DRUMRIGHT — What began as one person’s desire to bring people together has grown into a recurring community event known as the Drumright Monthly Market.
The Drumright Monthly Market returned for the 2026 season this past Saturday on April 4 hosting talented individuals at booths and on stage. Held seasonally from April to December at the Drumright Historical Museum grounds the market has become a staple event that brings vendors, food trucks, and live music together.
The market was launched in 2021 by organizer Aime Davis after she moved to Drumright in late 2020. She had relocated to Drumright from Fayetteville, Arkansas — a city with a population of about 80,000. Despite the stark contrast Davis quickly fell in love with Drumright describing it as a “hallmark town”.
“I absolutely fell in love with Drumright,” she said. “I saw beautiful potential and just really loved the area. I wanted to be a part of making it better and contributing to the community.”
Still, the transition from such a large area to a small town community took some adjustment. Davis said she missed the community events and markets she was accustomed to which led her to the idea to bring one to Drumright.
Her first step was to connect with local residents by hosting a New Year’s gathering at the historic Fulkerson building that she had been helping restore. During the gathering she shared the idea of creating a recurring market in hopes of bringing people together. Several people expressed interest in helping. However, when the first market arrived she found herself organizing the event alone.
“I hosted the first market completely by myself,” Davis said.
Which made her all the more appreciative when she was joined by Angela Titus, a former Drumright chamber president. Titus became a key partner in helping recruit vendors and spread the word, according to Davis.
The first market was held along Pennsylvania Avenue and Broadway in downtown Drumright. Later events were moved to the museum grounds to improve accessibility and safety for visitors as well as increase foot traffic to an important feature of the community — the museum — where it continues this season.
There is live music performances from local musicians throughout event days. The event also includes special opportunities for young entrepreneurs and community groups, according to Davis. Vendors under the age of 18 which Davis referred to as “kid bosses”, can set up booths free of charge. Nonprofit organizations are also able to set up booths for no charge. There is a $65 season pass offered to vendors that allows participation in all nine markets each year or there is a $25 first time appearance vendor fee with a $10 costs to set up at each additional market in the season. From vendor fees all proceeds are donated to the museum to support its operations and programs.
“At the end of the day, it’s a feel-good program for the community,” Davis said. “We’re trying to give people a place to gather — somewhere you can call your friends and family, come down, share a meal, shop the vendors, and listen to music.”
The museum is open to visitors during all market days so guests can explore the exhibits and learn more about the community’s history. Davis and volunteers have also helped establish the Drumright Food Court near the museum’s caboose where food trucks can plug into installed power hookups and offer their goods while contributing a small fee that supports the museum.
As the market continues to grow, Davis said she hopes more community members will become involved in helping sustain the event. She is on a constant search for volunteers to help ensure the event continues for years to come.
“This was built for the community,” she said. “I’m not going to be here forever, and I’d love to see more locals step in and help keep it going.”
Those interested in volunteering, being a vendor, or learning more about the monthly market can find information through the market’s social media pages or by contacting Davis.