From Thursday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 1, NW 23rd Street has at least one event every night. Saturday alone has three, and one venue hosts two crowds on opposite ends of the day. All of it happens on a street about nine months into a construction schedule of roughly 18 months, at a venue that has been changing its tenants since August. If you plan Halloween on Uptown 23rd this year, check two calendars: the event listings and the city's construction updates.
A Street Halfway Through Its Rebuild
Construction started on Jan. 12, 2026. Orange cones and closed lanes arrived that week, according to The Oklahoman. The City of Oklahoma City calls it a $9.3 million City and ODOT project covering about a mile, from Western Avenue to Broadway Avenue. The schedule runs about 18 months, which puts the finish around next summer. The money comes from ACOG and the 2017 bond program.
The city's project page describes the finished street:
- Four travel lanes stay, and the center median comes out
- Shorter crossings and sidewalks widened to ADA standards
- New lighting, bus stops and a traffic signal at Hudson Avenue
- New pavement, plus new waterlines from Western to Lee
- 141 street trees in the corridor: 116 new shade trees and 25 existing trees kept, with 76 planned between Lee and Harvey
So far, the pieces have arrived a few blocks at a time. In its Aug. 13 update, the city said sidewalks and driveways were finished from Lee to Dewey. Light pole footings were in from Walker to Dewey, and sewer work was done on other blocks. The four-week look-ahead in that update called for a full closure of Harvey Avenue and the start of a full eastbound closure from Robinson to Broadway. Southbound access on Robinson was set to return toward the end of that phase. August is the latest bulletin on the city's project page, so treat those closures as a plan. Some may have reopened since and others may have started, so check before Halloween weekend.
Businesses along the street have noticed. In June, News 9 reported that crews had moved west toward BoomTown Creamery. Caitlin Trower, an employee there, put it this way: "I would say definitely today it's a little bit slower." The same report said BoomTown Creamery and OK Runner were both looking forward to the finished street. "It'll be cool just to have a little bit more foot-friendly place," Biggs told News 9.
The Anchor Venue Is Changing Too
Bungalow 23 is the busiest stop on the weekend's calendar, and it's also changing. Visit OKC lists it at 731 NW 23rd St. as a locally owned collective of seven bars and restaurants with a beer garden. The concepts include a karaoke bar, a chicken-wing spot, a pizza shop and a hot-dog stand. It opened in the summer of 2023. The Oklahoman covered its first anniversary in July 2024.
Two changes this fall matter for Halloween:
- One tenant left, and an old favorite is coming back. According to The Oklahoman's fall restaurant roundup, Chino's Mexicano closed in late August after opening in October 2025. Its space at 733 NW 23rd St. is going to Chick-N-Beer, which closed in January and is returning as CNB Kitchen. The menu will be smaller, but the gluten-friendly, potato-flour-dredged, double-fried wings are staying. The CNB Kitchen site says "Comin this Fall 2026" and gives no opening day.
- The venue lists two addresses. The Bungalow 23 website says "Bungalow 23 V2.0, Coming Soon," mentions upgrades in progress, and lists 2419 N Lee Ave. The two Halloween listings disagree. One uses the Lee Avenue address and the other uses 731 NW 23rd St. Check the address on your own ticket before you plan where to park.
Events are still going on through the changes. On Sept. 26, Bungalow 23 hosted DogFest OKC to benefit Canine Companions. Halloween is its next big date.
Saturday Changes Crowds at Sundown
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. On NW 23rd, the afternoon is for families and the evening is mostly for adults.
Bungalowtown, 3 to 7 p.m., Bungalow 23. The Eventbrite listing calls it a Halloween day party for the whole family. It has four DJs, a live dance performance, a car show with Street Motion, kids' activities, food, drinks, vendors and the OU game. The costume contest has three age groups: 5 and under, 6 to 10, and 11 and up. Contestants need to sign up by 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door for ages 11 and up. Kids 10 and under get in free, and anyone under 16 needs a parent or guardian. The organizer posts updates and giveaways on Instagram at @roselotusimpact.
Bingo Loco, Tower Theatre. Tower Theatre, at 425 NW 23rd St., opens doors at 6 p.m. for a 7:30 show on Oct. 31. That timing works for anyone heading out of Bungalowtown at 7.
Cozy Halloween Block Party, 8 p.m. to midnight, Bungalow 23. An hour after the family party ends, the same venue starts its night event. The Cozy listing promises R&B and hip-hop DJs, the outdoor beer garden, lawn games and food vendors. Costumes are encouraged.
The Weekend, Night by Night
Saturday is the busiest night, but Uptown 23rd has events from Thursday through Sunday, and The War and Treaty plays the following Wednesday.
| Date | Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 29 | The Billy Joel Legacy, A Tribute Experience | Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. | Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Nightmare on 23rd St | Yours Truly, 313 NW 23rd St. | 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Bungalowtown | Bungalow 23 | 3 to 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Bingo Loco | Tower Theatre | Doors 6 p.m., show 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Cozy Halloween Block Party | Bungalow 23 | 8 p.m. to midnight |
| Sun., Nov. 1 | PJ Morton | Tower Theatre | Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 4 | The War and Treaty | Tower Theatre | Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. |
Friday at Yours Truly starts later and runs longer than anything else that weekend. Sunday's PJ Morton show and Wednesday's The War and Treaty carry Tower Theatre's calendar into November.
Getting There While the Street Is Torn Up
The city posts closure updates in its construction bulletins. Before you head out on Oct. 29 or Oct. 31:
- Check the NW 23rd project page for any bulletin newer than Aug. 13. The August plan called for a full Harvey Avenue closure and a full eastbound closure from Robinson to Broadway, which could change how you reach the eastern end of the corridor.
- Check your Bungalow 23 ticket for the address, since the listings use either 731 NW 23rd St. or 2419 N Lee Ave.
- If you're entering a child in Bungalowtown's costume contest, arrive before 4 p.m. to sign up.
- If you plan to stay for Bingo Loco or Cozy, plan to leave the car once. Tower Theatre opens doors an hour before Bungalowtown ends.
The new sidewalks, lighting and shade trees won't be finished until next summer. In the city's August update, the blocks from Lee to Dewey were the stretch with sidewalks and driveways already finished.
At The McElroy Team, we follow projects like the NW 23rd rebuild because they change daily life near a corridor long before the last tree goes in. If you own a home near Uptown 23rd and want to know how the work might affect your home's value, ask us for a free home valuation. We'll walk you through it in plain terms.
