Tulsa Local Pulse: Dog Shows, Literature Festivals, and Spring Sunshine

Good morning, this is Tulsa Local Pulse for Thursday, April 23rd. We kick off today with some tail-wagging excitement as more than one thousand top dogs from over twenty states arrive at the SageNet Center at Expo Square for the Mid-Continent Kennel Club Dog Show, running through Sunday. Expect free admission, dock diving thrills where pups leap into a forty-foot pool, Fast CAT races hitting thirty miles per hour at Fair Meadows Race Track, and kid-friendly zones with pee wee events and health clinics. It is perfect family fun that celebrates our furry friends right here in Tulsa. We are also buzzing about Tulsa LitFest 2026, the free four-day festival from the Center for Poets and Writers at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, partnered with Tri-City Collective and Magic City Books. Kicking off today through the 26th across various spots in town, it blends literature, film, and music, drawing crowds from Oklahoma and beyond. Music lovers, tonight at Cain's Ballroom, Big Head Todd and the Monsters take the stage, with James McMurtry at The Vanguard. Tomorrow, catch Tulsa Jumbo, Oklahoma's biggest comedy variety show at Studio 308 starting at seven-thirty. And do not miss the free Gilcrease arts series tonight with printmaking and nature journal workshops. Weather-wise, we have mild sunshine with highs near seventy-five degrees and light winds, ideal for outdoor events like the dog show or LitFest—no major impacts today, though grab a jacket for evening chills, with clear skies holding through the weekend. City Hall updates include smoother traffic flow decisions on Riverside Drive after recent council tweaks to ease daily commutes. New business news: a fresh coffee spot opened on Cherry Street, boosting our vibrant scene, while no major closings reported. In sports, local high school baseball teams shone yesterday, with Booker T. Washington nabbing a win over Edison. Crime report from the past day stays calm: Tulsa Police made two arrests near 71st and Memorial for minor thefts, with no active public safety alerts—our neighborhoods remain secure. Looking ahead, community events include the 80s Prom at Cain's Ballroom on the 25th. And for a feel-good lift, a South Tulsa elementary raised funds for a playground upgrade, uniting families in pure joy. Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for daily updates. This has been Tulsa Local Pulse. We will see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta