June 4, 2015

"The Dust Bowl: Strong Winds, Strong Characters" Enid Chautauqua in the Park

June 9 through 13, 2015

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center | Enid, OK

"The Dust Bowl: Strong Winds, Strong Characters" will be presented June 9 -13 by the Enid Chautauqua Council. Enid Chautauqua in the Park is held in beautiful and historic Humphrey Heritage Village at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid.

The featured characters are, author John Steinbeck, Oklahoman Hazel Lucas Shaw, educator Lena Lowery Sawner, reporter Ernie Pyle and famed Oklahoma musician Woody Guthrie. The characters are listed in order of their appearance on the Tuesday - Saturday presentation schedule. The scholars travel to Oklahoma from across the country from Arizona to New York. They spend years researching and perfecting their portrayals.

Chautauqua is presented in true original style in Enid, as evening events are held under a big top tent. Local talent entertains on stage each evening beginning at 6:30pm with theatre groups and bands. An evening meal is also available for a small donation. The main presentation of historic Dust Bowl characters by scholars is at 7:30pm.

Workshops will also be held daily. The topics will explore topics related to the Dust Bowl era and include reporting on the Dust Bowl, African-American women in the Great Depression, the New Deal, migrant laborers and many others.

Daily workshops are held in the historic church at Humphrey Heritage Village at 10:30am and 12:00pm. All events are free. Step back in time and experience an evening with Enid Chautauqua in the Park. For more information on Chautauqua call 580-237-1907. Enid Chautauqua is funded in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the Harris Foundation.

Ponca City Herb Festival

Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pioneer Woman Museum | Ponca City, OK

For the second year in a row, the Pioneer Woman Museum will partner with the annual Ponca City Herb Festival to offer programs to the public. On Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., several artists and volunteers will be on hand to demonstrate a variety of traditional crafts.

Volunteers will demonstrate the art of spinning raw wool to useable yarn; a basket weaver will work throughout the day building a basket; a hand quilter will demonstrate the craft; and the museum's volunteer weavers will show how the looms work and explain the variety of weaving patterns. In addition, local 4H students will be talking with visitors about natural dye materials and methods. Two make-and-take, family-friendly crafts will also be available to visitors.

"We are delighted to be able to offer these programs in partnership with the Herb Festival," said Robbin Davis, director of the Pioneer Woman Museum. "By working together, we can offer even more to Ponca City visitors and locals. Ponca City is such a great place and we love showing off when people come to visit." The demonstrations and crafts will be free with museum admission.

For more information or questions, please contact the Pioneer Woman Museum at 580-765-6108 or piown@okhistory.org. The Pioneer Woman Museum, a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and

is located at 701 Monument Rd. in Ponca City.

Okietales

Wednesdays, June and July from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Oklahoma History Center | Oklahoma City, OK

Mark your calendars and load up the little ones for a special program to explore Oklahoma's past at the Oklahoma History Center. Each Wednesday in June and July from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the History Center hosts Okietales. Okietales is a one-of-a-kind reading and storytelling time where kids can hear and see history! Every Wednesday we will dive into history with books and stories and explore a different topic from the Wild West and Cowboys to Land Runs and Pioneer Life. This program is designed for five to nine year olds. Each week, participants will explore a different topic from Oklahoma's diverse history. Admission is $2 for each child and includes museum admission following the program. For more information, please contact education@okhistory.org or (405) 522-3602.