Our projects bring life back to Okemah’s historic downtown. From beautification efforts to community-driven events, every initiative is designed to revive Main Street, support local businesses, and create a place our community is proud to call home

A leafless tree planted in a small dirt patch in front of a brick commercial building with a sign that reads "emily anderson photography." A black SUV is parked nearby, and the sky is overcast.

Most Recent Project Highlight: Tree Project

Project Name: Trees on Main Street
Status: COMPLETED
Description:
We’ve begun restoring Okemah’s historic charm by planting trees along Main Street. These trees not only bring beauty but also provide shade, improve air quality, and create a welcoming space for visitors and locals alike.
Why It Matters:
Tie to community pride, long-term beautification, and business growth.
Community Involvement:
Join the effort: Sponsor a tree, lend a hand, or give toward downtown beautification.

Get Involved

A digital rendering of a pedestrian-friendly downtown street with trees, parked cars, and various small businesses, including a bank and retail shops, under a partly cloudy sky.

A small tree in a concrete planter in a parking lot, surrounded by orange traffic cones and yellow caution tape, with a storefront and parked cars in the background, under a cloudy sky.

Flatbed truck carrying large bundled and wrapped Christmas trees on a clear day.

A young, leafless tree planted in a circular concrete planter on a sidewalk, with protective straps and a bag around the base. There is a person standing nearby, and a fire truck is visible across the street. The sky is blue with some clouds.

Past Projects

Woman wearing overalls and a straw hat standing next to a sign for Okemah Main Street. The sign includes contact information and social media icons, with a display of balloons on the left and a black banner.

Halloween on Main Street

Downtown Okemah came alive for Halloween as Main Street businesses opened their doors for a community-wide trick-or-treat event. Families enjoyed walking Main Street, visiting local shops, and celebrating the season together in a safe, festive atmosphere.

This event highlighted the strong connection between local businesses and the community, creating a fun tradition that welcomed residents of all ages and encouraged foot traffic throughout downtown. Seasonal events like this continue to play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening Main Street.

We look forward to carrying on this Halloween tradition and creating more moments that make downtown Okemah a place to gather, celebrate, and make memories.

Three women smiling for a selfie outdoors, two wearing large hats and sunglasses, one holding an umbrella. Behind them is a mural of the United States map with the words "made for you".

Two young girls dressed in costumes, one as a rainbow fairy and the other as a black and white witch, standing on a sidewalk and smiling at the camera during a festive event on a sunny day.

Group of children and adults celebrating Halloween on a sidewalk with a table full of candy, a Halloween themed tablecloth, and Halloween decorations including balloons and a plastic pumpkin container for candy. Some children are in costumes, one wea

A group of four adults and one child smiling outdoors during a festive event, with balloons and a decorated table in the foreground.

Three women and one young boy dressed in Halloween costumes standing in front of a colorful mural. One woman is holding a black umbrella and a container of Morton salt, dressed in a bright yellow dress. The second woman is dressed as a pumpkin with a

Two young children dressed in costumes, with the girl in a blue dress holding a pink backpack and the boy in a red firefighter costume with reflective stripes, standing on a sidewalk during a daytime outdoor event.

A young girl wearing a red polka dot headband and denim jumpsuit smiling at a fall festival, holding a white bag, with children and Halloween-themed decorations in the background.

Two young women dressed as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss, wearing red tops, blue tutus, red tights, and accessories, standing on a sidewalk in a festive outdoor setting.

A woman dressed as a princess in pink beside two children dressed as Mario and Luigi holding pumpkin buckets, standing in front of colorful balloons on a city street.

Holiday-themed flyer with green pine branch border and red berries, promoting a Giving Tree donation drive for children in the Okemah community, listing suitable gifts and participating merchants.

Christmas

As part of our holiday programming, Main Street Okemah coordinated seasonal events that combined community fun with meaningful giving. The Giving Tree initiative invited residents to support a local family during the Christmas season, partnering with downtown merchants as convenient drop-off locations and encouraging neighbors to give locally and intentionally.

Holiday festivities also included a downtown Ugly Sweater Contest, drawing foot traffic into participating businesses and creating a lighthearted, interactive shopping experience. Events like these reflect our commitment to fostering community connection, supporting Main Street merchants, and creating traditions that bring people together year after year.

A festive poster advertising a holiday contest to wear the ugliest Christmas sweater on December 12th from 5 PM to 7 PM, featuring illustrations of two ugly Christmas sweaters with holiday designs.

A Christmas event poster featuring Santa Claus illustration and event details for the Christmas in the Park event on December 2nd at 6 PM at Okemah Park and Broadway Street, including activities like parade, downtown shopping, vendors, toy drive, pho

Nighttime outdoor scene with a decorated Christmas display, featuring a statue of a person wearing a Santa hat and playing a guitar wrapped in red lights, on a raised platform surrounded by colorful string lights, illuminated white cone-shaped decora

A mural on a beige wall depicting a man playing a guitar, a woman holding a guitar, and three children dressed in historical clothing, with the words 'Okemah' and 'Guthrie' visible. In front of the mural are two plaques with holiday wreaths, set on s

Colorful graffiti mural on a red brick wall featuring various characters, including two humanoid figures and a yellow alien figure with outstretched arm in front.

Alley Art

As part of our ongoing beautification efforts, vibrant artwork was installed in the alleyway between Farmers Insurance and the Cash Depot, transforming an overlooked space into a lively and engaging destination. The murals on both sides of the buildings created a colorful backdrop that invites exploration and offers a unique photo opportunity in the heart of downtown Okemah.

This project added visual interest, encouraged foot traffic, and helped reimagine how public spaces can be used to bring energy and creativity to Main Street. Community members and visitors alike are encouraged to capture the experience and share their photos using #OkemahMainStreet, helping showcase the charm and character of downtown.

Memorial plaques with Christmas wreaths and ribbons in front of a mural depicting people playing guitar and singing, with trees and a park in the background.

Street art of butterfly-shaped heart painted on a brick wall, with white and brown wings decorated with butterflies and floral patterns.

Street art graffiti of three humanoid characters painted on a red brick wall. The left character is a person with glasses, a hat, and a jacket. The middle character has a round head with a star on its face and is dressed in dark clothing. The right c

Brick building with a door featuring a stained glass window and a window with a painted sky and clouds.

Brick building with colorful stained glass door, four tall blue windows with shutters, reflection of clouds in the top window, and trees in the background.

Graffiti mural on a wall depicting a red, yellow, and green corset on a stylized green silhouette, with blue figures walking in a line beside it.

A colorful mural on a blue wall depicting healthcare and state symbols, with silhouettes of people walking, a cherry blossom, a maple leaf with a sun design, and a stethoscope. A rainbow is visible in the cloudy sky above.

Colorful mural featuring symbols of Oklahoma and Hawaii, with the words 'Muskogee' and 'Hawaii' and illustrations of people holding hands on both sides.

storefront with a red awning that reads 'China Cuisine,' large windows, and street outside, located at 323 West Broadway.

Painted Buildings

Several downtown storefronts received exterior repainting to restore character, improve curb appeal, and create a more unified look along Main Street. These updates enhanced the visual presence of historic buildings while maintaining their original charm.

Thoughtful improvements like this support long-term revitalization efforts and help ensure downtown Okemah remains an inviting place for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

Five employees standing outside a Chinese restaurant called Alice's with a red awning and string lights, smiling for the photo.

Storefront with a sign that says "CHINA CUISINE," large windows, red awning, and a streetlamp in front, decorated with string lights inside.

A building under renovation with windows covered in plastic, a ladder in front, and construction tools on the sidewalk, next to a parked white truck on the street.

storefront of The Wooden Willow Boutique, a black building with patriotic red, white, and blue bunting decorations in the windows, featuring handmade candles, soaps, clothing, and accessories.

Upcoming Projects

Phase 1: Completed

Timeline of Trees Project
60-Day Implementation
A focused two-month project to bring new life and shade to Main Street.
Tree Installation
All new trees are scheduled to be fully planted by November 2025, enhancing the beauty and walkability of downtown.

Get Involved
Phase 2: Main Street Beautification

What’s Coming Next
Updated Signage
Directional signs, street name signs, and refreshed Indiana Avenue markers to help visitors navigate with ease.
Custom Metal Business Signs
Classic, durable metal signage for Main Street storefronts to elevate the historic charm of downtown.
Outdoor Speakers
Added speakers along Main Street for music, announcements, and special event ambience.
New Benches
Comfortable seating placed throughout the district, creating more inviting spaces for community connection.

Get Involved
Phase 3: Upcoming

Planter Installations
Decorative Planters
Adding large, durable planters throughout Main Street to bring color, seasonal blooms, and a welcoming feel to the district.
Enhanced Streetscape
These planters will help define walkways, soften the streetscape, and elevate the overall charm of downtown.

Get Involved

Inspiration

Flower baskets hanging from a lamp post with lush green trailing plants and pink flowers, located around a church circle.

Pink flowers in hanging baskets attached to a street pole on a city sidewalk, with buildings and cars in the background on a sunny day.

A landscaped area with pink flowers, green plants, and bushes, next to a parking lot, with a sign that reads "Main Street End Point of Pride" and a clear blue sky in the background.

A sidewalk with plants and a tree in a concrete planter, with a bench and a black trash can nearby. There is a parking lot with cars and a street with cars in the background. There is a bright yellow sign that says 'Adopt-A-Spot, Sooner Plant Farm.'

A street view with a vintage-style clock on a tall post, showing approximately 5:42, on a sunny day with clear skies. There are trees, a flowerpot with pink flowers, and several buildings and cars in the background.

Black and white street sign for Main Street, established in 1986, hanging on a pole in front of green trees and a brick building.

Beautification

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Restoration

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Economic Growth

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