Friday, September 9, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin and First Gentleman Wade Christensen will host the 15th annual Septemberfest at the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 10.
The event, sponsored by Friends of the Mansion, will be held on the grounds of the Mansion and the surrounding area as well as at the Oklahoma History Center.
Septemberfest was started by Governor Keating and First Lady Cathy Keating in 1996 to allow the public to explore the art and historic artifacts of Governor’s Mansion. The event also gives the public a chance to meet the governor and first gentleman.
The event is free and open to the public. Parking for the event is available at the State Capitol and at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department just east of the Mansion.
Visitors can enter through the west gate on Phillips Avenue. Northeast 23rd Street will be closed during the event to ensure safe crossing to and from the History Center.
Guests to Septemberfest are welcome to bring their own picnic lunches or to purchase food from the variety of vendors that will have booths on Phillips Avenue, just west of the Mansion.
The Governor’s Mansion will be open for guided tours. Activities include free admission to the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, hay bale maze, historic re-enactors, agriculture demonstrations, sports activities, and story time with the governor.
The Oklahoma Regional Response System, sponsored by the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS), will be on display on NE 23rd Street near the Mansion. OKOHS has developed the statewide regional response network over the past eight years. The response system consists of 108 response units with response capabilities ranging from bomb squads to search and rescue, located strategically throughout the state.