More than 70,000 expected to ring in Opening Night in Oklahoma City

Organizers mix up the lineup with a few new entertainers each year.

Bluegrass band Travis Wackerly & Honey Creek Pass, rock fusion group Squirrel & Friends, songbird Allie Lauren and Latin American duo Alegria Real are among the new faces at this year's Opening Night.

Classical pianist Wayne McEvilly also will make his Opening Night debut playing two sets in the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's lobby.

When they visit the museum, Opening Night attendees also get free admission to the exhibits, including the “American Moderns” traveling exhibition closing Jan. 6.

“We bring many new people into their venue,” Foss said.

“It's a really neat partnership to have with them, and it gives people another kind of avenue to see some more types of art.”

Attendees can take a step back into the past with the classic big band the Al Good Orchestra at Leadership Square.

Meanwhile, partiers who want a little more action in their entertainment can check out the OKC Roller Derby skaters.

Familiar Opening Night favorite Edgar Cruz returns in a new venue — the recently opened Devon Energy Center's Garden Wing corridor adjacent to Nebu restaurant. Cruz, described as a “New Year's Eve tradition” by Opening Night director Christina Foss, has a classical guitar style.

Other returning favorites include the Ambassadors' Concert Choir, OKC Improv and Dave Thomas, who is returning with his popular World of Magic.