Host Your Event in Shawnee
Shawnee is home to a variety of quality events year-round, from the annual International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) to Fireflight Balloon Festival. We would love to host your event here too!
​
Our city of just under 32,000 features all the amenities of a big city without the traffic you may find in neighboring OKC and Tulsa. Plus, our locals are delighted to share their city with you! We're easy to get to regardless of where you're coming from; just 30 minutes east of OKC on I-40, close to I-35, I-44, and historic Route 66.
Planning a Successful Event in Shawnee
Venues
Search all Shawnee venues by type of event or venue features, whether you're looking for space for 50 or 2,000 we have the perfect space for your event.
Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center
Indoor, Outdoor, Rodeo Arena, Banquet, Conference
1700 W Independence St
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Indoor, Conference, Auditorium
1 John C Bruton Blvd
Catering
Peruse our list of Shawnee-area caterers, whether you need full service, just snacks and drinks, or licensed liquor service.
Droffats Catering
Full Meal Service, Self-Serve Buffet, Beverage Service, Light Snacks, Liquor
This full-service caterer offers a wide variety of options from self-service buffet to served meals for a range of budgets. They are the official caterer of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, but also cater to other venues as well.
Cazadorez
Self-Serve Buffet, Full Meal Service
Made-from-scratch daily, from the famous white queso to the homemade tortillas, Cazadores is an elevated Mexican dining experience every day of the week! With a banquet room available in addition to their large dining space and patio seating, there's a place for you (and complimentary sopapillas, too!)
Van's Pig Stands - Original Location
Full Meal Service, Self-Serve Buffet
Van's is Oklahoma's oldest single-family-owned restaurant! Bringing you the best in BBQ since 1930!
We serve traditional BBQ items such as the Pig Sandwich, ribs, brisket, chicken, sausages, and more. Don't forget your sides! Our in-house baker also makes pies made from scratch.
Visit Van's Pig Stand for BBQ slow-cooked to perfection, priced right, and served in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. There's nothing fancy or high-tech about it; just great food cooked the same way we've been doing it for eight decades.
Your table is waiting at Van's Pig Stand! Enjoy!
FireLake Arena
FireLake Arena offers 5,000 seats and more than 52,000 square feet of event space for concerts, conventions and community events. Whether it is cold or hot outside, the arena’s geothermal heating and cooling system allows for a comfortable setting regardless of the number of attendees inside.
Since its opening in early 2014, FireLake Arena has become one of central Oklahoma’s most popular venues for events of all kind. It regularly hosts sporting such as MMA and boxing events, the Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions, roller derbies and is also available to host basketball and volleyball tournaments.
Belle Patisserie
Light Snacks
We are an in-home bakery that offers our entire menu in gluten free. Our facility is also peanut free. Our menu offers everything from fresh breads to sweet treats and layered cakes, we even have specialty items such as pretzel bites, fresh noodles, and donuts. We offer several ways to order and shop with us, as well as cater events/parties.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Beverage Service, Light Snacks, Self-Serve Buffet
Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a public career and technology education center located in Shawnee, Okla., at the intersection of Interstate 40 and State Highway 18. It is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. The school is named for the astronaut Gordon Cooper, an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and one of the seven original Mercury astronauts, the first manned space program of the United States. Cooper piloted the longest and final Mercury spaceflight in 1963. He was the first American to sleep in space during that 34-hour mission and was the last American to be launched alone into space.
Event Services
Find local vendors for everything your event needs to thrive, from portable restrooms, to tents, stages, dance floors, photographers, etc.
Guitar Vault
Entertainment / DJ, Audio & Visual
The Vault is a place to relax, listen to live music, practice on low/mid/high end guitars, meet other musicians, obtain lessons, and have a place that is free of judgement to perfect your skills.
Shawnee Floral & Gifts
Floral & Decor
Full service florist offering fresh flowers, plants, gourmet baskets and gifts, and also offering floral design and decorating for events.
Belle Patisserie
Catering, Bakery
We are an in-home bakery that offers our entire menu in gluten free. Our facility is also peanut free. Our menu offers everything from fresh breads to sweet treats and layered cakes, we even have specialty items such as pretzel bites, fresh noodles, and donuts. We offer several ways to order and shop with us, as well as cater events/parties.
Graves Floral
Floral & Decor
Since its establishment in 1907, Graves Floral has maintained its reputation for customer service, reliability and quality in their local community. They offer a wide selection of floral and gifts throughout the year in addition to offering floral services for weddings and other events.
Music Unlimited
Entertainment / DJ, Audio & Visual
Music Unlimited opened its doors in 1978 and has continuously helped provide its customers the gift of expressing emotions through music. A full line independent dealer, Music Unlimited offers instruments and accessories, lessons and repairs. Carrying products from; Fender, Yamaha, PRS, Ibanez and Boss (to name a few) the goal of the store is to support the musical needs of beginners through professionals.
Comma
Catering, Bakery
This coffee shop (formerly known as The Gathering Place Coffee Co) recently relaunched with a new brand and remodel! Comma is a specialty coffee shop that seeks to be a home away from home, providing a space to meet comfortably and build relationships.
The building was designed to include large and diverse spaces capable of accommodating many types of gatherings. The back & front patios are dog friendly, offering patio seating with a pupper station for dog lovers.
Enjoy a cup of specialty tea or coffee, put your feet up, let your guard down, and make a new friend. Stay as long as you like.
Visit Shawnee Event Support
As the City of Shawnee's Department of Tourism, we function as Shawnee's convention & visitor's bureau and we can help your event thrive in Shawnee.
​
Our staff specialize in event management and promotion and offer a range of services from including your event in free marketing opportunities to helping you get hotel blocks arranged.
​
We would love to learn more about your event and see how we can help!
Event Permits
If your event will be on public property (streets, parks, etc) OR will include inflatables, noise like concerts, or fireworks, you may need a permit!
We (Visit Shawnee, the City of Shawnee's Department of Tourism) manage the event permitting process and are happy to offer guidance as needed by phone, email, or in person at the Welcome Center.
​
Our staff are experts on Shawnee's locale and can assist you in finding and booking your ideal shoot locations, lodgings, and can help get your production permitted with the City of Shawnee.
​
Shawnee was designated as a Film-Friendly Community by the State of Oklahoma's Film & Music Office in 2021.
​
​
​
Click here for more information about the film industry in Shawnee.
​
Click here to register your production to film in Shawnee.
​