Arts in Ponca City, Oklahoma

Ponca City just welcomed an exciting new addition to the community—the newly renovated 🎥 Icon Cinema🍿 is officially open! This project represents more than just a place to watch movies; it’s a sign of the continued investment, growth, and momentum happening right here in Ponca City.

The updated theater brings a modern movie-going experience to downtown, with comfortable seating, accessible design, and thoughtful upgrades that make it a space everyone can enjoy. Community-driven projects like this reflect Ponca City’s continued investment in quality of life and create places where residents can gather, connect, and make memories—another great reason to love calling Ponca City home.

Shanghai Music & Sound, Inc is a family-owned music store at 300 E Grand Ave in downtown Ponca City, serving musicians since 2000. Guitars, percussion, brass, and woodwinds line the space, and we’re guided by knowledgeable instructors for lessons. Browsing for strings or reeds, arranging a rental, scheduling repairs, or picking up a first instrument fit a typical visit.

After school, band students and parents drift in, and on weekends adult hobbyists and working musicians test gear. Soft tuning and lesson rhythms carry through the rooms. With its downtown address, it’s easy to pair a stop here with nearby errands.

ICON Cinema Ponca City sits at 800 E. Prospect Ave. Four renovated screens run first run movies, and we are settled into luxury reclining seats with upgraded projection and sound.

It’s a go-to for date night, family outings, and groups of friends. Reserved seating and online tickets keep plans simple, and parking is usually right by the building. Auditoriums settle into quiet once previews roll, while the lobby hums at showtime. After a multi year hiatus, the reopening has been felt as a quality of life lift, an easy way to cap a day around town.

October in Ponca City fills the calendar. From Oct 1 to 4 the Ponca City Moto Playground Motocross Championships run at the Ambucks motocross track daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. That first evening brings the Ponca City Main Street Awards banquet at the Alley from 5:30 to 7 p.m. celebrating the people and businesses that make downtown special. Zero Tolerance plays Swig Bar at Osage Casino, Ponca City, 9 to 11 p.m. Saturday Oct 3 starts with the monthly fly-in breakfast at the Ponca City Airport 7 to 10 a.m. The 42nd annual Oktoberfest kicks off at the Marland Mansion 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with live music, food, and fall fun. Sunday features Cars and Coffee at Lake Ponca 10 a.m. to noon, and Oktoberfest continues 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday traditions set an easy rhythm. Sunset kayak tours push off at Lake Ponca from 5:45 to 7 p.m. on Oct 6 and Oct 13. The RecPlex hosts weekly line dancing every Tuesday 7 to 8 p.m. City Arts brings Midnight Masquerade to the Marland Mansion on Fri Oct 9 from 7 to 11 p.m. with mystery and elegance. Fall afternoon tea follows on Sun Oct 11 at Marland’s grand home 4 to 6 p.m. with a seasonal spread. The second sunset kayak tour closes out on Tue Oct 13 from 5:45 to 7 p.m., a relaxed way to enjoy the lake before dinner.

Late October focuses on costumes and family time. Goblins on Grand fills downtown on Thu Oct 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. with games, activities, and spooky fun. Camp McFadden hosts the 3rd annual Fall Fest on Sat Oct 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the RecPlex follows with Kids Night Out from 5 to 10 p.m. Alice in Wonderland Jr runs at the Pumpkin Theater Thu Oct 22 to Sat Oct 24 at 7:30 p.m., with a Sun matinee on Oct 25 at 2:30 p.m. The RecPlex stacks Sat Oct 24 with Family Fun Night 5 to 8 p.m., extended hours for pool, trampoline, climbing wall, roller skating, and snacks, then a movie on the lawn at dusk. The floating pumpkin patch wraps things up on Sun Oct 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the RecPlex with pumpkins in the pool.

Poncan Theatre is a beautifully restored 1927 venue at 104 E Grand Ave, where we’re seated beneath an ornate ceiling for live plays, concerts, and classic movie nights. We’re greeted by hand-painted lobby art, and the crowd blends families, devoted theatergoers, and people here for community events.

Events are ticketed per show, with pricing that varies by production, and it’s easy to pair a performance with a short downtown stroll. Street parking lines Grand and nearby blocks, and we’re especially drawn to free summer movies and festive seasonal productions.