26/09/2021
Organizers are putting on the finishing touches on the 38th annual Pelican Festival, which is only days away.
This year’s Pelican Festival, hosted by the Grand Lake Association will run Thursday through Sunday, October 7 through 10 at Wolf Creek Park, located off Highway 59 in Grove. The carnival, by Fun Time Shows, will kick things off Thursday while vendor booths open and other activities are set for Friday and Saturday.
The carnival will be open 6-10 pm Thursday and Friday, noon to 10 pm Saturday and 1-6 pm Sunday.
Carnival armband coupons are now on sale at the Grand Lake Association offices and at American Bank of Oklahoma is Disney for $20 each per session. They will cost $25 each at the ticket booth once the carnival opens on Thursday.
In an effort to promote safety, several hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout the Festival booth area. Masks are not mandatory, but organizers recommend wearing one if it makes you more comfortable.
“We just want you to be you,” Grand Lake Association Executive Director Jay Cranke said. “If you want to wear a mask, wear it. If you want to clean your hands, sanitizer will be available. We just want everyone to enjoy their time at the Festival.”
Cranke says the Pelican Festival has been and continues to be the highlight of the lake area summer’s end and there is something for everyone.
That something includes carnival rides, arts & crafts, food trucks, free balloon animals, Oasis Animal Adventures, car show, parade, and great live entertainment.
Arts & crafts and food trucks will be on hand from noon to 8 pm Friday and 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday. To sign up as a vendor, contact Kim at the GLA office, 918-786-2289.
Line up for the parade begins at 8:30 am Saturday at the Grove Civic Center and the parade gets underway at 9:30 am. Parade entries will make their way north on Highway 59, through downtown Grove, and west to Cheapo Depo. To enter the parade, contact Kathleen at the GLA office, 918-786-2289.
The car and bike show, organized by the Grove Masonic Lodge, will be from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday. They will have door prizes and a giveaway at the show. Early registration is $20 but ends October 1. After that, entry fee will be $25, To enter, call 918-314-4316.
Oasis Animal Adventures will have some of their soft and cuddly animals at the park on Saturday from 10 am until 4 pm. Tangles and The Dude will provide free balloon animals and free face painting on Saturday from 3-6 pm.
This year another activity has been added to the list. The Miss Grove and Miss Teen Grove Pageant competition will take place October 7 at 6:30 pm at Wolf Creek Park. Queens will receive their crowns and sash and will represent their title by participating in the Pelican Festival Parade Saturday morning. For more information about the pageant, please email [email protected] or find them on Facebook .
Another Festival add-on this year is Days Inn, located at 10400 North Highway 59 in Grove, is offering $10 off each room for Pelican Festival vendors or visitors. Please use the code PELICAN when calling for reservations. The Days Inn can be reached at 918-786-9979.
Since Cranke was named executive director of the GLA in 2017, he has made it a priority to bring great rock & roll tribute bands to the Pelican Festival and this year is no exception.
The FREE live entertainment under the Indigo Sky Casino and Resort Entertainment Tent gets underway Friday night with karaoke by DJ 2Legit and continues Saturday afternoon with the Fabulous Mid Life Crisis band from Tulsa and Saturday night with Next Halen, the nation’s #1 Van Halen tribute band.
“You really can’t ask for better entertainment and it’s going to be at Grand Lake,” Grand Lake Association Executive Director Jay Cranke said.
DJ 2Legit has been involved with music ever since he was a small child and is a multi-instrumentalist, a song writer and music producer. He is one of Tulsa’s most requested DJs and is currently the house DJ at the Penthouse Bar on the top floor of The Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa. He has also performed several times this summer at Grand Lake.
“Karaoke will be 7-10 pm Friday and everyone is encouraged to pick out their favorite song and have some fun under the tent,” Cranke said.
Saturday afternoon starts off with the Fabulous Mid Life Crisis band. They are considered Oklahoma’s premier party band and will be on stage under the tent from 2-4 pm. They have played from Tulsa’s BOK Center to backyard weddings and play a mix of classic rock and soul music.
“If you haven’t seen these guys perform, now is your chance,” Cranke said. “And it’s free!”
Winding up the entertainment Saturday night will be Next Halen. They will be on stage from 7:30-9:30 and will knock your socks off. There is an enormous difference between playing a set list and putting on a show.
“These guys are amazing,” Cranke said.
With meticulous attention to detail, every aspect of an actual Van Halen concert has been recreated. The fun ranges from the skill level in the music, authentic equipment and even the stage antics. Whether you are a fan of Roth or Hagar, Next Halen will bring the memories flooding back in.
“We could not put on this major event and continue to grow it without our terrific sponsors,” Cranke said.
This year’s headline sponsor is Indigo Sky Casino & Resort. Other sponsors of this year’s Festival include the Grand Lake Association, Grand River Dam Authority, Names and Numbers, Cherokee Casino Grove, American Bank of Oklahoma, The Grand Laker, The Joplin Globe, The Grove Sun, Webb Insurance, Goldner Dock Construction, Classic Golf Carts, KGVE and TravelOK.com.
For more information, contact the Grand Lake Association at 918-786-2289.
