The weekend presents itself the opportunity to stay close to home and take part in a nationally- recognized event.

And it’s free. Chisholm Trail Museum’s annual Chuck Wagon Gathering is this Saturday, March 25.

Billed as a day filled with cowboy fun, it runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum.

The gathering will feature a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as they prepare their favorite dishes.

On top of cooking demonstrations and food sampling, there are a host of other activities that include:

• Live music

• Gunfights

• Wild West show

• Annie Oakley performances

• Medicine man shows and more.

The event is expected to draw about 2,000 visitors.

“Each year the annual festival continues to grow and is quickly turning into one of the largest wagon gatherings in the state,” said Museum Director Jason Harris.

Harris would know. He takes part annually in living history programs at schools and participates in community events and helps with chuck wagons across Oklahoma and the region.

As far as chuck wagons go, Kingfisher’s is one of the best.

Harris traveled to Dodge City, Kan., last year to accept the American Chuck Wagon Association’s “Best Event of the Year” Award for 2022.

“It brings recognition to our museum as a leader in chuck wagon events across the country as well as its involvement in community engagement through programming for the public,” Harris said.

For more information on Saturday’s event, contact the museum at 405-375-5176 or visit www.ctokmuseum.org.

Located at 605 Zellers Ave., Chisholm Trail Museum’s regular hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also for more information, see Page 12 of this edition.