The Sooner State Summer Showcase is underway at the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha and continues through Sunday, August 9, 2026. Chickasha-area spectators can choose from main-ring horse show sessions, jumping, ranch riding, trail classes and other equestrian events.
The organizer’s current schedule lists sessions on Friday evening, throughout Saturday and on Sunday morning. Public admission, spectator parking procedures and capacity limits were not posted on the organizer’s event page as of August 7. Contact the show manager before leaving home if those details will affect your plans.
Sooner State Summer Showcase 2026 at a glance
- Dates: Thursday, August 6, through Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Location: Grady County Fairgrounds, 500 E. Choctaw Ave., Chickasha
- Event type: AMHA Regional Show and USEF Lite competition
- Featured programming: Morgan, Saddlebred and open classes, along with dressage, jumping, ranch, trail in-hand, carriage driving and academy classes
- Official information: The Sooner State Morgan Horse Association Summer Showcase page
- Show manager: Sandy Sessink, 248-207-4956
The organizer page, the Visit Chickasha events list and the Chickasha.com event listing all continued to show the August 6–9 event dates when checked on Friday, August 7.
Which session should you attend?
The best time to visit depends on the type of competition you want to watch. The official schedule is organized by session rather than by a fixed ending time. A session continues until all of its listed classes are completed, so do not rely on a precise departure time.
Friday, August 7
The remaining Friday program includes a main-ring session beginning at 6 p.m. in the Event Center Arena. The schedule lists driving, western pleasure, hunter pleasure, English pleasure and Saddlebred classes, among other events.
A Horsemanship Challenge charity event benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is listed after the final Friday class. The schedule does not provide a specific start time for that activity.
Saturday, August 8
Saturday offers the widest range of scheduled starting times:
- 7–8 a.m.: Jumper schooling in the warm-up arena
- 8 a.m.: Jumping classes, including trot poles, hunter classes and jumper classes
- 10 a.m.: Main-ring classes in the Event Center Arena
- After the morning session: A 30-minute break followed by academy championship classes
- 6 p.m.: Evening horse show session in the Event Center Arena
Saturday morning may be a useful choice if you are particularly interested in jumping or want to see several types of competition during one visit. The 10 a.m. session begins with Morgan in-hand classes and continues with riding, driving, equitation and championship classes.
The evening schedule includes additional Morgan, Saddlebred, opportunity, ranch riding and driving competitions. An exhibitor party is listed for approximately 8:30 p.m., but the published material identifies it as an exhibitor activity. Visitors should not assume it is a public event.
Sunday, August 9
The detailed schedule lists trail events beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by the final main-ring session at 10 a.m. The separate overview in the prize list says trail events begin at 8:30 a.m., creating a 30-minute conflict between two organizer documents.
Verify Sunday’s trail start time with the organizer before publishing or attending. The 10 a.m. main-ring time appears consistently in the current materials.
Sunday’s program includes ranch trail, trail in-hand, carriage reinsmanship and numerous championship classes. A one-hour break is scheduled after class 204, although the exact clock time will depend on the pace of the earlier classes.
What spectators should confirm before leaving home
The organizer’s public page and prize list are written mainly for competitors. They do not clearly state whether spectators pay admission, need advance registration or follow a separate entrance procedure.
As of August 7, the reviewed sources also did not confirm:
- General spectator admission prices or whether admission is free
- Public parking locations or parking fees
- Maximum spectator capacity
- Public seating availability
- Accessibility arrangements for this specific show
- A public pet policy
- Whether outside food and drinks are allowed
- Accepted payment methods at the concession stand
Call show manager Sandy Sessink at 248-207-4956 for show-specific questions. The Chickasha.com listing also gives the Grady County Fairgrounds telephone number as 405-224-2031, but event participation and schedule questions are best directed to the organizer.
Food, seating and time planning
The organizer’s schedule lists concession service during parts of the show. It says the concession stand opens at 4 p.m. Thursday, offers breakfast items Saturday and plans to sell hot items throughout Sunday. However, a public menu, prices and payment options were not posted in the reviewed material.
References to breakfasts, deli lunches, sandwiches and a hospitality area appear to be exhibitor-focused. Spectators should not count on those items being publicly available.
Because each session contains many classes, consider choosing a starting time and allowing flexibility rather than trying to arrive for a particular later class. Class holds, arena maintenance and other show operations can affect the pace. The official schedule itself notes that session details may include holds, ring drags and special presentations.
How to be a considerate horse-show visitor
The prize list includes arena rules for competitors, but it does not provide a separate set of public spectator rules. A few simple choices can help you avoid disrupting horses, riders and show staff:
- Use marked public areas and follow instructions from fairgrounds or show personnel.
- Keep children close to you around barns, gates and horse traffic.
- Do not enter competition, warm-up or stable areas unless the organizer permits it.
- Avoid sudden loud noises close to horses.
- Ask before touching or feeding any animal.
- Keep aisles, gates and working paths clear.
These are general planning suggestions, not a substitute for the organizer’s instructions at the grounds.
A note for competitors
The July 15 general entry deadline has passed. The prize list says late entries may be subject to a $50-per-horse post-entry fee and that entries made during the show must be submitted at least 90 minutes before the applicable session. Competitors should work directly with the show office rather than relying on a general event guide.
The prize list also contains detailed requirements covering entries, stalls, horse health records, camping, association rules and arena use. Review the complete documents linked from the official showcase page and confirm any late-entry availability with show management.
Check the schedule before you go
Show schedules can change because of class counts, holds and other competition needs. The schedule posted on the organizer’s page is labeled current as of July 12, 2026, even though the event remains listed as active.
Check the Chickasha.com Event Calendar for more local events, and confirm the latest schedule, admission, parking, availability and attendee rules on the official Summer Showcase page or with the organizer before you go.
