourth season debut this week, Paramount+ announced. Led by Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone, the show will carry on the story of The General, Dwight Manfredi, and move production out of the Atlanta home and head to New York. Network officials confirm that the move to New York coincides with the Season 5 storyline.
Bette Midler to receive 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at Tulsa's Cain's
Bette Midler will receive the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at an event Friday, Oct. 16, at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. A legendary actress, singer and activist is haunting Tulsa to accept a prestigious award. Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning entertainer Bette Midler is receiving the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize during an event Friday, Oct. 16, at the historic Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. For more than 50 years, Midler, 80, has inspired audiences around the world as a writer, comedian and producer.
Bette Midler to receive 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at Tulsa's Cain's
A legendary actress, singer and activist is haunting Tulsa to accept a prestigious award. Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning entertainer Bette Midler is receiving the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize during an event Friday, Oct. 16, at the historic Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. For more than 50 years, Midler, 80, has inspired audiences around the world as a writer, comedian and producer.
'Tulsa King' renewed for fifth season ahead of season 4 premiere
The smash Paramount+ hit TV show, "Tulsa King," has been renewed for a fifth season just ahead of its fourth season debut this week, Paramount+ announced. Led by Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone, the show will carry on the story of The General, Dwight Manfredi, and move production out of the Atlanta home and head to New York. Show officials continue that the move to New York will coincide with the season five storyline.
Ethan Hawke praises Tulsa community ahead of 'The Lowdown' Season 2
Faced with sharing a favorite story from his time working in Oklahoma on his acclaimed series "The Lowdown," five-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke is, for a brief moment, stumped. "We had so many good experiences in Tulsa. That is a very hard question to answer. This whole entire show, every day, is shot there," he said during a virtual press conference. "The best thing is the community that Sterlin (Harjo, the show's creator) introduced me to. I didn’t go visit Tulsa.
See photos of Season 2 of the made-in-Oklahoma series 'The Lowdown'
Skip to main content See photos of Season 2 of the made-in-Oklahoma series 'The Lowdown'
'The Lowdown' Season 2 returns to FX with Tommy Lee Jones, more Tulsa
Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa) is seen on June 13 at deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City. In its second season, the celebrated Tulsa-made series "The Lowdown" gets better, funnier, more fun - and more Oklahoman. "It's going to be meaty. It's gonna be lots of laughs. It's gonna be hilarious. You're gonna love it. ... We've got some really great characters coming back from Season 1 that you love," said Loren Waters, who manages extras casting for the show through her company, Waters Media.
Journey drummer to return to the stage after Tulsa medical emergency
Two days after he cut his performance at Tulsa's BOK Center short due to a medical emergency, Journey drummer Deen Castronovo is ready to return to the stage. Castronovo took to social media on Saturday, Oct. 10, to confirm that he will be rejoining Journey's "Final Frontier Tour" for the band's show that night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio "Thank you all for the overwhelming love, concern, well wishes, messages and texts over the past couple of days.
Oklahoma officer arrested on charges of child abuse and pornography
Follow Oklahoma officer arrested on charges of child abuse and pornography Brandy McDonnell, The Oklahoman Sun, October 11, 2026 at 6:04 AM EDT A Chickasha police officer has been arrested and accused of child abuse and possessing child abuse sexual material, officials said. Jeremy Alexander, 39, a lieutenant with the Chickasha Police Department, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and booked into the Grady County Jail on Friday, Oct.
Canterbury Voices opens 58th season with 'bucket list' masterworks
The nationally recognized symphonic chorus is opening its 2026-2027 season with a concert of masterworks, followed by its new, free community event. Sitting among the sopranos gathered in the vast rehearsal room, Courtney McPhail-Gray's angelic voice soars majestically toward the high ceiling of Oklahoma City University's Wanda L. Bass School of Music.
Journey drummer to return to the stage after Tulsa medical emergency
Ella Langley gig cancelled over ‘bomb threat’ a day after US star is slammed for ‘disgusting’ hunting pic A bomb scare has forced US singer Ella Langley to cancel her latest gig in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The country star was set to take to the stage on Friday …
What happened before Ella Langley's Tulsa show was canceled
Danica Livingston already had her nails done with butterflies and a dandelion, and her mom, Rita Livingston, was finishing up her makeup in their downtown Tulsa hotel room when they got the bad news that their long-awaited concert plans were canceled. Ella Langley's highly anticipated show set for Friday, Oct.
Ella Langley's Tulsa arena show canceled due to a serious security threat
Ella Langley's eagerly awaited concert set for Friday, Oct. 9, at Tulsa's BOK Center has been canceled just hours before it was scheduled to start due to "a serious security threat involving the safety of fans, venue personnel, and the artist." Langley and the venue both announced the sudden cancellation on social media late Friday afternoon.
Cross Canadian Ragweed to headline Choctaw Music Fest, drops live album
STILLWATER — Back on stage for a second night in a row in the Oklahoma college town where he came of age, Cody Canada was both blunt and admittedly sappy. "Getting the band back together is the best (expletive) thing I've ever done in my entire life. Just look at what we're doing," the frontman for Cross Canadian Ragweed said from the Eskimo Joe's outdoor stage at the annual Bob Childers' Gypsy Café songwriters festival in April.
12 Oklahoma events to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and beyond
Starting this fall, Oklahoma City is permanently and officially commemorating the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day. As the home of 39 tribal nations, though, Oklahoma has long boasted year-round, statewide opportunities to experience Native American culture, history and heritage.
See photos of the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City
Skip to main content See photos of the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City
See photos of the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City
A dancer participates in the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City. (Provided by Red Earth Inc.) A dancer participates in the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City. (Provided by Red Earth Inc.) A dancer participates in the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City. (Provided by Red Earth Inc.) A dancer participates in the 2025 Red Earth FallFest in downtown Oklahoma City.
Casting call: Be an extra in 'Copperhead' starring Momoa and Teller
Honky-tonkers are being called on to join the cast of a rising Tulsa filmmaker's upcoming star-studded Oklahoma-made movie Norman-based casting director Chris Freihofer put out the call for people interested in joining the "Copperhead" cast, which includes Jason Momoa ("Supergirl"), "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Whiplash" actor Miles Teller Tenoch Huerta ("Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"), Adria Arjona ("Andor") and Primetime Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland The production is looking for...
Rising singer-songwriter Logan Mac to play hometown festival in Purcell
Up-and-coming Oklahoma singer-songwriter Logan Mac freely admits that he "did everything backwards" in establishing his emerging country music career. "When I was young, I didn't really have anything to write about. I hadn't lived enough yet for me to write about it," he said.
From Bigfoot to bluegrass: Top Oklahoma fall festivals for 2026
Although the bustling holidays might seem like the clear favorite for Oklahoma's most festive season, fall brings a bumper crop of Sooner State festivals that could give Santa and Rudolph a run for their most-wonderful-time-of-the-year title.
Pumpkinville returns to Myriad Gardens with Route 66 theme Oct. 1
In the strong sunshine of an early autumn afternoon, giant boxes with intriguing names from Cinderella and pink banana to Jarrahdale and Big Mac line the plazas and pathways of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. "Ooh, tiger stripe," said Stacey Aldridge, chief marketing officer for the Myriad Gardens and Scissortail Park. "I like those.
Pumpkinville returns to Myriad Gardens with Route 66 theme Oct. 1
In the strong sunshine of an early autumn afternoon, giant boxes with intriguing names from Cinderella and pink banana to Jarrahdale and Big Mac line the plazas and pathways of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. "Ooh, tiger stripe," said Stacey Aldridge, chief marketing officer for the Myriad Gardens and Scissortail Park. "I like those.
Oklahoma documentary '67 Bombs to Enid' to be screened for the United Nations
From left, Oklahoma filmmaker Ty McMahan, Enid Marshallese residents Terry Mote and Markas Tommy and local filmmaker Kevin Ford pose for a photo during the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. They are appearing at a special UN screening Sept. 28 in Geneva of the documentary "67 Bombs to Enid," which McMahan and Ford directed.
Oklahoma documentary '67 Bombs to Enid' to be screened for the United Nations
The award-winning documentary, focusing on the large Marshallese community in Enid, will be released in theaters in November. For Ty McMahan, one memory of his years working at The Oklahoman has stayed with him for the past two decades. "I'll never forget, (investigative reporter) Nolan Clay marching through the newsroom. He had just gotten a judge kicked off a bench.
See photos of the award-winning Oklahoma documentary '67 Bombs to Enid'
Follow See photos of the award-winning Oklahoma documentary '67 Bombs to Enid' Brandy McDonnell, Oklahoman Updated Sat, September 26, 2026 at 3:43 PM EDT See photos of the award-winning Oklahoma documentary '67 Bombs to Enid' From left, Kevin Ford and Ty McMahan, co-directors of the documentary "67 Bombs to Enid," pose for a photo during the 25th Annual deadCenter Film Festival Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City.
The revamped Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum is ready to reopen
MUSKOGEE — On a sunny September afternoon, the familiar holiday cheer of Gayla Peevey's beloved ditty "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" rings through the newly remodeled halls of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, while a cowboy hat belonging to the late Toby Keith is displayed behind gleaming glass with a short stack of red Solo cups.
The revamped Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum is ready to reopen
MUSKOGEE — On a sunny September afternoon, the familiar holiday cheer of Gayla Peevey's beloved ditty "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" rings through the newly remodeled halls of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, while a cowboy hat belonging to the late Toby Keith is displayed behind gleaming glass with a short stack of red Solo cups.
Plaza District Festival and Plaza Walls Mural Expo plan twice the free fun
Between the 27th Annual Plaza District Festival and the 11th Annual Plaza Walls Mural Expo, Oklahoma City's Plaza District is getting ready for a fall Saturday with double the fun.
Plaza District Festival and Plaza Walls Mural Expo plan twice the free fun
Between the 27th Annual Plaza District Festival and the 11th Annual Plaza Walls Mural Expo, Oklahoma City's Plaza District is getting ready for a fall Saturday with double the fun.
TikTok country star Cooper Alan playing free show at Oklahoma State Fair
Country music and TikTok star Cooper Alan will perform in concert Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Oklahoma State Fair The singer-songwriter will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage , where performances are free with outside gate admission to the state fair. One of the state's largest annual events, the Oklahoma State Fair continues through Sunday, Sept. 27, at OKC Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing Blvd.
TikTok country star Cooper Alan playing free show at Oklahoma State Fair
Country music and TikTok star Cooper Alan will perform in concert Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Oklahoma State Fair. The singer-songwriter will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage, where performances are free with outside gate admission to the state fair. One of the state's largest annual events, the Oklahoma State Fair continues through Sunday, Sept. 27, at OKC Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing Blvd.
Garth Brooks is bringing his new arena tour to Oklahoma this fall
Garth Brooks, shown performing in Denver in early September 2026, has a blast onstage during his Blame it All on My Roots tour. Garth Brooks is returning to his birthplace this fall to play three shows on his "Blame It All On My Roots" Arena Tour. The Oklahoma music icon, who was born in Tulsa and grew up in Yukon, is returning to his home state in concert for three back-to-back shows at Tulsa's BOK Center. The shows are set for Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct.
Garth Brooks is bringing his new arena tour to Oklahoma this fall
Garth Brooks is returning to his birthplace this fall to play three shows on his "Blame It All On My Roots” Arena Tour. The Oklahoma music icon, who was born in Tulsa and grew up in Yukon, is returning to his home state in concert for three back-to-back shows at Tulsa's BOK Center. The shows are set for Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, with a matinee show on Sunday, Oct. 25. “Nothing means more than meaning something to the place where you’re from,” Brooks said in a statement.
OCU grad Ariana Ferch returns to OKC as Liesl in 'Sound of Music'
Ariana Ferch stars as Liesl von Trapp, and Ian Coursey plays Rolf Gruber in the national tour of "The Sound of Music." When Ariana Ferch was in seventh grade, her school staged the "The Sound of Music," giving her the chance to perform with her sisters in the stage version of the beloved movie musical they had grown up watching together. "My older sister, Natalya, she played Maria von Trapp, and I played Luisa.
OCU grad Ariana Ferch returns to OKC as Liesl in 'Sound of Music'
When Ariana Ferch was in seventh grade, her school staged the "The Sound of Music," giving her the chance to perform with her sisters in the stage version of the beloved movie musical they had grown up watching together. "My older sister, Natalya, she played Maria von Trapp, and I played Luisa. My younger sister, Bella, played Marta, and my older sister's boyfriend, Tim, he was Captain von Trapp. ... Eventually, they got married," said Ferch, who attended the Oaks Academy in Spokane, Washington.
Oklahoma State Fair expands accessibility with sensory-friendly hours
Oklahoma State Fair organizers are boosting efforts to help people with disabilities, allergies and other challenges experience the event. When most people think of a state fair, they think of sensory overload: The dazzling, dizzying look and feel of riding carnival rides, the sound and reverberation of music played live and loud, the scents and tastes of deep-fried delicacies and other exotic, elaborate foods.
Oklahoma State Fair expands accessibility with sensory-friendly hours
When most people think of a state fair, they think of sensory overload: The dazzling, dizzying look and feel of riding carnival rides, the sound and reverberation of music played live and loud, the scents and tastes of deep-fried delicacies and other exotic, elaborate foods. But people who visit the Oklahoma State Fair in the morning and early afternoon on Sunday, Sept. 20, will find a more muted, less glaring experience. That's because 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept.
'Disney on Ice' brings 'Moana 2' debut to Oklahoma State Fair
Characters from the movie "Inside 2" make their "Disney on Ice" debut in the show "Jump In!," playing the Oklahoma State Fair Sept. 17-20 at the OG&E Coliseum at OKC State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.
'Disney on Ice' brings 'Moana 2' debut to Oklahoma State Fair
From the moment Woody, Jessie, Buzz and their cowpoke compatriots kick off the show with the high-energy "Hoedown Throwdown," the action hardly stops in the fast-paced "Disney on Ice presents Jump In!" From the "Toy Story" gang and a whole court of Disney princesses to the roving troublemaker Stitch and the wisecracking Olaf and his "Frozen" friends, the icy extravaganza features more than 50 characters from the Mouse House's legendary cinematic canon.
Glassblowing, 230-foot wheel among new Oklahoma State Fair attractions
When Oklahoma City resident Kelly Pan arrived at the 2026 Oklahoma State Fair on opening day, she was ready to cross an item off her bucket list. In a corner of the Modern Living Building, she stood over a flame at one of the four stations inside the IKONIC Glass Mobile Glassblowing Studio and carefully crafted a pickle pendant out of glass. "I've been to the state fair every year.
What's new at the Oklahoma State Fair? Glassblowing, bull riding, more
When Oklahoma City resident Kelly Pan arrived at the 2026 Oklahoma State Fair on opening day, she was ready to cross an item off her bucket list. In a corner of the Modern Living Building, she stood over a flame at one of the four stations inside the IKONIC Glass Mobile Glassblowing Studio and carefully crafted a pickle pendant out of glass. "I've been to the state fair every year.
View photos of the exhibit 'The Sense of Beauty' at the OKC Museum of Art
Skip to main content View photos of the exhibit 'The Sense of Beauty' at the OKC Museum of Art
See photos of the OKC Philharmonic playing in concert at Scissortail Park
Skip to main content See photos of the OKC Philharmonic playing in concert at Scissortail Park
OKC Museum of Art's 'Sense of Beauty' exhibit closes this weekend
Against a gallery wall painted a deep twilight-purple, the golds, crimsons and oranges in Puerto Rican artist Diógenes Ballester's 1993 encaustic paint on linen work “The Magic of Patchouli, I" call to mind the changing of the seasons.
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