Dig Up Some Fun at Black Gold Days
The 34th annual Black Gold Days festival will be June 14-16, 2012 at Black Gold Park in Glenpool.
By: Sheryl Sowell | Category: Recreation/Leisure | Issue: June 2012
The Black Gold Days Frog and Turtle Races will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 16.
The 34th annual Black Gold Days, a celebration commemorating the 1905 discovery of oil in Glenpool, will be held Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16. When wildcatters Robert Galbreath and Frank Chesley drilled on Ida Glenn’s farmland, they hit one of Oklahoma’s first oil gushers in what would become known as “the Glenn Pool.” This discovery led to considerable growth for the area, put Oklahoma on the oil production map, and helped Tulsa become known as the “Oil Capital of the World.”
Black Gold Days is sponsored by the Glenpool Chamber of Commerce and takes place in Black Gold Park on U.S. Highway 75 at 145th Street. The festival has come a long way since the first Black Gold Days, when it was held at a small sports complex. Attendance now averages 9,000 to 11,000 people each day. The festival is helping Glenpool shed the image as “the town that made Tulsa famous” and is really making a name for itself.
Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday when the Boy Scouts raise the American flag. The three-day event will feature such attractions as a carnival, delicious food, crafts, a parade, and live music.
Great Plains Amusement will provide the carnival atmosphere. “We’re very excited about the carnival this year; it’s bigger, and we’ve heard nothing but great reviews on all the rides,” says Jennifer Cook, president and CEO of the Glenpool Chamber of Commerce.
Quality live entertainment will go on throughout the festival, including Jimmy Henley from “Hee Haw,” Pake McEntire (Reba’s brother), South 40, and more.
Food vendor offerings will range from Cajun and German delights to the traditional staples – corn dogs, turkey legs and kettle corn.
A very exciting addition to the festival this year is the first-ever Mr. and Miss Black Gold Pageant. The pageant will be held Thursday, June 14. Registration is at 6:30 p.m., and the event starts at 7. Sunny and Rowdy from KVOO will be on hand as emcee and a judge, respectively. Every participant will win something, and Miss Black Gold Days will have the honor of leading the parade on Saturday, June 16. No experience is necessary.
The age divisions are as follows: girls, 0-12 months, 12-14 months, 25-35 months, 3-4 years, 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-19; and boys, 1-35 months and 3-8 years. For more information or entry forms, call (918) 812-3594 or email eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.
Mark your calendars now to attend Glenpool’s 34th annual Black Gold Days, June 14 through 16.
For more information, contact
Glenpool Chamber of Commerce
(918) 322-3505
About Author Sheryl Sowell
Sheryl Sowell was born and raised in Tulsa, OK. She graduated from Will Rogers High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern State University in 2007. She has worked for Value News as editor, writer and advertising copywriter since 2008. She enjoys meeting and interviewing people for Value News articles, learning about their backgrounds, and helping to promote their businesses and local events. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes and crafts from Pinterest, attending concerts and sporting events, and spending time with family and friends. Sheryl lives in Tulsa with her fiancé Paul, their daughter Scarlett, and their two dogs, Gunner and Boo.
Glenpool Chamber of Commerce
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Glenpool Chamber of Commerce Online:
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