Celebrate Lawton’s 125 Years With A Big Community Celebration

Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration is beginning to take shape with various events planned for Saturday, August 8, plus the presentation of multiple community recognition awards. All celebration events are free and open to the public, and nominations are now open for the community recognition awards.

Lawton's official birthday is August 6, 1901, and this year, the City of Lawton will celebrate the city's 125th birthday on Saturday, August 8, with various events throughout the day. The City of Lawton will also honor nominated citizens and local organizations with five different community recognition awards that will be presented during the Birthday Celebration.

Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration will kickoff with a cowboy breakfast.

To start off the city's birthday celebration, citizens can enjoy a cowboy breakfast at 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 8 at the Museum of the Great Plains Coffee Station. The breakfast will compliment the final night of the Lawton Rangers Rodeo on August 8 to celebrate Lawton's western heritage.

According to a press release from the City of Lawton, a planned cattle drive is expected, but details won't be available till a later date.

The official Birthday Celebration will take place at Lawton's newly remodeled McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

Lawton's official birthday party will take place at the newly remodeled McMahon Memorial Auditorium. The celebration will begin with a ribbon cutting for the remodeled auditorium at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 8. The ribbon cutting will take place outside the auditorium.

After the ribbon cutting, the public will have the opportunity to see the new upgrades to the auditorium, including new restrooms and a brand new elevator. The celebration will also feature booths of local organizations and displays highlighting Lawton's history. Attendees will also enjoy Lawton's birthday cake shared with Jerry Houghton, who at 92 years old shares Lawton's birthday of August 6.

The celebration will also feature the first performance in the newly remodeled auditorium. The performance will be in honor of the auditorium's founder, Louise D. McMahon.

READ MORE: Dancers Needed For Theatrical Tribute During Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration

Nominations now open for community recognition awards to be presented at Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration.

Nominations are now open for the community recognition awards that will be presented on Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, August 8. Below are the categories local citizens and organizations can be nominated for:

• Outstanding Citizen
• Outstanding Youth Organization
• Outstanding Organization
• Lawton Award in Excellence
• Living Legacy Award

Nominations can be submitted online and are being accepted through July 17.

Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration is hosted by the City of Lawton, the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women, and the City of Lawton's Arts and Humanities Division. For more information about the celebration, contact the Arts and Humanities Division at 580-581-3470.