Members of the Public Are Welcome to Meet Acclaimed Writers, Learn About the Art of Writing, and Honor Will Rogers During the October 28–31 Gathering
Tulsa and Claremore will host the authors, artists, and performers who preserve the stories of the American West over four days. Everyone is invited to take part.”— Chris Enss, Executive Director Will Rogers Medallion AwardGRASS VALLEY, CA, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — This October, northeast Oklahoma will see the American West revived as award-winning authors, filmmakers, actors, historians, and enthusiasts of Western culture assemble for a four-day celebration of storytelling, learning, and entertainment during the 2026 Will Rogers Medallion Award festivities, running from October 28 to 31.
Scheduled activities include a complimentary wine-and-cheese book signing, educational visits to schools, the Craft of Writing the West Conference, a community Meet & Greet, the star-filled An Evening with Will, the Will Rogers Days Parade, and the yearly Will Rogers Medallion Award Banquet.
WESTERN WRITERS LAUNCH THE EVENT IN CLAREMORE
The celebration kicks off on Wednesday, October 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., with a wine-and-cheese book signing held at the Claremore Museum of History, located at 121 North Weenonah Avenue in Claremore.
This gathering is free and open to all. Attendees can connect with noted Western authors, buy personally inscribed books, and converse with the writers whose efforts help safeguard the narratives, heritage, and customs of the American West.
Participating authors include international bestselling writers Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss, and award-winning authors Bill Markley, Joni Franks, Harriet Lewis, and Preston Lewis.
WRITERS DELIVER BOOKS AND TALES TO LOCAL SCHOOLS
On Thursday, October 29, over twenty participating authors will visit schools across northeast Oklahoma as part of the Will Rogers Medallion Award’s educational outreach initiative.
These writers will engage students in discussions about frontier history, biography, fiction, research, creativity, and the process of writing. Pupils will discover how authors find stories, shape concepts, build characters, and transform those ideas into published works.
Additionally, the authors will donate boxes of books for young readers. This outreach reflects the organization’s ongoing dedication to promoting literacy, supporting education, and introducing a fresh generation to the history and literature of the American West.
Thursday evening will see authors, special guests, and community members gather for a Meet & Greet at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. The event will showcase winning books and authors, special guests, and a screening of Little House Homecoming, followed by a Q&A session with Little House on the Prairie actor Dean Butler.
LEARN THE CRAFT OF WRITING THE WEST FROM EXPERTS
On Friday, October 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., budding writers, veteran authors, and anyone fascinated by storytelling are welcome to attend the Craft of Writing the West Conference at River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa.
Featured presenters include New York Times bestselling authors Anne Hillerman, Kathleen O’Neal Gear, and W. Michael Gear. These celebrated writers have dedicated decades to producing bestselling novels, crafting unforgettable characters, and bringing the history, cultures, and landscapes of the American West to readers globally.
Conference sessions will cover topics such as crafting memorable characters, writing effective dialogue, conducting historical research, refining a manuscript, understanding the publishing industry, and building a long-term career as an author.
AN EVENING WITH WILL—HOLLYWOOD MEETS OKLAHOMA
On Friday, October 30, from 7 to 9 p.m., the spotlight turns to Will Rogers with An Evening with Will, a special tribute celebrating the humor, humanity, and observations that made Rogers one of America’s most cherished figures.
Noted actors Bruce Boxleitner and Barry Corbin, Little House on the Prairie star Dean Butler, Western film expert Rob Word, and Will Rogers family representative Jennifer Rogers will take part in an evening dedicated to Rogers’ words and legacy.
The program will be hosted by Tanner Messer of KVOO and Tess Maune of News On 6.
Through readings and performances, the audience will encounter the remarkable wit and insight of the man who famously said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.” Rogers’ views on politics, public life, and human nature remain strikingly relevant nearly a century after they were written.
A PARADE, A BANQUET, AND TOP WESTERN ACCOLADES
The celebration continues Saturday morning with the Will Rogers Days Parade in Claremore.
The four-day event concludes Saturday, October 31, with the Will Rogers Medallion Award Banquet at River Spirit Casino Resort, where the year’s top achievements in Western literature and related arts will be honored.
Actors Bruce Boxleitner and Barry Corbin will receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Grammy Award-winning country artist Clint Black will be presented with the Will Rogers Golden Lariat Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Western storytelling and his steadfast commitment to preserving the spirit of the American West.
Beyond being an awards ceremony, the annual gathering reflects the broader mission of the Will Rogers Medallion Award: preserving the stories of the American West, supporting the writers who tell them, and placing those stories into the hands of a new generation. In 2026, the public is invited to be part of that mission.
For registration, tickets, and further details, visit the Will Rogers Medallion Award website or email Chris Enss, executive director of the Will Rogers Medallion Award, at gvcenss@aol.com.
ABOUT THE WILL ROGERS MEDALLION AWARD
The Will Rogers Medallion Award honors excellence in works that celebrate the history, people, traditions, and enduring spirit of the American West. Through its annual awards, educational outreach, author programs, book donations, and student opportunities, the organization works to preserve Western storytelling while encouraging the writers and readers who will carry those stories into the future.
Chris Enss
Will Rogers Medallion Award
+1 916-216-0995
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