This Weekend at Grand Lake: Dec 4, 2025

Gooood Morning!

And just like that, we are into December - and it is going to feel like it today. Good and cold on this Thursday.

But then, a little seasonal this weekend for the start of parade season, and then, towards the end of next week - holy smokes, I saw a 78 on the extended forcast on Channel 6 the other night. Woo Hoo!

So that will make for a balmy evening for the boat parade in Duck Creek NEXT weekend.

Speaking of ‘the’ boat parade… There is a new boat parade in town.

The Grand Lake Sailing Club is going to be putting on its own lighted boat parade next Saturday in Honey Creek. Awesome!

(And for those of you keeping track, yes, it is also the same time as the annual Grove Chrimstas Parade)

Check out the Events page of the website for details on that and all of the other holiday fun happening all over the lake.

And, to make it easy… 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 742.3’ with no generation happening. Lake temps are into the 50s.

Lights On Grove & Shop Grand Lake Finale - Kick off the season in Downtown Grove this Friday as Lights on Grove, Ron Lay’s Light Up Downtown, and the Shop Grand Lake Grand Finale come together for one magical night. Festivities start at 3 PM with live music, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and plenty of family fun, with the main program and community lighting ceremony beginning at 6 PM. The evening ends with the exciting $10,000 Shop Grand Lake cash giveaway—with three big prizes, AND the winner must be present!

Grand Christmas Village - The above party also kicks off the season for The Grand Christmas Village on the Grove Community Center lawn, which 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 - Har-Ber Village transforms into a twinkling winter wonderland again this weekend, with festive lights, decorated historic buildings, hot cocoa, live music, and visits with Santa himself on Friday and Saturday night. And… Saturday Night, Jana Jae and Friends will be performing live! It’s a magical holiday tradition right here in Grove. Get your tickets HERE to step into the spirit of an Ozark Christmas!

Grove First Friday Wine Share - It is also time for Grove’s First Friday Wine Share, happening this month at Grove Fireplace & Stoves located at 4601 N Hwy 59 on Friday from 6 to 7:30 pm. As always… everyone is welcome, bring a glass, your favorite bottle, and an appetizer to share. Always a great time!

Pensacola Dam Christmas Parade - I told you about it above… but thought I’d remind you here.

Nutcracker - I don’t know much about it, but per The Lake Bum, Saturday & Sunday, Christi Leonard’s Dance Academy presents “The Nutcracker” at Grove’s Performing Arts Center (shows at 2:30 & 7:00 Saturday and 2:30 Sunday).

Bluegrass Saturday Night - It is time for the River Ridge Bluegrass Association’s monthly jam, this month featuring the Flatlander Mountain Boys. It goes down Saturday at Grove Middle School. Doors open at 5 with chili, pie (!), and coffee, and the music starts at 6.

Karaoke at Water’s Edge - Water’s Edge RV Resort at the south end between Langley and Ketchum is hosting a Karaoke night this Saturday, starting at 7 pm. It is in the Clubhouse, so BYOB and also bring an appetizer or snack to share, and have a big ol’ holiday time at Water’s Edge.

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.

Juan Montez Update - The old restaurant building at Red Arrow Marina is gone (gasp!) — but a brand-new, bigger, better kitchen and restaurant is on the way for 2026. The Cantina is still open, and they’ve got a food truck onsite serving their classic family recipes during construction. A limited menu for now… but warm-weather grand openings are just around the corner! Stay up to date on the latest on their Facebook page.

Library - The November 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!

• The Eagle’s Nest, a new open-to-the-public restaurant at Patricia Island in Grove, is now open.

• The Cove Club is not The Cove Club anymore, but it is still the same place. Because of, well, issues, they have changed the name to Robert’s Bar & Restaurant. But it is still the same great Cove Club menu.

• The Artichoke Restaurant in Langley and Stuffin’s in Ketchum are both reportedly closed for good. Or maybe until new owners are found.

And you can always find what you are looking for on the Grand Lake Living website:

• 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 seems to have a bunch of new 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 5

• Gusto Dave Jackson at Mooney’s - 7 pm

• Scott Musick at Doc’s - 7 pm

• Magic J the DJ at Cherokee Casino Grove - 8 pm

• Mark Chamberlain at R Bar Dance Hall and Saloon - 9 pm

• The Bar Beatz at Grand Lake Casino - 9 pm

Saturday, Dec 6

• Dillon Leggett at Mooney’s - 7 pm

• Stover Hollow at Scissortail Marina - 7 pm

• The Brothers Moore at Cherokee Casino Grove - 8 pm

• The Lost Dogs at Grand Lake Casino - 9 pm

Trivia Tuesdays at The Anchor, Tuesday nights at 7 pm

Real Estate

You know… 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