Festival Recap: Norman Music Festival 2023

Music

Local Wolves
May, 10 2023

Norman Music Festival — Main Street in Norman, OK — April 27-29, 2023

For one weekend each April, Norman’s quintessential Main Street transforms into the location of Norman Music Festival (NMF), a free three day event that celebrates local artists, bands, and vendors. With a population of just under 130 thousand, Norman boasts a lively music scene for a city of its size. Home to the University of Oklahoma, the college town attracts a relatively diverse demographic.

Walking along Main Street Norman is very reminiscent of small-town America, welcoming its visitors with an array of curtained storefronts and unique restaurants. I attended all three days of NMF, which made for an amazing (and exhausting) experience. NMF kicked off its first day with its Alley stage, tucked behind the shops along Main Street. In addition to the four outside stages that would be set up on Friday, smaller performances were held in the surrounding coffee shops, bars, and the historic Sooner Theater. Saturday also offered a section dedicated to artists booths, where I found an array of beautiful watercolor prints to crochet clothing. During the entirety of the festival, fair rides had also been set up, including a ferris wheel, bumper cars, and the Zipper, a crowd favorite. There were also a large variety of food trucks, offering classic fair food fare as well as tastes from locally owned restaurants. For three nights, Main Street resonates with the pulse of indie and rock rhythms.