Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

View on map
MusicOkemah
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsWoodyFest is one of the few American music
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah

The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, known locally as WoodyFest, is held each mid-July in Okemah, Oklahoma, on the weekend closest to July 14, the birthday of hometown folk singer Woody Guthrie. Run by the nonprofit Woody Guthrie Coalition, the multi-day event mixes free public concerts, a children's festival, songwriting and poetry contests, camping, and workshops celebrating Guthrie's music and his legacy of protest and populist songwriting.

Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah in 1912 and left as a young man to travel the country during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, writing songs about migrant workers, dispossessed farmers, and the gap between American ideals and American reality.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

WoodyFest is one of the few American music festivals built entirely around honoring a single songwriter in the town where he was born, and that hometown setting gives it a different texture than a typical folk festival

02

The mystery stays covered

Woody Guthrie left Okemah as a teenager and spent decades writing songs about migrant workers, labor struggles, and the Dust Bowl, including This Land Is Your Land, before the town fully embraced his legacy

03

The city starts moving

WoodyFest represents that reconciliation made permanent

04

The water draws everyone in

Performers range from touring folk and Americana acts to songwriting contest finalists performing original work, and the festival doubles as a pilgrimage site for folk musicians who cite Guthrie as a direct influence, from Bob Dylan on down

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival is anchored to Guthrie's actual birthday

Water and renewal

Living ritual

always scheduled for the weekend closest to July 14

The sacred route

Living ritual

which keeps it tied to the man rather than a fixed calendar date

The local code

Living ritual

A songwriting contest and a children's festival have become recurring fixtures

Tradition 5

Living ritual

passing Guthrie's populist

Tradition 6

Living ritual

story-driven approach to songwriting on to new performers and younger audiences

Tradition 7

Living ritual

while informal jam circles among visiting musicians carry on the participatory folk tradition Guthrie himself came out of

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

For Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, plan transport around the exact Okemah venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual summer clothing suited to mid-July heat in eastern Oklahoma: shorts, breathable fabrics, a sun hat, and comfortable shoes for walking between venues around downtown Okemah. If camping...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, stay near the part of Okemah you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map35.43 N, 96.31 WOpen in Google Maps

Okemah, OK

Nearest airportTUL — Tulsa
TransportFor Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, plan transport around the exact Okemah venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, stay near the part of Okemah you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Okemah via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Okemah, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearCasual summer clothing suited to mid-July heat in eastern Oklahoma: shorts, breathable fabrics, a sun hat, and comfortable shoes for walking between venues around downtown Okemah. If camping onsite, pack for hot days and warm nights, and bring rain gear since summer storms can move through quickly.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Woody Guthrie Folk Festival?

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival is listed for July · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Woody Guthrie Folk Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Okemah, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Okemah, OK

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLwoodyfest.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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