This year’s OrangeFest, on April 12 in downtown Okmulgee, combines a community homecoming celebration with family-friendly activities for all ages. Admission and parking are free. 

The activities, centered around the Creek Council House Square, begin at 4 p.m. on Friday with everything from live music, food trucks and a beer garden to a mechanical bull, lawn games, inflatables and the annual Glo Run 5K.

"OrangeFest is the annual event that brings my OSUIT family together with the Okmulgee community I call home," said Bill R. Path, OSUIT president. "OrangeFest is a great opportunity for OSUIT students and employees to come together with Okmulgee Main Street to offer the community a fun, safe and hopefully even educational event that they will want to come back to year after year."

Pistol Pete will be making an appearance from 6-8 p.m. Get your selfie taken with Pete himself and post to social media for fun giveaways from OSUIT.

Lawn games for all ages will be set up on the Council House lawn. This year will include roping horses, several cornhole sets, a giant checkers and connect four and more. 

The Kids’ Zone provides plenty of activities for children. There will be several bounce house options provided by Bounce Smart of Oklahoma, for a small fee. Face-painting will be available by OSUIT Phi Theta Kappa and the OSUIT Child Care Center is running the kids tent with colorings, tattoos, stickers, games and more!

Setting the tone for the evening will be a live performance by The Get Down, a Top 40 cover band, presented by OSUIT’s Student Government Association.

The National Guard will also be bringing out their rock wall for those 16 and older. You can also try your luck and see how long you can stay on the mechanical bull. 

The event wouldn’t be complete without food. Food trucks and downtown restaurants will be open along with the OSUIT Future Chef Association’s ice luge serving orange smoothies and mandarins. 

After you indulge on the tasty food options, you can run it off in the annual Glo Run 5K, presented by OSUIT Student Life. The race starts at 8 p.m., you can register online or in person at the event. Registration is $20 for those in the community or $15 for OSUIT students and includes glow-in-the-dark shirt and glow stick while supplies last.

Pistol Pete will start the race – Pistols Firing! And OSUIT School of Diesel and Heavy Equipment will have two of their Komatsu loaders at the finish line to mark the end of the race.

Remember to bring cash, lawn chairs and all of your block-party essentials. For more information on OrangeFest or the Glo Run 5K visit osuit.edu/orangefest.