2025 Toes in the Grand Festival

Music, carnival rides, boat races, food trucks – all of this and more is slated to take place during the 8th annual Toes in the Grand Summer Kick-Off Festival.

The event, set for Thursday, June 12 to Sunday, June 15, takes place at Wolf Creek Park on the banks of Grand Lake in Grove.

Traditionally set for the second weekend of June, the event is designed for locals and visitors alike to use the weekend to kick-off a time of family-friendly fun.

This year’s festival features three carnival days, eight free concerts, three days of hydroplane boat races, and an assortment of food trucks and non-food vendors.

“The festival is a great chance to explore the entire lake region during the weekend and see firsthand how special it is to live the grand life,” explained Amanda Davis, president of the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. “This year, thanks to our sponsors, the festival committee expanded the number of concerts, all while keeping the entertainment free and open to the public.”

The bands include a mix of red dirt and ‘90s vibes, Davis said, with some local to the Grand Lake region. All of the bands have strong ties to Oklahoma. The concerts begin around 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. Concert goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, as seating is not provided at the outdoor stage.

Headliners include Zain Braden and the Ragtimers on Friday, and the James Young Band on Saturday. Braden’s group, based in Ardmore, is described as a multi-genre band, mixing everything from bluegrass to rock. Young’s group, based in Yukon, performs a mix of red dirt with a ‘90s flavor.

Other groups include Garrick Fausett & the Revelry; the Erin Fitzgibbon Band; the Swade Diablos; Zimmeroo; 6 Foot Landing; and Brad Absher & The Superials. This is the first time for all of the bands, with the exception of Zimmeroo, to appear at Toes in The Grand.

“The committee brought in bands that did not play last year and tried to bring a mix of different music for the crowd,” Davis explained, adding more than 40 bands applied to appear at the event.

Davis said the food truck alley, a key feature of the festival, will include 12 trucks. Offerings range from barbecue and tacos to sweet treats, burgers and hot dogs. Davis said the variety of food is designed to give festival goers an assortment of culinary options.

“The food truck alley is always a great hit at the event,” Davis said. “We have a large variety of foods of all kinds with some great dessert trucks lined up this year.”

In terms of non-food options, Davis said there are more than 50 vendors signed up to participate in the event.

The carnival returns after a one-year absence. Advance wristbands are $25, cash only, and good for one of the four sessions: Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday afternoon or Saturday evening.

Advance tickets may be purchased at the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, Grand Savings Bank, Grove, and Grove’s Royal Liquor, all in Grove. Wristbands purchased at the carnival are $30.

“Previous festivals have shown that families come from across the region to take advantage of the carnival rides, all while enjoying the festival with their kids,” Davis said. “Last year, in 2024, we didn’t have a carnival. We could tell a difference in our foot traffic. We hope by bringing back the carnival – this high demand activity – we will see a record crowd this year.”

Another draw during the weekend is the annual Toes in the Grand Car, Truck and Bike Show. The show, which brings in car enthusiasts of all ages, takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday, June 14. It includes awards for the top two best of show vehicles, as well as the people’s choice and the vice-mayor’s choice.

Plaques are presented to the top two vehicles in 14 original and modified categories. Registration is $20 per vehicle and may be made in advance, by contacting chamber officials, or beginning at 7 a.m. the day of the show.

The hydroplane boat races, known as Thunder on Wolf Creek, take place from 12:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 3:30 p.m., on Sunday. Testing runs are slated from noon to 5 p.m., Friday and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The races, which feature a mix of hydroplane and runabout boat races, allow drivers to compete for points in the National Boat Racing Association (NBRA). Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs, as seating is not provided along the banks of Grand Lake.

“When Toes in the Grand started, the connection was made with the Miller family to move the races to this festival weekend and it’s been an amazing fit,” Davis said. “The hydroplane boat races have been a tradition on Grand Lake for more than five decades.

“The history of the Miller family racing team, known as What’s Up Doc, spans more than three generations. The family has worked for years to bring this exciting activity to the event. We have racers coming in from across the United States and we see spectators from multiple states that come to enjoy this free racing event.”

The festival takes place at Wolf Creek Park on Grand Lake at 963 N 16th Street in Grove. Other than the carnival, the event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs as seating is not provided.

For additional information, visit the event’s Facebook page @toesinthegrand or call the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce at 918-786-9079.