Friday
The first box on your Oklahoma State Game Day checklist is booking your accommodations. Stillwater has plenty of hotel options, but The Atherton Hotel is among the top choices. Just ask the OSU football team who stay at the Atherton the night before each home game. It also offers a prime location to check out the campus, being located right next to the Theta Pond and the Formal Library Garden. If the Atherton isn’t available, a good alternative is Wyndham Garden Stillwater, which provides traditional hotel amenities and is located just five minutes away from Boone Pickens Stadium.
To dress the part for game day, grab some OSU gear at For Pete’s Sake, where you’ll find officially-licensed school apparel as well as dishes, mugs and decorations that are perfect for your home or tailgate tent. Chillwater Apparel & Gifts provides a more unique selection of Poke products with specially-designed graphics on shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more. Complete your game day look with accessories from Beadery on Main, Stillwater’s premier supplier of hand-beaded jewelry and decorations for over 25 years.
Before you head back to your hotel, grab some dinner at one of Stillwater’s many can't-miss dining options. See where one of Oklahoma’s most celebrated pizza spots got its start at the original Hideaway Pizza, which has been serving its delicious specialty pies to OSU students and visiting fans since 1957. If you’re craving tacos, enchiladas, queso or any other Mexican dishes, try out Mexico Joe’s, the sister location to one of Stillwater’s most iconic eateries. Finish off your Friday evening with something sweet from Shortcakes Diner, a Stillwater staple for nearly 30 years that serves freshly cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts 24 hours a day.
Game Day
Rise and shine, it's football time! Most of the fan festivities will take place on The Strip, the social hub of Oklahoma State full of bars and restaurants, but there’s plenty to do around town before you head there. Get an early glimpse of the team roughly two hours before kick-off as they make “The Walk” from the Atherton to Boone Pickens Stadium, a black and orange parade down Hester Street through a sea of fans and accompanied by the OSU marching band.
Nearby, GameDay at the Union is one of the best parties in town. Three hours before kick-off, the Union comes alive with tailgate games, photo opportunities and many more activities. Practically anywhere you go on campus, there’s tailgating going on and that includes the Hall of Fame Block Party that takes place on the north side of the stadium.
If you’ve got tickets to the game, head to the stadium where you’ll join nearly 60,000 fans in a sea of America’s brightest orange and experience time-honored traditions. Watch the Spirit Rider race to the 30-yard-line on Bullet the horse after each touchdown, feel the rhythm of the Paddle People as they pound the field's perimeter, and sing along to “Friends in Low Places” by one if OSU’s most famous alums, Garth Brooks. Raise your finger guns to the sky and join in on the “Pistols Firing” chant as you cheer on the Cowboys in one of the nation’s best college football atmospheres.
On The Strip, you’ll have no shortage of lively environments to watch the broadcast with other fans. Perhaps the most iconic bar and restaurant in Stillwater, Eskimo Joe’s Restaurant is ranked by Sports Illustrated’s as one of the “Perfect 10 College Sports Bars.” Joe’s features plenty of TVs to watch the game as well as great food, including their world-famous cheese fries. No OSU game day is complete without a trip to the Copper Penny to sip on a Limey, an iconic orange drink that is sure to satisfy during those hot early-season games.
Stillwater is full of places to enjoy after the game, whether you’re celebrating a win or moving on from a loss. Cut a rug at one of Stillwater’s live music venues like the Tumbleweed Dancehall, which has hosted some of the biggest names in country music, or Outlaws, a favorite spot for locals looking to do a two-step or line dance. What's a college football game day without a trip to a college bar? So head to College Bar for an extensive selection of beers in a dive bar-style environment complete with pool and foosball tables, arcade games and a classic jukebox. Before you call it a night, stop by The Curty Shack for a late-night hot dog with the perfect combination of chili, cheese and cream cheese.
Sunday
Whether it’s a long trip home or a short drive out of town, stretch the game day vibes out a little further with a trip to Granny’s Kitchen for the iconic “Cowboy Breakfast” or the famous cinnamon roll. Barbecue is a can’t-miss Oklahoma staple, and Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q is a top-tier Stillwater establishment for ribs, brisket, pulled pork and any other smoked delicacies you’re craving.
Game day might be behind you, but there’s still plenty to do in Stillwater before you leave. Oklahoma State is heralded as having one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, and the quiet and peaceful morning after game day is a great time to take a walk and see the sights. Swing by The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University and browse the 100 acres full of over 1,000 flower species, including permanent fixtures and seasonal additions. Another option for outdoor enthusiasts with a little more interaction, Lake McMurtry is just a few miles outside Stillwater and features beautiful scenery for walking, hiking and camping as well as a family-friendly lake with fishing docks and boat ramps. There’s so much to do, see and experience in Stillwater to fit in one game day weekend, so keep an eye on the Cowboys’ schedule and other OSU athletic events for your next chance to take it all in.
