Arvest Winterfest Presented with CommunityCare Again a Highlight of Greater Tulsa’s Holiday Season

The time is here to bundle up and enjoy the magical spirit of the holidays. Tulsa’s favorite winter festival, Oklahoma Arvest Winterfest presented with CommunityCare, runs in downtown Tulsa until Sunday, January 3.
The event, in its 13th year, began on Nov. 30. It has been named by the national People Magazine as the top holiday destination in Oklahoma.
This year, ice skating will take place on the ice rink inside of BOK Center instead of outside on Third Street. While this might seem counter-intuitive, event organizers have placed a heavy focus on the health and safety of guests so they’ll be able to safely experience the magic of the holiday season. In fact, the venue’s ice capacity will be over 8,000 square feet larger than the ice capacity on Third Street. This social distancing advantage is just one of many that event organizers deemed imperative to keep Winterfest guests safe.
Additionally, Winterfest will feature a multitude of preventative measures as advised by the Tulsa Health Department and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). ASM Global’s “VenueShield” is an advanced environmental hygiene and operational protocol that has been developed for more than 325 ASM facilities around the world, and has been effectively implemented for multiple indoor events. All protocols are aligned with public health authorities, medical and industry experts. VenueShield reduces physical touch points, increases venue sanitation and cleanliness, and provides health monitoring guidelines and services. BOK Center’s public capacity will be drastically capped at a socially responsible percentage in line with Tulsa Health Department and Center for Disease Control’s recommendations
Guests can walk through color-changing LED lights as they approach Oklahoma’s tallest Christmas tree. The Arvest Winterfest tree soars 44-feet into the air, features 36,700 glowing lights, 109,534 individual tips and a base diameter of nearly 30 feet. Guests can also take rides in horse-drawn carriages for an additional fee every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m.
Skating Guides are available to help participants glide in style. The lightweight helpers, courtesy of Chick-fil-A Tulsa Hills, can assist skaters of all ages to be more confident on the ice and off of the rails.
Guests can enjoy free entertainment every Saturday until Christmas Eve directly inside BOK Center from 4-7 p.m. listening to the joyful music performed by children from area churches, schools, nonprofit organizations and choral groups.
The Winterfest Express train fueled by Fox 23 has rolled in once again from the North Pole. It is free and open to all ages. Hop on the train every Saturday from 12–3 p.m. The big man himself returns during Sundays with Santa and socially distanced photos can be taken with Santa Claus every Sunday in December before Christmas from 2 to 4 p.m.
A variety of weekly discounts will be offered at the festival. Courtesy of Arvest, patrons receive half-price admission for skating on Mondays with the donation of a non-perishable can of food benefiting the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Visitors receive half-price skating on Warmth Wednesdays with the donation of a new or gently used coat, blanket, scarf or pair of gloves benefiting Night Light Tulsa. Arvest customers will receive half-price general admission any day of the festival by showing their Arvest card or checkbook. Advance online tickets are required and skaters must show proof of discount at the Winterfest check-in desk when they arrive to skate.
Over the last 12 years, attendance for this event has soared from 35,000 visitors in 2008 to more than 150,000. And while the event’s allowable capacity may be reduced this year, the annual holiday celebration will be open for 38 days, giving as many Tulsans as possible a chance to enjoy skating inside BOK Center while watching free entertainment from the indoor stage and taking in beautiful, gleaming holiday lights.
Winterfest 2020 is presented by ARVEST Bank along with CommunityCare. Additional sponsors include PSO, River Spirt Casino, Ascension St. John, T-Mobile and Quantus Creaitve. The official radio partner is Cox Radio, Inc. and TV partner is Fox 23.
A full Arvest Winterfest calendar with prices, a list of safety precautions and daily hours of operation is available online at www.tulsawinterfest.com.
For more information, contact specialevents@asmtulsa.com.
For group ice skating rates or information on private rink rentals, contact Connie Lytle, Group Sales Coordinator at 918-894-4264 or clytle@asmtulsa.com.