Celebrate The Season With Lawton’s Favorite Holiday Traditions

Lawton is a great place to spend the holidays! Residents have their own family traditions, and most of them involve attending or being a part of Lawton's own holiday traditions.

There are several events that take place in Lawton during the holidays. But there are some that have been going on for a very long time that have become Lawton holiday traditions.

Lawton's Top Five Holiday Traditions

Most of Lawton's holiday traditions take place in December. But some of them begin as early as the weekend before Thanksgiving!

No. 1 - Holiday In The Park

Lawton's top holiday tradition is the annual Holiday In The Park. It has been taking place for as long as I can remember! Who can remember when it was in the middle of Gore Blvd from 11th Street to 2nd Street? I sure can!

Today, Holiday In The Park takes place in Elmer Thomas Park. Visitors can walk or drive through the park to see several holiday light displays made up of thousands of twinkling lights. Over the last few years, Holiday In The Park has added several activities, like a Kris Kringle Market, ice skating and more!

This year, Lawton's Holiday In The Park will kick off on Saturday, November 22 with a Frost Your Fanny 5K and holiday parade.

No. 2 - The Nutcracker Ballet

One of the most beautiful holiday traditions in Lawton is the annual performance of The Nutcracker ballet! The Storey and Barton School of Dance produced the ballet for the longest time, and I can remember taking my kids to the McMahon Memorial Auditorium to see it almost every holiday season.

Now, Lawton Ballet Theatre has picked up the torch and has been producing its annual performance of The Nutcracker ballet for 13 years! Lawton Ballet Theatre has added its own tradition with The Nutcracker ballet by hosting a Nutcracker Tea - a perfect event for those little ones.

Lawton Ballet Theatre will perform The Nutcracker ballet this year December 19-21 at the Lawton High School Auditorium.

READ MORE: Oklahoma's Top 10 Christmas Parades

No. 3 - Fort Sill Candlelight Stroll

Lawton residents are proud of their own and of the town's military heritage. One way to honor that during the holiday season in Lawton is through the annual Candlelight Stroll. Hosted by the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, attendees get to experience Fort Sill as it appeared in the 1870s.

As of November 18, the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum has not announced the date of this year's Candlelight Stroll.

No. 4 - Living Christmas Tree

Lawton residents remember the reason for the season during Lawton First Baptist Church's annual Living Christmas Tree Performance. Attendees get to see a free performance filled with singing and live music. And the singers are all in a gigantic Christmas tree filled by thousands of lights!

This year's Living Christmas Tree performance is "Joy To The World" and will take place December 11, 12 and 13 at Lawton First Baptist Church.

No. 5 - Handel's "Messiah"

Possibly the oldest holiday tradition in Lawton is the annual performance of Handel's "Messiah." This year, the performance will the 84th annual presentation in Lawton! The performance is done by the Lawton Schubert Music Club and the Cameron University/Lawton Civic Choir. The one-hour performance will feature selections from Handel's "Messiah," which celebrates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This year's performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 13 at the Lawton High School Auditorium.