Quality of Life and Recreation

• Magnolia Festival: Winner of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association’s “Outstanding Event” award, this blockbuster event is nearing its 25^th year as one of the state’s premier celebrations, featuring everything from art to theatre to live music, from bike tours to 5ks and fun runs, a carnival, fireworks, and so much more, all of it woven through with a rich tapestry of Choctaw heritage.
• Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival: Housed at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the OSF theatre company draws big audiences and great appreciation for productions ranging from Broadway musicals to classics, from Shrek the Musical to Macbeth.
• These spring and summer thrillers include team collegiate events of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Choctaw Nation-sponsored events, and the Durant Riding Club’s pro rodeos.
• Durant Main Street: In addition to great shopping and dining every day, this all-season destination also hosts the Durant Farmers Market, Movie Nights on the Square, Draggin’ Main Car and Bike Show, holiday festivities and more.
• Fur Trade Rendezvous: Held annually at the historic Fort Washita, the Rendezvous’ reenactment of commerce in the early 1800s is living history at its best. Though geared toward students, adults of all ages find it both enlightening and engaging.

Given the expansion of city-wide trails and a total of nine municipal parks, you can be sure wherever you are in Durant, you’re only minutes from the great outdoors and great places to play, commune with nature, or simply soak up the sun. (And Durant has lots of the bright stuff—234 sunny days per year, higher than the national average!) At the Durant Multi-Sports Complex, the team play is exciting on well-designed and maintained fields for soccer, baseball, and softball, plus a football stadium and a running track.

An engineering feat and a recreational marvel, Lake Texoma sits at the confluence of the Red and Washita Rivers, 89,000 gorgeous acres spreading between Oklahoma and Texas. Like all lakes constructed and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Lake Texoma does double duty as flood control and recreational asset, but few flood-control reservoirs do their jobs so beautifully; more than 6 million annual visitors are drawn to this endless resource of dazzling scenery and irresistible recreation. Water fun includes boating, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and waterskiing. And on land, options are equally endless—picnicking, hiking, camping (in cabins or tents), or exploring nature at state and USACE parks, wildlife refuges, and campgrounds. Beachside resorts and golf courses also add to the attractions that make Texoma the perfect weekend or even weekday getaway, just minutes from Durant.

Millions of fans from all over the nation must cheer from a distance as they follow the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), the Dallas Mavericks (NBA), the Texas Rangers (MLB), the Dallas Stars (NHL), FC Dallas (MLS), and the Dallas Wings (WNBA). Here in Durant, less than two hours away, residents are close enough for spectacular spectator experiences. And just two and a half hours away, Oklahoma City offers more up-close NBA excitement with the games of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Whether it’s golf with clubs or golf with a disc, Durant has great options, including Chickasaw Pointe Golf Resort, ranked #2 in Oklahoma by Golf Magazine.