Norman, Oklahoma

==Arts and culture==
===Museums and theater===
[[File:University of Oklahoma July 2019 78 (Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art).jpg|right|thumb|[[Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art]]]]
Norman enjoys many cultural attractions that are funded by the university. The [[Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art]] made national and international news in 2000 when it was given the Weitzenhoffer Collection, the largest collection of [[Impressionism|French Impressionist]] art ever given to an American university.<ref name="WC">{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.edu/artcollections/collections/collections-weitzenhoffer.html |publisher=University of Oklahoma |title=Weitzenhoffer Collection |access-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name="FJ2">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyartsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4582&Itemid=705 |publisher=NY Art Magazine |title=Cityscape: Norman, OK |access-date=August 29, 2009}}</ref><ref name="FJ3">{{cite web |url=http://oudaily.com/news/2006/aug/23/art-museum-drawing-national-attention |publisher=OU Daily |title=Art museum drawing national attention |access-date=August 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005075229/http://oudaily.com/news/2006/aug/23/art-museum-drawing-national-attention/ |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The collection includes works by [[Mary Cassatt]], [[Claude Monet]], [[Vincent van Gogh]], [[Paul Gauguin]], [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]], and [[Camille Pissarro]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.edu/artcollections/collections/collections-weitzenhoffer.html |publisher=Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art |title=Weitzenhoffer Collection |access-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref>

The [[Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History]] is a museum containing over {{cvt|50000|sqft|m2|sigfig=1}} of exhibits<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/information.htm |publisher=Sam Noble Museum of Natural History |title=General Information |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229212637/http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/information.htm |archive-date=December 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> ranging from [[archaeology]], [[paleontology]], [[ethnology]], [[herpetology]], [[ornithology]], and [[Native American studies]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/collections-research/index.html |publisher=Sam Noble Museum of Natural History |title=Collections |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404204254/http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/collections-research/index.html |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Its exhibits are intended to immerse visitors in the state's long history. The museum features many complete collections of [[dinosaur]] fossils and is also noted for its [[Paleozoic]] collection, considered to be one of the largest and most important in existence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/collections-research/vertpaleo.htm |publisher=University of Oklahoma |title=Vertebrate Paleontology Main Page |access-date=December 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123221047/http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/collections-research/vertpaleo.htm |archive-date=November 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[Moore-Lindsay House]] is a [[Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)|Queen Anne]]-style home built prior to 1900 by prominent Norman [[home builder]] William Moore;<ref name="Centennial Book"/> it was purchased by the city of Norman in 1973 and today serves as the city and [[Cleveland County, Oklahoma|Cleveland County's]] historical museum.<ref name="CCHS">{{cite web |url=http://www.normanhistorichouse.org/gpage3.html |publisher=Cleveland County Historical Society |title=Cleveland County Historical Society |access-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727130621/http://www.normanhistorichouse.org/gpage3.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Located at 508 N. Peters, the Moore-Lindsay House's architecture is representative of Norman during the [[Victorian era]].<ref name="CCHS" /> The Cleveland County Historical Society maintains a collection of over 5,000 rare books, documents, and other artifacts in its archives located inside the house.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://normantranscript.com/local/x546387704/Moore-Lindsay-Historical-House-hosting-Victorian-All-Hallows-Eve-Open-House-tonight-and-Saturday |publisher=Norman Transcript |title=Moore-Lindsay Historical House hosting Victorian All-Hallows Eve Open House tonight and Saturday |access-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711204226/http://normantranscript.com/local/x546387704/Moore-Lindsay-Historical-House-hosting-Victorian-All-Hallows-Eve-Open-House-tonight-and-Saturday |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Catlett Music Center at the [[University of Oklahoma]] features many orchestral and jazz performances and the [[Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts]]' Schools of Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre offer many student programs throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.ou.edu/facilities/catlett.html |publisher=University of Oklahoma |title=Catlett Music Center |access-date=January 9, 2012}}</ref>

The city is also home to many privately funded galleries and performance sites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normanarts.org/ |publisher=Norman Arts Council |title=Norman Arts Council |access-date=January 9, 2012}}</ref>

===Community events===
Norman hosts many free festivals and community events that occur throughout the year.

The Norman Medieval Fair is a celebration of [[medieval]]-themed games, art, and culture, with highlights of jousting, human chessmatch combats & other combat shows, and several musical & dance acts. The event is typically held during the last weekend of March or first weekend of April in Reaves Park, near the university. It has been held annually in Norman since 1976 and was originally a forum for the English Department at the [[University of Oklahoma]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://medievalfair.occe.ou.edu/history.html |publisher=Medieval Fair |title=History of Medieval Fair |access-date=December 28, 2009 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720024632/http://medievalfair.occe.ou.edu/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is the largest weekend event held in the state of [[Oklahoma]], with over 325,000 people in attendance in 2006 and growing yearly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://normantranscript.com/entertainment/local_story_082004046 |publisher=The Norman Transcript |title=Medieval Fair |access-date=December 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719122558/http://normantranscript.com/entertainment/local_story_082004046 |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Events Media Network has named Medieval Fair one of the top 100 events in the United States.

[[Norman Music Festival]] is an annual weekend music festival held in April in downtown Norman. Established in 2008, the event had over 26,000 people in attendance during the 2009 festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normantranscript.com/archivesearch/local_story_257202007.html |publisher=The Norman Transcript |title=Downtown Music Festival Moving to Two-Day Event |access-date=December 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912211715/http://www.normantranscript.com/archivesearch/local_story_257202007.html |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Originally a one-day event, the festival has quickly grown so large that it is now an all-weekend concert series. The festival highlights both local musicians and internationally acclaimed artists and features many forms and styles of music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normanmusicfestival.com/ |publisher=Norman Music Festival |title=Norman Music Festival |access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref>

Groovefest is a music festival hosted annually at Andrews Park. On the last Sunday in September, the music festival is held to help raise awareness about human rights. The event was established in 1986 by the [[University of Oklahoma]] chapter of [[Amnesty International]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.groovefest.org/ |publisher=Groovefest |title=About Groovefest |access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref>

The Chocolate Festival, the only fundraiser of the year for the city's Firehouse Arts Center, was ranked No. 3 for food festivals across America by the Food Network. This festival offers various chocolate tasting sessions, chocolate art competitions and exhibits, chocolate dessert competitions and more. It has been an annual tradition since 1983.

The National Weather Festival takes place at the [[National Weather Service]] every fall, featuring [[food truck]]s, [[weather balloon]] launches, educational booths, and meet-and-greets with local [[meteorologist]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Weather Festival |url=http://www.ou.edu/nwc/nwf.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=www.ou.edu}}</ref>

Jazz in June is a music festival held the last full weekend in June at various venues across Norman. The festival features both [[jazz]] and blues musical performances as well as jazz educational [[Clinic (music)|clinics]] taught by professional musicians appearing in the festival and post-concert jam sessions at local venues which bring headliners and local artists together.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jazzinjune.org/ |publisher=Jazz in June |title=Jazz in June |access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref> Jazz in June, one of the major cultural events in the state as well as the City of Norman, attracts a combined concert audience of 50,000 drawn from throughout the state, region and nation. Another 100,000 or more enjoy these same performances through post-festival broadcasts on KGOU Public Radio as well as other public radio stations throughout the state, region and nation.

May Fair is an [[arts festival]] held every year during the first weekend in May at Andrews Park. It features top area performers, fine art, crafts, and food.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://okc.about.com/od/artsandentertainment/p/normanmayfair.htm |publisher=About.com |title=Norman's May Fair Arts Festival |access-date=December 28, 2009 |archive-date=June 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602170016/http://okc.about.com/od/artsandentertainment/p/normanmayfair.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Summer Breeze Concert Series is a series of concerts held from Spring to Fall at various park venues across Norman. The series is sponsored by the Performing Arts Studio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepas.org/content/blogcategory/18/74/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102163054/http://www.thepas.org/content/blogcategory/18/74/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2007 |publisher=The Performing Arts Studio |title=Summer Breeze Concert Series |access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref>

Midsummer Nights' Fair is a nighttime [[arts festival]] held during two evenings in June. The fair features art, music, and food and is held outside the Firehouse Art Center located in Lions Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://normanfirehouse.moonfruit.com/#/midsummer-nights-fair/4524980380 |publisher=Firehouse Art Center |title=Midsummer Nights' Fair |access-date=December 28, 2009 |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704124913/http://normanfirehouse.moonfruit.com/#/midsummer-nights-fair/4524980380 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Norman Mardi Gras parade is a celebration of [[Mardi Gras]] occurring on the Saturday closest to [[Fat Tuesday]]. The parade is held in downtown Norman and features themed costumes and [[Float (parade)|floats]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_051015121 |publisher=The Norman Transcript |title=15th annual Norman Mardi Gras Parade Saturday |access-date=December 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904222847/http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_051015121 |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Main Street Christmas Holiday Parade is a celebration of Christmas and the [[Christmas and holiday season|holiday season]] held every December in downtown Norman. The parade features holiday-themed costumes and [[Float (parade)|floats]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_340021522 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904094800/http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_340021522 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |publisher=The Norman Transcript |title=Deering Selected as Holiday Parade Marshal |access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref>

===Libraries===
Norman is served by three public libraries, Norman Public Library Central, Norman Public Library East, and Norman Public Library West, all of which are part of the 12-branch [[Pioneer Library System]] which serves the entirety of [[Cleveland County, Oklahoma|Cleveland County]], [[McClain County]] and [[Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma|Pottawatomie County]] in Central Oklahoma.<ref name="Library">{{cite web |url=http://www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org/ |publisher=Pioneer Library System |title=Norman Public Libraries |access-date=July 5, 2018}}</ref> The library has a reciprocal agreement with the [[Metropolitan Library System (Oklahoma)|Metropolitan Library System]] of Oklahoma City through which those eligible for a library card in one system are also eligible in the other.<ref name="Interlibrary">{{cite web |url=http://pioneerlibrarysystem.org/apply-for-library-card |publisher=Norman Public Library |title=How do I apply for a library card? |access-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706022033/http://pioneerlibrarysystem.org/apply-for-library-card |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cardholders are also able to borrow books unavailable in the PLS collection through the use of Interlibrary Loan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pioneer.lib.ok.us/illsteps |publisher=Norman Public Library |title=What is Interlibrary Loan? |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117182749/http://www.pioneer.lib.ok.us/illsteps |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Books can be reserved and shipped to a local library free of charge. In addition to books, the library maintains a collection of periodicals, DVD videos, audio books, e-books and research materials.<ref name="Library" />

The [[Bizzell Memorial Library]] at the [[University of Oklahoma]] is the largest library in the state of Oklahoma, containing more than five million volumes.<ref name="Bizzell">{{cite web |url=http://libraries.ou.edu/cms/default.aspx?id=15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817171131/http://libraries.ou.edu/cms/default.aspx?id=15 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 17, 2009 |publisher=University of Oklahoma |title=OU Libraries' Facts |access-date=August 6, 2010}}</ref> In addition to books, the library maintains over {{cvt|17000|ft|m|sigfig=2}} in length of manuscripts and archives, 1.6&nbsp;million photographs, and more than 1.5&nbsp;million maps.<ref name="Bizzell" /> The library also houses more than 50 books printed before the year 1500.<ref name="Bizzell" />