OKMULGEE, Okla. — This year’s Okmulgee Pecan Festival featured carnival rides, music and of course pecans in every shape and form.
OSUU culinary students made the brittle for the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, but extreme weather conditions shortened last year’s growing season.
So, the main ingredient, pecans, have been in short supply this year.
Kay Rabbit-Brower with the chamber said, “We did have to hunt to get some. We had some growers here in Okmulgee, both of whom are chamber members, and we work with them pretty well every year and they’re good to help us out. They both said they don’t have any this year.”
Thousands typically turnout, but the extreme heat this year has kept turnout low during the day and has caused other problems.
“Some of our activities that are popular that we do every year, we weren’t able to hold because of the heat,” said Rabbit-Brower.
One event, ‘waterball’, wasn’t canceled.
Two teams with fire hoses try to push a keg hanging from a wire above to the opposing side.
It dates back to the beginning of the festival and offers a some relief from the heat.
David Dunlap, Assistant Principal at Okmulgee High School said, “It’s an event that gets groups from local businesses to join together and just have some fun playing in the water on a really hot day.”
Festival organizers hope it brings positive attention to the unique downtown area.
“We want it to be just a fun event that everybody looks forward to and creates memories for people and for our families,” said Rabbit-Brower.