Since its inception in 1971, the McAlester Italian Festival has become one of Oklahoma’s oldest and most cherished traditions and is believed to be the longest-running festival in the state. Held each year over two days in May, thousands of visitors come to the McAlester Fairgrounds to celebrate Pittsburg County’s deep Italian heritage with delicious Italian cuisine, games and live music. This a truly unique and time-honored experience that can only be found in McAlester.