DRUMRIGHT — Drumright will celebrate its oil-boom heritage this weekend with the return of the Annual Oil Patch Jamboree, scheduled for this Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 1-3.
The longtime community celebration is on its 54th year and will be bringing residents and visitors together for a weekend of activities around Drumright. The Jamboree is free and is organized through the Drumright Area Chamber of Commerce alongside lots of other events happening in conjunction with the Jamboree activities including the Drumright Monthly Market and Boomtown Theatre melodrama performances.
Starting on Oct. 1 at Whitlock Park is Praise in the Patch. This will feature music and hot dogs and kicks off the Jamboree festivities. Community members are invited to participate from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. to enjoy fellowship, praise, and prayer.
Movie in the Patch will take place on Friday, Oct. 2 also in Whitlock Park with the movie “Sarah’s Oil” being played for community attendees. There will be concessions available during the movie.
Saturday, Oct. 3, will feature many of the weekend's primary activities beginning with a Breakfast Fundraiser at Drumright Masonic Lodge 468, 212 N. Ohio. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit The Pride of Drumright, the Drumright High School band. Breakfast is being served from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The Jamboree Jog 5K and color run will start at 9 a.m. with packet pick ups opening at 7 a.m. The USATFsanctioned race will begin near the intersection of Morrow Avenue and Broadway and will take participants through Drumright before finishing near the old Drumright High School. The race course includes going up the famous Tiger Hill. Proceeds from this event benefit Drumright Schools track and cross country teams.
Following the morning race, Drumright Monthly Market vendors will be available down at the depot in the lawn of the Drumright Historical Society Museum. Vendors will be set up downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or later). The museum gazebo will also have Royal Refreshments set up offering cotton candy, popcorn and street corn, and balloon animals.
The Oil Patch Jamboree Parade will make its way through downtown Drumright at 11 a.m. The parade continues a tradition that has long been a centerpiece of the celebration. It has historically highlighted Drumright's oilfi eld heritage while featuring community organizations, vehicles, floats, and other entries. This year’s parade marshals are Loren and Layce Barnett.
Starting at noon Whitlock Park will serve as a hub for Saturday's festivities with vendors, food, contests, games, and live entertainment planned throughout the day.
Throughout the weekend the Boomtown Theatre will be continuing the tradition of having a melodrama performance during Oil Patch. This year the company is performing “Run to the Roundhouse, Nellie! (He can’t corner you there)” by Shubert Fendrich. Show dates are Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $10.
The Jamboree celebrates the history of Drumright, which grew rapidly following the discovery of oil on the Wheeler farm in 1912. The community's development became closely tied to the surrounding oil fields and the Oil Patch Jamboree continues that connection by bringing the community together each fall to celebrate Drumright's heritage.
The weekend's activities are expected to provide something for residents of all ages, from the morning road race and parade to the family activities and entertainment at Whitlock Park.
The Jamboree will run Oct. 1-3 with the main Saturday activities taking place on Oct. 3. Admission to the festival is free.