14 Fall Activities for Family Fun in Tulsa

For 90 years, the Tulsa Zoo has inspired a passion for wildlife as a fun and affordable destination where families can connect. Since 1928, the Tulsa Zoo is home to more than 400 species. Many of the animals in zoo care are rare and endangered in the wild, including the new baby Malayan tiger!

Visit immersive exhibits, like the Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve; learn more about your favorite animals during daily keeper chats; or enjoy the scenery during a round-trip on the train. The Tulsa Zoo is open 363 days a year.

Tulsa’s one-of-a-kind park is fun for all ages. Designed as a vibrant and inclusive space, Gathering Place blends nature with an urban setting. Since opening in 2018 and named USA Today’s Best New Attraction, Gathering Place has provided Tulsans and visitors alike with space to play, relax and gather along the river.

Halloween weekend in the park is always one to remember. Keep an eye on Gathering Place's events calendar for fun games, costume contests, live entertainment and trick-or-treating of course!

For college football fans, watch the Tulsa Golden Hurricane play at H.A. Chapman Stadium. While on campus, take a tour or just take a stroll and admire the academic buildings while the leaves change color.

The campus is located on historic Route 66 and has a beautiful view of the downtown Tulsa skyline. Down the street from the stadium are other Route 66 landmarks including Mother Road Market, Buck Atom's and more!

Go back in time and experience Tulsa’s aerospace history. Enjoy the unique opportunity to look at vintage planes, while also taking delight in the many interactive exhibits. Get in the “cockpit” as you fly on a jet simulation, maneuver robotic arms like an astronaut in space and more.

Travel through the vast unknowns of space in the planetarium, which is the second of its kind in the world. The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Looking to treat yourself to something sweet? Beatrice Ice Cream Co. offers delicious ice cream located in the Tulsa Arts District downtown. Build your own cookie sandwich or enjoy your scoop in a waffle cone made fresh right before your eyes. They have plenty to choose from, even vegan options, to satisfy everyone in your group.

Named "the most beautiful place in Oklahoma" by House Beautiful magazine, Philbrook Museum of Art is an essential stop on any itinerary. Nestled on 25-acres of pristine gardens in the heart of midtown Tulsa, Philbrook Museum offers world-class art in a villa that transports visitors to the Italian countryside.

The gardens are the perfect place to take family holiday card photos when the leaves are changing colors. Philbrook was founded out of the historical home of Waite and Genevieve Phillips but includes modern additions such as the auditorium, restaurant, library and educational studios.

The only thing more delightful than donning your favorite jersey, grabbing a stadium meal and kicking back in your seat along the goal line on a crisp summer evening, is doing the exact same thing on an even crisper fall evening.

Tulsa's professional soccer team, FC Tulsa, is playing this fall at ONEOK field. From fireworks and live music, to jeering at the calls with your fan-neighbors, don't miss this experience at ONEOK Field. Grab your tickets here!

Underwater experiences await you throughout the Oklahoma Aquarium galleries featuring aquatic life from our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. See the largest bull shark collection in the world through a unique walk-through tunnel and dome.

Send the kids crawling through the Kelp Forest and Discovery Caves and Extreme Amazon to come face-to-face with exotic stingrays, iguanas and fish from these habitats. Get even closer by rolling up your sleeves at interactive touch and feed tanks. The Oklahoma Aquarium is open every day except Christmas from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last entry at 5 p.m.

One of northeast Oklahoma’s unique recreational treasures, Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness encompasses several hundred acres of rugged park land located only a few miles from Tulsa’s vibrant downtown. The landscape creates a sense of being far from city life, surrounding visitors with a thick canopy of trees. Turkey Mountain is dog friendly and offers miles of winding dirt trails for hiking, mountain biking and trail running.

Immerse yourself in Tulsa history with a visit to the set of the cult-classic movie–The Outsiders. Offering behind-the-scenes stories, memorabilia and more, the Outsiders House Museum just northeast of downtown Tulsa is a time-traveling experience that’s worth a trip even if you’ve never seen the movie.

Frequently hosting watch parties and other events, this museum is typically open on the weekends. Check their social media for their most up-to-date schedule.

Greenwood Rising, a state-of-the-art history center located at the entrance of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, provides an opportunity for visitors to reflect upon and honor the legacy of Black Wall Street before and after the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. It opened in the Summer 2021. Get more information and keep up to date by visiting their website.

If you’re in the historic Greenwood district, Wanda J’s is the perfect spot for a cozy fall lunch or dinner. This Tulsa staple is the epitome of comfort food and has a long history of celebrating the legacy of local cooking legend, Wanda Jefferson Armstrong.

From catfish to cobbler, this Greenwood icon will make you feel right at home, even if you didn’t grow up on authentic Southern fare. Dine in or carry out, Wanda J’s will satisfy your Southern comfort cravings.

Join in the fun at Tulsa Botanic Garden’s autumn paradise. Visit during the annual Scarecrow Exhibit, where handmade scarecrows from schools, businesses, artists, and other community members are on display from September 22 through Oct. 30.

Experience the Tulsa Botanic Garden's beautifully decorated pumpkin labyrinth that creates a mosaic design. The Tulsa Botanic Garden is nestled in the Osage Hills, just eight miles northwest of downtown.

Pumpkin Town is one of the best spots for family-friendly fall fun. You can pick out a pumpkin for carving (or eating), explore the giant corn maze, take a hayride, ride the grain train or pet all your favorite animals at the petting zoo. Not to mention, the kids can jump on the jumping pillow or get their face painted. For the perfect fall day or to get ready for Halloween festivities, you can't miss Pumpkin Town!