Howdy y’all! I’m the Big Tulsan, and it’s mighty fine to meet ya! My good buddy, Todd, and I have called T-Town home for a very long time. I’ve been around so long I have fond memories of having fun at places like Cimarron Ballroom, the Orpheum and, of course, riding the Wildcat at Bell’s Amusement Park. I’ll never forget fun meals at The Louisiane, Crystal’s Pizza and Utica 21 Club.
My hobbies? Meeting new folks and sharing my memories of Tulsa’s past as well as my thoughts on current happenings around town. Send me your burning questions about anything and everything pertaining to Tulsa. Send your questions to bigtulsan@tulsaflyer.org, and Todd and I will see what kind of fun we can get into by digging into the mail bags and responding to some of our favorite Qs.
Let’s get to this week’s question.
Hi Big Tulsan!
The holidays are upon us, and my family is already arguing in group chat like we’re at the Thanksgiving table. Can you help us settle a debate about what the longest running Christmas lights experience is in the area? My money is on Rhema. — Craig B., Timberlane Hills neighborhood
Howdy Craig!
Can you believe it’s already time to dig out the Christmas decorations and get the lights up on the house?! Of course if you were smart like my neighbors, you’d have already installed them while it still felt like summer outside.
Now to settle your debate, the lights at Rhema are a longtime holiday tradition in the metro that will turn 43 in 2025. They claim to plug in more than 3 million lights each year, which is by far the most in town. But it’s not the longest running Christmas lights tradition in town.
For nearly 60 years Tulsans have gathered in the Utica Square parking lot on Thanksgiving evening to celebrate “Lights On!”
Nowadays there are more than 700,000 lights strung throughout the midtown shopping center, which is about 699,000 more lights than there were when it all started in 1968. Back then it was a string of lights in about a dozen trees.
If you’re planning on going out to Utica Square this Thanksgiving, the festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday with Grady Nichols leading the Lights On Band for the 14th consecutive year. Let me tell you, that dude can play the saxophone. Expect more musical guests to help him sing holiday favorites.
Here’s some bonus trivia for you: The longest Christmas tradition in Tulsa is the annual Christmas Parade, which is celebrating 99 years of holiday cheer when it rolls through downtown Dec. 13.
Keep an ear out for me — I’ll be screaming “SANTA!” like Will Ferrell in that funny movie “Elf.”
Happy holidays,
The Big Tulsan (and Todd)