29th Annual International Festival/Lawton

29th Annual International Festival

Events include International Sports Day and Free Concerts with Featured Performers

The 2008 International Festival in Lawton, OK will be held September 26, 27, and 28. The hours are Friday, 5-10 pm, Saturday, 11 am-10 pm, and Sunday, 12-5 pm.

It continues to celebrate and highlight our area’s diverse cultures.  The festival is a project of the Lawton Arts and Humanities Council’s International Festival Committee and the City of Lawton.

The festival opens 5 pm, Friday and the Opening Ceremony follows at 6 pm on the 2nd Street Stage.  The highlight of this event is the Naturalization Oath Ceremony where many will take the Oath of Allegiance to become US citizens receiving their Certificates of Naturalization.

What is new this year?
The festival will be held in Elmer Thomas Park located at 3rd and Ferris Avenue.  We are so excited to launch the festival in this new location.  Some of the added amenities for the festival include, room for more attractions, parking adjacent to festival grounds, vendor parking on site, additional electrical and water sources, tour bus parking, shuttle bus transportation, completely handicap accessible, restroom facilities, and more!

In addition to our traditional events, International Sports Festival Day is set for Saturday, September 27 at Lawton High School and in Elmer Thomas Park.  Events include NFL Punt, Pass, & Kick, Disc Golf, Tennis, Fishing, and Basketball Tournaments, Football Jamboree, and Track & Field. Click here for more information.   

Everyone can participate in this citywide celebration by becoming a volunteer. It is a great way to meet new people in the community, get work experience for your resume, gain visibility for your organization or business, family or group activity, and just have FUN!!                                                                    

Throughout the three-day event, festivalgoers will have an opportunity to see multi-national entertainment, taste cuisine from more than 25 vendors, and browse the markets of the international vendors.

Free Concerts with Featured Performers
Friday Night
Needfire (Celtic Rock) www.needfire.com (Texas & Scottish artists)
Polka Kings (German & Polka) (Oklahoma artist)

Saturday
Arabesque World Music & Puppets (Arabic & Irish) www.ourarabesque.com (Oklahoma artist)

Saturday Evening
Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers (Oklahoma Folk/Rock) www.myspace.com/samanthacrain (Oklahoma artist)

Saturday Night
Beyond the Pale (World Music) www.beyond-the-pale.com (Texas artist)
Under the Influence (Texas country with the Red Dirt flavor) www.undertheinfluenceband.com (Texas artist)

Sunday Afternoon
LAAND (Greek) www.laand.com (Texas artist)
Blood Washed Blues Band (Blues & Southern Rock)
www.myspace.com/bwbb1 (Oklahoma artist)
Mariachi Orgullo de America (Mexico) www.mariachiorgullo.com (Oklahoma artist)

Visit www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/lahc for schedules (Note lineup and schedule may be subject to change beyond our control) or call 580-581-3470 or 581-3471, or email us at [e-mail].

For more information about the International Sports Festival Day, contact Reginald Seaton, at 580-581-3400 or email [e-mail]  For all events and locations, No pets are allowed, only service animals, please.

Poster (pdf)