Scissortail Park is getting its first taste of Panda Fest, a traveling festival of Asian street food and culture, when the event lands in downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22. The weekend will mark the festival's debut in the city, according to KOSU.
The two-day run is scheduled for Nov. 21-22. Panda Fest first started in New York City and has since traveled across the country, per KOSU reporter Emi Sengvilay, a reporting intern through the station's Casey Gosnell internship program. The Oklahoma City stop is expected to feature more than 70 Asian food vendors serving roughly 150 different street foods, along with about 20 merchandise vendors, according to the same report.
What's On the Menu and On Display
Past Panda Fest events have served up crowd favorites like takoyaki, squid on a skewer and tanghulu, KOSU reports, though the Oklahoma City lineup of vendors has not yet been revealed. Scissortail Park is expected to feature panda-themed inflatables, figurines and face painting as part of the festival's footprint, per the same KOSU account. Organizers also promise cultural performances and photo opportunities throughout the weekend.
The event's own FAQ page adds that many vendors are expected to offer vegetarian and vegan options, according to Panda Fest's FAQ. The festival is billed as open to attendees of all ages, and it's set to go on rain or shine unless severe weather forces a delay, postponement or cancellation, the FAQ states.
Tickets, Pricing and a Few Wrinkles
Tickets for attendees age 6 and older start at $14, per KOSU's reporting. The festival's Oklahoma City event page lists an early-bird rate of $10, available from Sept. 28, 2026, at 10 a.m. CDT until Oct. 11, 2026, at 10 p.m. CDT, or until 1,000 tickets per time slot sell out, whichever comes first, the page notes. Saturday tickets are priced $2 higher than Friday's, and gate admission is listed as $20 plus tax on that same event page. The festival's FAQ likewise lists gate admission as $20 plus tax.
Every general-admission ticket includes two freebies: a custom Oklahoma City panda pin and a headband valued at $11, according to the event page. Children under 6 don't need a ticket at all and will receive a free headband, the page adds.
Rules for Food, Pets and Alcohol
No outside food or beverages are allowed, the FAQ states. Strollers are allowed, and picnic tables will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, the FAQ states; VIP ticket holders get access to shaded seating, covered areas and VIP restrooms.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome as long as they're on a short leash, under their owner's control and wearing a collar with ID tags, according to the event page. Weapons of any kind, including firearms, are prohibited with no exceptions, the FAQ notes, and alcohol will be sold only to guests 21 and older who present valid identification.
How It's Played Out Elsewhere
Panda Fest's format has drawn big crowds in other cities. A recent Kansas City stop at Legends Field was billed as that city's first Panda Fest and drew more than 100 food vendors, according to The Kansas City Star. That event also featured more than 40 merchandise vendors, cultural traditions and performances, plus panda-themed attractions including a giant inflatable panda and family-friendly activities, the Star reported. One vendor, My Hibachi Hut, planned to serve chicken teriyaki, fried rice, egg rolls and loaded fries with Vietnamese fusion influences, per the same report.
