This Weekend at Grand Lake: Dec 18, 2025

Gooood Morning!

With Christmas on Thursday next week, this will be my last email to you of the year.

So, as we head into the Christmas holiday and close out another year together, I want to wish you and your loved ones a season filled with joy, rest, and time well spent.

However you celebrate, and it is a Merry Christmas from me, I hope the coming days bring warmth, happiness, and comfort to you as you celebrate and begin to look forward to the year ahead.

Speaking of the year ahead…

I’m excited to let you know that there will soon (very soon!) finally be a new Grand Lake Living website, and that these emails will likely take a little more streamlined approach as we roll into 2026.

But we’ll get to all of that. For now… here is what you need to know for This Weekend at Grand Lake!

This Weekend at Grand Lake

Lake Level - The lake level as of 8 am is 742.12’ with no generation happening. Lake temps are holding in the low to mid 50s with the warmer temps we’ve been having.

Grand Christmas Village - Continues every Friday–Sunday through January 4. Enjoy ice skating for just $5, a giant snow mountain slide, an inflatable snow globe, the snowball range, and plenty of merry, Hallmark-style holiday fun. Access to all inflatables is only $10, and YMCA members skate free.

Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village - It is the last weekend for Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village in Grove. So, get your tickets HERE to step into the spirit of an Ozark Christmas, right here at Grand Lake!

The Nutcracker - Make this a new holiday tradition as the Shooting Star Dance Company presents The Nutcracker at the Grove Performing Arts Center with two free performances on Saturday, December 20, at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a timeless holiday story brought to life through dance by talented local children and families!

Christmas Sing-Along! - Celebrate the season this Sunday from 2–5 PM in the Shangri-La Resort hotel lobby with an afternoon of Christmas music and cheer. Enjoy a festive carol sing-along led by Terry Jordan, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, pastries, and hot chocolate, with a cash bar available. Free and open to the public—come relax, sing along, and soak up the holiday spirit on Monkey Island!

Christmas Light Tours - ‘Tis the season for Christmas Lights, and Grand Lake has a couple of can’t miss stops:

• Enjoy thousands of sparkling Christmas lights at Pine Lodge Resort’s free Winter Wonderland Light Tour, open nightly from 5–10 PM through January 1. Stroll the magical walk-through display, or enjoy a slow drive through the resort, drop a letter to Santa in the North Pole mailbox, and soak up the holiday spirit — open to both resort guests and the public!

• The Twin Bridges State Park annual drive-thru Park of Lights is all lit up and ongoing nightly through December 30th.

• Word on the street is that there are also beautiful displays at Shangri-La Resort and The Anchor on Monkey Island and at Grand Lake Cabins, at the back of Duck Creek near the Drunken Rooster.

• America’s Outdoor Adventure Park - Not sure why, but this has been canceled.

Library - The December calendar at the always-busy Grove Public Library is HERE.

Support The Businesses That Make This Possible!

These emails aren’t possible without the ongoing support of many great Grand Lake area businesses. Please visit the website and support the businesses that you see featured. I appreciate all of you!

• Shops of Treasures is Northeast Oklahoma and Grand Lake’s guide to antique, thrift, and gift shops. Check it out!

• Lakefront Restaurants, and more, around Grand Lake

• Monkey Island truly is Grand Lake’s playground

• Don’t forget about the Gateway to Grand Lake: Grove!

• South Grand Lake has all sorts of great businesses

• Always on the lookout for reliable Grand Lake contractors

• Need a Vacation Rental at Grand Lake?

This Weekend’s Entertainment

FYI, if I don’t know about it, I can’t include it here, lol. So, if you know about it… LET ME KNOW! Just send an email with entertainment updates to [email protected]. Anyhoo… here is what I do know for this weekend’s entertainment at the lake:

Friday, Dec 19

• The Smith Brothers at Mooney’s - 7 pm

• Jon Moody at Doc’s - 7 pm

• Chris Bassett at Scissortail Marina - 7 pm

• MixTape 918 at Cherokee Casino Grove - 8 pm (After OU Game)

• Lil Red & Sidepiece at South 125 Bar & Grill - 9 pm

• Whiskey Alibi at R Bar Dance Hall and Saloon - 9 pm

Saturday, Dec 20

• B & Steve at Mooney’s Ugly Xmas Sweater Party - 7 pm

• Whiskey Poet Society at Scissortail Marina - 7 pm

• Pullin Strings at Pickles - 8 pm

• DJ Kudos at South 125 Bar & Grill - 9 pm

More:

• Sunday, Dec 21 - Jacob Dement at Mooney’s - 3 pm

• Friday, Dec 26 - Wilky Jay at Mooney’s - 7 pm

• Friday, Dec 26 - JDR Band at R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon - 8 pm

• Sat, Dec 27 - Robbi Bell at Mooney’s - 7 pm

• Sat, Dec 27 - Jake Marlin & The Reckless at Pickles - 8 pm

• Sat, Dec 27 - Choices at Grand Lake Casino - 8 pm

• Dec 31 - Brent Giddens Trio at Mooney’s - 8 pm

Trivia Tuesdays at The Anchor will return on January 6th

Real Estate

I just want to put this out there… this Real Estate section of these newsletters gets more clicks than any other part of the newsletter.

Every. Single. Week.

People want to know about real estate at Grand Lake, and this is your spot to let them know about your listings, and, by association, how hard you work for them.

So, hit me up at [email protected] and let’s get you signed up and share your listings with the Grand Lake world. Let’s give the readers what they want!

(FYI, a full 40+ % of people who open and read these emails every week said they do NOT get on Facebook. So there is that.)

Check out these currently featured listings at Grand Lake that proud supporters of the Grand Lake Living website and brand offer:

• You’ve got to check out this 20-acre, 948’ of shoreline property with a cabin AND a guest cottage. Ileta Bray has the details (918) 801-5912. View Here