Good morning, Stillwater! Thanks for stopping in to read. Today’s edition is a bit shorter, but it’s packed with good stuff. Between the OKC Thunder victory and all the 4th of July fun ahead, I hope you find something in here that helps make this your most memorable Independence Day yet.

In today’s edition:

• Worry-free food smuggling and the movie that made you afraid of swimming 🦈

• The Fruit Truck returns (but only for 30 minutes!) 🍑

• Could you be Stillwater’s next Elle Woods? 🎭

• July 4th with 4+ towns nearby to celebrate 🇺🇸

Let’s jump right into it!

– Nate Cheever

Happy birthday to Andrea Bradley! 🎂

 Cowboy Trade Day is Saturday! 🤠

Cowboy Trade Day is coming up on Saturday, June 28, from 9 AM to 3 PM at the scenic grounds of Cross Brand Cowboy Church (2700 S Fairgrounds Rd).

Expect a full day of antiques, handmade crafts, tools, tack, vintage decor, Western wear, farm goods, and more small-town treasures.

Admission is free for all ages! Bring the family, invite the neighbors, and help kick off what might just become a new Stillwater tradition.

WHAT’S UP IN STILLWATER

Have a Blast of a 4th of July! 🇺🇸🎆

Lokal Life reader SJ wrote in and asked me to include information about 4th of July celebrations and parades in ours and surrounding communities. Here’s my whack at it (let me know if there are any I missed). In the meantime, grab a lawn chair, fire up the BBQ to some patriotic brass band music, and enjoy some holiday leisure like it’s your patriotic duty.

🤠 Perkins Round Up Club Rodeo | June 27–28 at 8 PM
Just down the road happening this weekend is Perkins’ 71st (!) annual Fourth of July Rodeo. Tickets are $5 each, free for 5 and under. 820 W. Freeman, Perkins.

🛺 Cedar Point Golf Cart Parade | Friday, July 4, 10 AM
Yep, Golf carts! Held out west over by the bend in the road by Lake Carl Blackwell at 11000 W Highway 51. The parade will wind through the campgrounds.

💥 Boomer Blast | Friday, July 4 at 6 PM
Stillwater’s main free 4th of July event, thanks to the City. There’ll be food trucks, music, and the splash pad will be running to keep things fun and cool. You can find free parking at the Pioneer Stadium then head over to Boomer Lake Park at the corner of Washington and Lakeview. Fireworks are set to begin at 9:30 PM, when it’s good and dark enough for a spectacular show. It will be hot so bring what you need to stay cool out there!

🎇 Glencoe Fireworks | Saturday, July 5
If you have a hankering for more explosions in the sky, Glencoe’s Fire Department has you covered. The music & food vendors start at 3 PM with a firework show at dusk at the Boyd Davison Park. Bring a lawn chair and your second stomach.

🇺🇸 Edmond LibertyFest Parade | Friday, July 4 at 9 AM
CNN and USA Today ranked this one in their top ten 4th of July festivals in the nation! If you’re up early and feeling ambitious, you can catch the parade and still make it back in time for Boomer Blast! The parade is on the 4th, but they have a ton of fun events running from Thursday June 16 thru July 5.

Willing to travel farther? Here’s a list of all 4th of July celebrations known to man in Oklahoma.

Final Plaza Party of the Summer Tonight ☀️

If you need an idea for tiring out your kids having some family fun tonight, here you go: it’s the last Summer on the Plaza of the season at the OSU Student Union (off of Hester and Morrill Ave). Here’s what’s happening from 6 - 8 PM:
💦 Waterslides, bounce houses & water toys
🎨 Free face painting
📚 Stillwater Public Schools Book Bus
🎶 Live music
🐾 Pete’s Pet Posse (OSU’s favorite therapy dogs)
🍧 Free popsicles, courtesy of University Dining

It’s fun, free, and fleeting. Go catch the final one while you can!

Stonecloud presents JAWS 🦈

I finally watched JAWS for the first time (it only took a few decades and the courage to face my fear of human-devouring sea creatures on screen) and wow, what an excellent movie. If you haven’t seen it, or it’s been awhile, Stonecloud is presenting JAWS (1980’s PG) on Tuesday, July 1 at 8:50 PM just after dark.

They’ll have $2 popcorn and no rules about outside food so you can skip the purse-smuggling routine with a clear conscience. 😅 👍🏻

Legally Blonde Auditions — You Could be Elle! 🎭🤩

Attention local triple-threat performers! Auditions are now open for Town & Gown’s upcoming production Legally Blonde. If interested, stop by Sunday, June 29 & Monday, June 30 at 6:30 PM to try out. They’re looking for a cast of 17 women and 8 men (18+ years old). Come prepared to sing and dance and maybe even “bend…and snap!”. Callbacks are quick —> Monday, June 30th. Good luck!

The Fruit Truck is Back! 🍑🍒

So much sweetness, so little time. The Fruit Truck rolls into town Wednesday, July 2, and will be parked from 8–8:30 AM at OK Discount Construction Supply (901A E 6th Ave). Cash or Venmo only.

For this round’s haul, they have:
🍑 Sweet Georgia peaches – $45 for 20 lbs
🍒 Washington dark cherries – $45 for 10 lbs
🍯 South Dakota honey – $15

I think this is the third or fourth time I’ve listed the Fruit Truck, but people seem to love it and it’s not hard to see why! 😊

Live Action Minecraft at the Armory 💎⛏️

Hey teens! Pick up your pick for some pixelated teen-fun at the Armory (the huge, rocky building at 315 E 9th Ave) this coming Wednesday, July 2nd, from 2-4 PM. The Library has put together a bunch of Minecraft-themed games and goodies. No screens or admission fee, just some IRL (in real life) fun!

Stillwater Strong Benefit Concert 🎶🇺🇸

What would the 4th of July be without a community concert where we can hear classics like like America the Beautiful, The Stars and Stripes Forever, This Land is Your Land, and The Battle Hymn of the Republic? Perish the thought!

The Stillwater Community Band and Singers are performing a patriotic and heartfelt concert to celebrate the nation’s birthday and raise money for those affected by the recent wildfires. It just underscores what makes Stillwater, and America, great==> “good crowned with brotherhood”.

🗓️ Thursday, July 3 | 7 PM
📍 Stillwater Community Center (8th & Duck)
🎟 Free admission | Donations accepted for United Way wildfire relief

Grocery Report 🛒

This week I put in 8 all-beef hotdogs as the variable. Looks like WM edges out Homeland by 2 cents!

LOCAL BUSINESS

🏋️‍♀️ First-year OSU student launches home gym business

Mr. Justin Sharp is a marathon runner, cross-fit coach, student, podcaster, writer and now, entrepreneur! Last month he launched Getting Stronger LLC where it appears he does home gym consulting and design. I couldn’t find a website but he’s doing a good deal of writing and podcasting on his Substack. His tagline might resonate with you: It's never been easier to be weak, but it's never been more rewarding to be strong.

🏆 “And the nominees for Best in Stillwater are….”

…many more than I could fit here. The Stillwater News Press Best of Stillwater 2025 voting period is underway for another couple of weeks. And it’s not all businesses. There’s lots of interesting categories, like best local author, artist, even best patio! Cast your votes here.

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC

Let me know in the comments!

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Stillwater Lokal Life today. And if you enjoyed it, send it over to someone who thinks JAWS was a documentary.

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