This week in Tulsa
July 13 to 19, 2026
Carin Leon fills the BOK
A regional Mexican superstar finally makes his rescheduled Tulsa stop, Billy Bob Thornton brings his band to the casino, FC Tulsa is home under the lights, and Saturday downtown is stacked with free festivals. Here is what is worth your time this week.
The one thing
Carin Leon plays the BOK Center on Tuesday, July 14, and this one has been a long time coming. The show was moved from its original May date, and now one of the biggest names in regional Mexican music finally lands downtown on the De Sonora Para El Mundo tour. Leon built his sound in Hermosillo, Sonora, and his live album Palabra de To's, cut in his hometown, shows why he crosses over so easily, a rich voice that pulls norteno, mariachi, and a little soul into the same song. Doors and set time are on the date above. This is an arena night with a bilingual crowd and a lot of heart.
Live music
Two very different rooms carry the rest of the week.
- Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters play Hard Rock Live out in Catoosa on Saturday, July 18. Yes, that Billy Bob Thornton. The Boxmasters are a real working band, more than twenty years and twenty albums deep, playing roots rock and country shaded by the British Invasion sounds they grew up on. They are out on the Morro Rock tour behind a new record called In The Bay.
- LaserEye headlines The Vanguard on Thursday, July 16, the small Arts District club where the crowd ends up right on top of the stage. It is an easy, low key night to catch a live band up close.
See the full concert calendar for everything on sale.
Festivals and free stuff
Saturday, July 18 is the day to be downtown.
- The Route 66 Festival, subtitled Tales of the Mother Road, takes over the Gathering Place from 9 am to 7 pm, free, with live performances, food themed to the old highway, hands on activities, and a Route 66 vendor market.
- The Black Wall Street Food Festival runs 10 am to 8 pm on North Greenwood Avenue, a celebration of food and culture in the historic Greenwood district.
- The Tulsa Farmers' Market is open Saturday morning, July 18, from 7 to 11 am at 1 South Lewis.
- Night Light Tulsa returns Thursday evening, July 16, from 6:30 to 9 pm under the overpass at 200 North Maybelle, free music and community in one of the city's more unusual spots.
Sports
FC Tulsa is home Saturday, July 18 at ONEOK Field, hosting El Paso Locomotive at 7:30 pm for World of Soccer Night, with dollar beer in one section and a gear drive for Cleats 4 Kids. The Tulsa Drillers are on the road this week after wrapping their home series, back at ONEOK Field later in the month.
On the horizon
The Vanguard stays busy with Norma Jean on Tuesday, July 21, then Cain's turns into a time machine on Saturday, July 25 when My So Called Band plays a full night of 90s hits. A little further out, The Floozies bring their electronic funk to Cain's Ballroom on Friday, July 31. Full rundown in next week's edition.