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Happy Tuesday, Tulsa. In today’s edition: Botanic Garden of Lights, a Nutcracker story time, Carols and Cocoa, and more.
Let’s get to it — Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Community spirit on display: David Jones, a Salvation Army bell ringer, won Sapulpa’s $10,000 Jingle Bells Sweepstakes and pledged $1,000 to charity. Organizers said the event may end with the 2026 Christmas Chute return — read the full story.
Community holiday cheer returns: Broken Arrow marked the holidays with its annual Carols and Cocoa in the Rose District, featuring choirs, vendors, sweet treats, and warm drinks that delivered a hometown, Hallmark movie vibe — get all the details.
State-specific answers for youth: Oklahoma’s new online homeless youth handbook is live, offering guidance on housing, health care, and more. Tulsa officials back the effort, and suggestions for updates are open until Jan. 15 — see how to submit suggestions.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since January. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
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🫶 We got your back
Holiday generosity in action: Oklahoma communities are rallying to make Christmas magical for kids in need, with toy drives supporting Toys for Tots and local nonprofits. Many events wrapped earlier this month, but if you still want to give, Whiteside Park and Community Center in Tulsa is collecting through Dec. 18 for families facing hardship. See donation locations and dates.
Decades of holiday spirit: Catoosa Winterfest marked its 60th Christmas Parade on Dec. 13, honoring Route 66’s centennial with a “Christmas on Catoosa’s Route 66” theme along Cherokee Street. Families enjoyed a fun zone at the Historical Society, kids dropped letters to Santa, and the Blue Whale mascot appeared. “Lights On at the Blue Whale” returns next year after a new visitor center opens. Get all the parade details.
Indie night, Tulsa-style: Whether your couch queue feels stale, Circle Cinema is Tulsa’s nonprofit hub for fresh indies, docs, and special events like Graveyard Shift, Noir Nights, and 2nd Saturday Silents with live pipe organ. Vintage seats, curated programming, and community energy turn moviegoing into a small revelation.
Hear me out: My mom’s been asking people to repeat themselves 5,281 times too many for years. She always avoided hearing aids like the plague — they’re clunky, obvious, expensive, not really worth it. I always thought “she’s not wrong” until I saw these new invisible hearing aids going viral. In the same boat? Now’s a great time to check them out before unused health benefits expire on the 31st.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now + you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🩰 A Night with The Nutcracker in Partnership with Tulsa Ballet @ Gathering Place | Wednesday (12/17) at 4:30pm – Skip the traditional theater setup and enjoy an interactive Nutcracker story time with Tulsa Ballet, where kids hear the tale while dancers perform scenes and teach a few steps. Then meet the tutu-clad dancers for photos, make a keepsake ornament, and call it quality holiday chaos.
✨ Botanic Garden of Lights @ Tulsa Botanic Garden | Thursday (12/18) at 5:00pm – Wander through a glowing wonderland of thousands of twinkling lights, holiday music, and cozy winter vibes. Toast marshmallows by the fire, snap festive photos, and let the kids loose in the snowball pit while the season sparkles all around you. It’s a feel-good holiday stroll that works just as well for family night as it does for date night.
🎸 Seth Lee Jones @ The Hunt Club | Thursday (12/18) at 6:00pm – Ease into the evening with live tunes and laid-back vibes courtesy of Seth Lee Jones. Expect a relaxed set that pairs perfectly with a drink in hand and good conversation at the bar. It’s the kind of low-key live music night that turns into a new weekly favorite.
🕯 Candlelit Cozy Jazz with Bossa @ Gathering Place | Friday (12/19) at 4:30pm – Settle into a candlelit evening with Bossa, smooth jazz, and seasonal cocktails. It is cozy, intimate, and perfect for actual conversation, not shouting over sleigh bells. Think warm glow, good company, and zero tacky sweater pressure.
🍺 Friendsmas Potting Bar @ Cabin Boys Brewery | Friday (12/19) at 6:00pm – Grab your besties and get your hands a little dirty at this festive Friendsmas plant party. Build a holiday planter, enjoy your first drink on the house, and vibe out to DJ Big Zen’s seasonal spins. Tacky sweaters, cozy energy, and creative fun are highly encouraged.
This weekend
🖼️ Stained Glass Christmas Suncatchers @ Agitsi Stained Glass | Saturday (12/20) at 10:00am – Turn holiday spirit into actual stained glass at a cozy suncatcher workshop where you pick your pattern, then learn to score, grind, copper foil, and solder. You leave with a real Christmas keepsake, something you’ll actually be proud to hang up. Limited tickets, bring steady hands.
🌼 Saturday Morning Wildflower Walk @ Oxley Nature Center | Saturday (12/20) at 10:30am – Let the Oxley Naturalists lead a free, drop-in wander through forest, prairie, and wetlands, with wildflowers showing off and plants coping with seasonal mood swings. It’s all ages, zero registration, and just enough science to justify that second coffee afterward.
🛍️ Saturday Shopping with CGE @ Allen Chapman Student Union | Saturday (12/20) at 12:00pm – Knock out your shopping list and meet some new faces while you’re at it. This student-friendly outing makes grabbing essentials easy, social, and stress-free. Spots fill up fast, so be sure to reserve yours before heading out.
🧙 “Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages” Live Score by Dustin Edward Howard @ Circle Cinema | Saturday (12/20) at 8:30pm – Lean into the Solstice at Circle Cinema as Tulsa composer Dustin Edward Howard performs a live, original score to Häxan, the 1922 silent witchcraft fever dream. It is spooky, smart, and local, an annual tradition for Tulsa film lovers
🎷 Sunday Jazz Nights: Nick Mancini Trio @ Tulsa Botanic Garden | Sunday (12/21) at 6:00pm – Whether you need a low-effort date night or an excuse to corral the family, Sunday Jazz at the Botanic Garden brings lights, s’mores, and vibes from Nick Mancini’s trio. Stroll the paths, grab a photo, then warm up in the Grange with swing and sanity.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
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🏠️ This house is wild
Listed by: Adrienne Driscoll (MORE Agency)
Four beds, 3.5 baths in coveted Maple Ridge, just blocks from Brookside, The Gathering Place, and River Parks. Sunlit living shows off hardwoods, wood beams, and a fireplace. Rare first-floor suite with big walk-in and updated bath. The kitchen holds the middle ground, classically updated and open to dining and living. Upstairs brings three bedrooms and a legit game room.
Out back is play, heated Baker pool and spa, astroturf with putting green, firepit, and a Trex deck. Pella sliders stitch indoors to out, creating easy flow. Full tour on YouTube, search 3042 S Cincinnati Ave, Tulsa, OK.
Take a peek inside →
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