As the weather begins to turn colder, taste buds start craving warm soups and stews. Enter: Souper Saturday.
Back for the 5th year, Souper Saturday is a soup tasting and shopping event in the heart of Claremore. Participating stores will be cooking up their favorite soup or stew recipes and serving them to event attendees from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 11th.
Tasting kits are required. They are limited and on sale for $10. Cups are on sale NOW at the Claremore Main Street offices. The kits include a specialty mug and spoon, a bottle of water, a menu, a tasting wrist band and an opportunity to taste over 15 delicious soups and stews.
Additionally, guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite soups. The business with the most votes will earn bragging rights on the street and a roving trophy to keep until next year.
Santa is coming to town! Join us Thursday for our first Rockin’ Around the Block Open House, 5:00pm-7:00pm on the 500 Block of West Will Rogers Blvd. There will be lots of snacks, give-aways, special sells and a drawing for a basket filled with goodies (valued at $250)! Catch a selfie with Santa from 6:00pm-7:00pm.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SCHEDULE:
6:00pm—Activities begin
6:00pm—Jerry Pringle LIVE on stage
6:05pm—Tales from the Top upper floor tours begin
7:45pm—Territorial Marshals re-enactment
8:15pm—Win Dickens Dollars
8:25pm—Victorian Best Dressed Costumes Awards
8:30pm—Victorian Stroll & Street Dance
As you pass Go Claremore, don’t forget to collect $200. Take a chance on purchasing the Belvidere Mansion for only $150.
With a roll of the dice, you could travel to Dot’s Cafe or the J.M. Davis Historical Museum. Play your cards right and can purchase the property of Rogers State University for only $270.
It’s Claremore-Opoly.
Created and released recently by Late For the Sky, the game “showcases favorite landmarks and most well-known parts of Claremore.”
Makers of the game, which is said to be available at Claremore Walmart, said, “People outside of Claremore may know little or nothing about Claremore Lake or the Nut House; but if you’re from Claremore it’s a big deal.”
Late for the Sky, a game production company based in Cincinnati that started in 1985, manufactures custom -Opoly games and has partnered with area Walmart stores to begin selling more items that cater to their communities.
According to a release issued by the company, owner Bill Schulte said, “We research several cities and communities around Oklahoma to make very localized games about a specific area. We always make sure that the locals love their town before we take on a project. We try to make the content as authentic as possible.”
Sitting in prime real estate, directly next to the “Go Claremore” square, is downtown Claremore.
“It’s exciting to see our town on the game,” said Claremore Main Street Executive Director Jacob Garrison. “For people that love the game it will be fun to play it with Claremore flair.”
With rent at only $18, J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum also made the board.
“It’s an honor to be thought of in the top places to visit in Claremore. There are so many great attractions in Claremore. We’re honored,” said executive director Wayne McCombs.
Our Final Food Truck Thursday is right around the corner, and it is going to be BIG! Sponsored by Fortna CPA, we will have music, food trucks, rock climbing wall, Main Street Tavern Claremore, games, and the always popular Kids Zone hosted by Cedar Point Church!
But wait, there is more! First Baptist Church will be holding their annual Truck or Treat along Will Rogers Blvd. Join them for a family- friendly night of candy, games and prizes! Destiny Life Church will be taking over the Lynn Riggs Park at the Claremore Museum of History with games, bouncy houses, soccer darts, hungry hippos, live music and hot coco.
Will Rogers Blvd will be closed from Route 66 all the way to Chickasaw. 5 BLOCKS of family fun! Don’t miss it!
The next Cash Mob will be on November 12th. Participating shoppers should meet at the Claremore Main Street office, 419 W. Will Rogers Blvd., by 5:30 p.m. This year’s Mobs are sponsored by Pelco Structural.
Historically, shoppers gathered during Cash Mob and a business was selected at random to “mob.” All shoppers then traveled, en masse, to the store to spend at least $20. Stores boomed with $500-$1,000 in sales in just an hour. Stores will be chosen in advance but shoppers still won’t know until they arrive at the Cash Mob. Stores will provide snacks and goodies, and store owners will share a brief summary of their business’ story before shopping begins.
The first 75 shoppers at Cash Mob this year will receive a free re-usable tote bag for their merchandise.
To get the latest updates about Cash Mob all year long, email us at .
The community is celebrating the arrival of a baby boutique on Main Street—saying this is exactly what downtown needs.
“I had a former employee that was having a baby, and another employee having a baby and there was nowhere in Claremore to buy a baby gift,” said Cari Bohannan, owner of The District on Main, and now The District Baby.
“So, we had ordered some stuff at for The District and started a small baby section. The response was overwhelming so we decided to go for it.”
She said the feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
“And that former employee, Kayla Dossett, is going to manage the store,” she added.
The District Baby will stock a little bit of everything: Clothing, newborn to 4-T, shoes, diaper bags, toys, bath products, book, unique gifts and so much more.
The shop will even offer registries, she said.
When it comes to selecting merchandise to carry in the store from the overflowing baby market, Bohannan said, “I’m being very picky on quality and price. I want everything pretty moderately priced.”
She said she’s excited to bring a unique shopping experience to Main Street.
“I just wanted to open something additional to offer something to Claremore that we don’t have, to keep people shopping local,” Bohannan said. “Just to be able to support the local community.
The shop opens at 418 W. Will Rogers Blvd., today, Monday, Aug. 12, but for The District Baby is also on Facebook and Instagram.
To anyone looking for someone with passion and love for Claremore, or looking place to share their ideas or get answers, Claremore Main Street’s new executive director Jacob Garrison says— “I’m your guy.”
Just one day after being told he got the job—Garrison’s enthusiasm was contagious.
Garrison, along with his wife Laura and their son, moved to Claremore two years ago and instantly fell in love.
“My wife and I have been a part of committees and different events in town. We’ve fallen in love with some of the things that Claremore does, events we’ve taken our son to or that we’ve been involved with us,” he said. “As we’ve gotten to know more people, through events and organizations, we were made aware of this position coming open. I started looking into it and fell in love with the opportunity.”
He said he loves the growth, the involvement and the committees he’s found in Claremore.
“I grew up in a small town, very similar in size to Claremore. We had a four year university and a downtown. You could never go downtown without seeing a splash of the town, like storefronts decorating their windows for homecoming week. I see a lot of those opportunities here,” Garrison said.
“As we’ve gotten to know some people at the university, I feel that’s one thing we can expand on—bringing the university downtown.”
Garrison said he’s got passion and creativity and he plans on channeling both into both the university and Route 66 collaborations.
“Before I ever moved to Claremore, my little brother and I took three straight spring breaks do Route 66. I use that a lot to pull from both in coming to this position but also in explaining my vision for it. I wasn’t a Claremore person, I was an outsider who moved in and fell I love.”
Garrison said he thinks Claremore is uniquely positioned on Route 66.
Some small towns, he said, showcase their spot on Route 66 as the only facet of their identity.
Large cities have more personality and attractions and don’t always feel the need make the Mother Road their claim to fame.
Claremore is comfortably in the middle.
“There are so many things here. As a tourist coming in you can easily spend four, five or six hours, or even longer, to see all the attractions,” he said. “But Claremore is proud of their place on Route 66 and are really capitalizing on that.”
Garrison said he wants to foster ideas and partnerships.
“I want not just downtown Claremore, but all of Claremore to succeed. It might not be a Main Street Claremore event but it could be something we contribute to with our energy, passion and our talents,” he said. “There are so many great resources and ideas in this community. I honestly cannot tell you how excited I am.”
Smiling ear to ear, Garrison said what he’s most excited about is forming relationships as the face of Claremore Main Street.
“I’m a huge relationship person,” he said. “I am going to meet people, engage with them and create those relationships. As these relationships grow, whether people have questions, concerns or ideas I hope they know I’m their guy…I honestly can’t wait to get out there.”
Garrison can be reached via email at or simply catch him downtown.
For the 11th year in a row, downtown Claremore will be serving up delicious dishes of a classic Irish feast to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Bangers & Mash Lunch.
The annual lunch has become one of Claremore’s favorite ways to enjoy lunchtime each spring. It takes place on March 15 in the Claremore Daily Progress parking lot, 315 W. Will Rogers Blvd.
Running from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the lunch cost $7 for a traditional Bangers & Mash – or otherwise known as sausage and mashed potatoes. New this year, attendees can opt for some of J. Farley’s famous Guinness gravy as a free addition. The meal also consists of a cookie and drink.
“We love this event,” said Nancy Fitts, interim director of Claremore Main Street, the event’s host. “It’s an opportunity for the community to come together for lunch and celebrate.”
“Given that it’s scheduled for a Friday during Lent, a meatless option will be available,” Fitts said.
During the lunch, the ever-popular Timothy O’Brian’s Celtic Cheer will play to entertain the crowds and prizes will be drawn for guests as well as the Pot-O-Gold Giveaway worth $400.
The Pot-O-Gold Giveaway offers a chance to win “Green Bucks,” shopping dollars to spend downtown. To enter the giveaway, simply visit any of the 18 participating stores between now and noon on March 14 to enter.
Each store can be visited daily to enter, but you must be 18 or older to win. There’s no purchase necessary although some stores may provide additionally entries for purchases to increase the costumer’s chances.
Green Bucks can be used at any of the participating stores like cash. Participating stores are: Lolipop A Sweet Boutique, Back in the Day, Bike About Bicycles, Boarding House Books, The Haberdashery, Thrift Harbor, Boom a Rang Diner, The District on Main, Outwest Home Décor, Art Nest Boutique & Studio, The Belvidere Mansion/RCHS, Coleman Antiques, The Turquoise Couch, The Cozy Cottage (Main Street Mercantile), Sailor’s Antiques & Collectibles, Frosted Cake Studio, A Place ‘n Time and Femme Forte.
The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. March 15 during the lunch but does not need to be present to win.
Two smaller giveaways worth $25 each and one $50 giveaway will be drawn during the lunch as well, and guests will need to be present to win those prizes.
Following the lunch, a Not-A-Parade Irish Stroll will take participants through downtown sidewalks.
T-shirts, trinkets and raffle tickets will be on sale during the event as an additional fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.
The Bangers & Mash Lunch is sponsored by Boom-a-rang Diner, Walke Brothers Meats, The Daily Progress, Claremore Fire Department, McDonald’s of Claremore, Froman Propane, What-A-Burger and Cedar Point Church.
The organization also hosts the St. Paddy’s Day Party, this year at Main Street Tavern and J. Farley’s from noon to 10 p.m. on March 17. For more details on the party, visit downtownclaremore.org.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering at either of the events should contact Fitts at or 918-341-5881.
Claremore Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Claremore. With a focus on economic vitality, historic preservation and placemaking, the organization strives to secure downtown as the social and economic core of the community.
