Lawton’s 125th Birthday Kicks Off With Cowboy Breakfasts And Cattle

This week is the first full week of August, and it's filled will birthday celebrations for Lawton's 125th anniversary. The main celebration will take place Saturday, August 8, but the City of Lawton will host various mini parties throughout the week.

Lawton was officially founded on August 6, 1901, so this year marks Lawton's 125th anniversary. To celebrate the milestone, citizens can attend various parties and events throughout the week before the City of Lawton's big Birthday Celebration on Saturday, August 8, which will feature events all day at Elmer Thomas Park, the Museum of the Great Plains and the McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

The City of Lawton will host mini parties throughout the week at the city's community centers.

Before Saturday's big birthday party, the City of Lawton will host various mini parties at the city's three community centers. The parties will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, August 5.

• Wednesday, August 5, Patterson Community Center, 4 NE Arlington Ave
• Thursday, August 6, Owens Center, 1405 SW 11th St
• Friday, August 7, H.C. King Center, 1705 NW 20th St

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Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration will take place Saturday, August 8, at the McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

The big birthday celebration for Lawton's 125th anniversary will take place Saturday, August 8, starting at the Museum of the Great Plains, and will continue with a cattle drive in Elmer Thomas Park, and culminating with a birthday party at the newly remodeled McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

A full schedule of events is below.

7-9 a.m. - Free Cowboy Breakfast - Museum of the Great Plains Coffee Station, 601 NW Ferris Ave

Breakfast will be served chuckwagon style and will be available while supplies last. The Museum of the Great Plains will open for its regular hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can also explore the new Buffalo Soldiers Mobile Museum, which will be parked between the museum at the McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

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8:30-9 a.m. - Cattle Drive - Elmer Thomas Park

The Cattle Drive will feature the Lawton Rangers, plus longhorn cattle Slash-O Ranch, a visit from Oklahoma State University's Pistol Pete and Cameron University's Ole Kim. The route will begin at the intersection of Prairie Dog Way and NW 3rd St, and will travel west down 3rd St, turn south on 6th St and enter the parking lot of the Museum of the Great Plains. The route will end near 6th Street, past the McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

The City of Lawton will put up temporary roadblocks in the area beginning at 8 a.m. and are expected to be removed by 9:30 a.m. Spectators will be able to park near the Lawton Aquatic Center, Elmer Thomas Splash Pad and throughout Elmer Thomas Park, however, drivers must be parked before 8 a.m. Drivers will not be able to move their car until the cattle drive is over and roadblocks are removed.

9 a.m. - McMahon Memorial Auditorium Ribbon Cutting and Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration

After being closed for a year of construction, the McMahon Memorial Auditorium will reopen for Lawton's Birthday Celebration with an official ribbon cutting. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, visitors can explore the newest updates to the auditorium, visit with local organizations and celebrate Lawton's 125th anniversary with birthday cake, a performance honoring Louise D. McMahon and the presentation of Lawton's community awards.

For more information about Lawton's 125th Birthday Celebration, visit the City of Lawton's official website.

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