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Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK

Photo: Jordan Michael Winn, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Theatre & EventsHistory BuffDate Night

Cain's Ballroom

423 N Main St · Tulsa, OK

Why you should go…

Built in 1924 by Tate Brady as a garage and later a dance academy, Cain's became the home base of Bob Wills from 1935 to 1942, when western swing took shape here. Today it is a concert hall booking country, rock, folk and pop acts, and most shows welcome all ages. You stand on a spring-loaded maple dance floor under a four-foot neon star and a disco ball, with oversized portraits of Wills, Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb on the walls. The Sex Pistols played here in 1978.

  • #live music
  • #concert venue
  • #western swing
  • #historic ballroom

Good to know

General theatre & events guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Curtain time is firm

    Latecomers are commonly held at the back until a scene break, so build in a buffer.

  • Study the seating chart

    Price and sightline vary a lot within the same house. A few rows back can be the better seat.

  • Rush and lottery seats exist

    Many venues release same-day tickets at a discount if you are flexible about where you sit.

  • Arrive with time to spare

    Parking, bag check, and finding your row all take longer than you think on a full house.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cain's Ballroom, ordered by straight-line distance.

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Bob Dylan Center

    Under $25

    Explore handwritten lyrics, rare recordings and photographs from Bob Dylan's archive on a self-guided audio tour in Tulsa.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Greenwood Rising

    Under $25

    Walk through galleries telling the story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, known as Black Wall Street, and the 1921 massacre.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Gathering Place

    Free

    Play, paddle and picnic in a 66.5-acre riverfront park with a huge adventure playground, gardens, sports courts and a skate park.

    2.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Philbrook Museum of Art

    Under $25

    Art museum and 23-acre English gardens set in a 1920s villa built for oil magnate Waite Phillips.

    2.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Golden Driller

    Free

    Stand at the feet of a 76-foot oil worker statue outside Tulsa's Expo Square, a photo stop near historic Route 66.

    3.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Tulsa Zoo

    Under $25

    124-acre zoo in Mohawk Park with state-of-the-art exhibits spanning the animal kingdom.

    5.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions