Tulsa Regional Tourism named finalist for national travel award

Tulsa Regional Tourism and the Big Dam Party have been named finalists for a national award from the U.S. Travel Association, recognizing efforts to promote Tulsa as a destination through a large-scale community event.

The nomination highlights the four-day Big Dam Party held in 2024, which marked the public debut of Zink Lake, the Tulsa Wave Park, and the new Williams Crossing pedestrian bridge. The celebration included live music, food trucks, fireworks, and a floating parade, attracting thousands of visitors to the newly revitalized Arkansas River corridor.

The Big Dam Party served as a major milestone for river development in Tulsa. The completion of Zink Lake and the introduction of the new wave park brought new energy to the area, while the Williams Crossing bridge improved pedestrian and cyclist access between both sides of the river. The event was designed to showcase these improvements and encourage community connection through public spaces.

This is the first time Tulsa Regional Tourism has been named a finalist for the Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) “Immersive Experience” Award. The award honors destination marketing organizations for exceptional and creative promotional efforts that engage the public in meaningful ways.

The U.S. Travel Association received nearly 300 entries for the 2025 ESTO Awards. Tulsa Regional Tourism is one of three finalists in its category.

Winners will be announced Aug. 18 during the ESTO Conference in Phoenix.