Groovefest is a free music and arts festival in Norman, Oklahoma, that has been organised since 1986 to raise awareness of human rights. This page gives an informational overview based on archived material from the festival’s own website. It is not the official site of the event.
Mission
According to the archive, the festival’s purpose is to draw attention to human rights through music, visual art and talks by activists from local organisations. The idea is to inspire visitors to respect individual freedom, to act in their own lives and communities, and to remember that rights struggles around the world are connected. Organisers described Groovefest as the only human rights music festival in Oklahoma and the second longest-running festival of its kind in the world, which are the organisers’ own statements.
The 2020 edition
The 34th anniversary event was set for 4 October 2020. Because of the pandemic, it was planned as a virtual event, streamed on YouTube and Twitch, with the usual mix of music, performers, speakers, arts and community groups. The archived page promised a link to the stream closer to the date.
What a typical Groovefest includes
- Live bands on a main stage, with some years featuring a showcase of local acts in a separate pavilion.
- Short talks between sets from representatives of community organisations.
- Stalls selling art, food and crafts, plus information tables for local groups.
- No admission fee, which the organisers say is meant to keep the event open to everyone.