We wind down the month of April with two of the metro's biggest annual events. First, there's the "Run to Remember," the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on Sunday. Built around celebrating the gift of life and honoring the memory of everyone who suffered due to the events of April 19, 1995, the event includes USATF-sanctioned races but also a non-competitive walk and a kid's marathon. On Friday and Saturday, there's the Health Expo at the Cox Convention Center (free admission), and Saturday brings the pasta dinner in the lobby of the Chase Building. If you're going out as a spectator, organizers recommend several excellent locations: the starting line at NW 5th and Harvey, spots in Bricktown, the state capitol complex, Sparrow and Edgemere Parks between Walker and Broadway, Crown Heights, Nichols Hills, Classen Boulevard north of NW 50th and the finish line on Broadway near NW 7th. See a full course map.
In addition, take the weekend to go out (perhaps for the 2nd or 3rd time) to the OKC Festival of the Arts. Live performances continue throughout the weekend, until 5 p.m. on Sunday, and there's also the fantastic works of art, great food, kid's activities and so much more.
Elsewhere, this weekend...
- Downtown figures to be quite the crazy place on Saturday, as the Thunder prepares for a playoff opening game against the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. Three hours prior to tipoff, fans can enjoy the block party outside with games, concessions, live music and more.
- How about a centuries old tradition in which the skills of athletes, bagpipers, and dancers are tested and displayed... It's the 6th Annual Iron Thistle Scottish Heritage Festival and Highland Games through Sunday at the Kirkpatrick Family Farm in Yukon. There will be music, dance, food, shopping and more. See uscoscots.org for more information.
- The annual Thunderkatz Cat Show takes place at State Fair Park through Sunday. There's a cat show, and rescued kittens and cats will be available for adoption. See the official site for more information.
- In music, the 5th Annual Norman Music Festival takes place on the streets of downtown Norman Friday and Saturday. For more information, see normanmusicfestival.com.
- And the Diamond Ballroom has Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood, In Solitude, Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn and Arkaik on Saturday night.
- On stage, the Oklahoma City Theatre Company production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" concludes Sunday.
- And on both Friday and Saturday nights, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic presents "Wicked Divas," featuring Broadway starts Julia Murney and Alli Mauzey from "Wicked."
- The RedHawks are at the Brick this weekend for a set with Round Rock.
- Finally, the city has a a special hazardous waste collection from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at State Fair Park and a Free Shred Day from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at 5519 NW 4th, both part of the Earth Day observances in the month of April. Get details, requirements and rules for both.
Are you attending any of the above events, or has something else caught your eye this weekend? Let us know below. You can submit future events for publication and possible profile here on About Oklahoma City by using this form.
Photo © Bill Fairchild
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