The Norman Music Festival is creating a permanent endowment, a shift from the year-to-year fundraising that has sustained the free festival since 2008.
The Festival Forever Fund Fall Fundraiser supporting the new endowment at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at The Chouse, 717 W. Boyd St. Admission is free until 6 p.m., according to the Norman Transcript, which cited a Norman Music Festival press release.
The event, held in partnership with Norman-based Blondie's Estate Sales, will feature donated music collectibles and vintage pieces for sale alongside a silent auction. Blondie's specializes in estate sales and liquidation. Proceeds benefit the Festival Forever Fund, a new endowment for the Norman Music Alliance, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces the festival.
The alliance has not announced a fundraising target for the endowment.
Shari Jackson, executive director of the Norman Music Alliance, oversees what the organization's website calls "an all-volunteer crew, minus one overworked executive director." The festival relies on sponsors and individual donors to keep admission free each spring.
Founded in 2008 as a single-day event, the Norman Music Festival has grown into what the alliance calls the largest free music festival in Oklahoma.
The endowment marks a new financial chapter for an organization that has operated on annual fundraising cycles since its founding 18 years ago.
Upcoming Norman Music Festival dates
- Sunday, Oct. 18 — Festival Forever Fund Fall Fundraiser, 2 p.m. at The Chouse, 717 W. Boyd St. Free admission until 6 p.m. Music collectibles, vintage items and silent auction.
- Friday, Oct. 23 — Deadline for the NMF 2027 Open Call for performers. Details at freepressokc.com.
