EVENTS THAT KICK OFF TOMORROW. YEAH. EVAN AND JESS, YOU CAN TELL RIGHT NOW AT 5:00. IT’S PACKED. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AT THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, AND THESE CROWDS ARE REALLY ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER AS THE WEEKEND GOES ON. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT US AND SEEING HOW MUCH WE’RE GROWING AND JUST HOW SUCCESSFUL THE CITY TRULY HAS BECOME. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE LACING UP THEIR SHOES AND PICKING UP THEIR BIBS READY TO RUN THIS YEAR. THE GOAL WAS TO GET 25,000 RUNNERS FOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY. THEY’VE ALREADY PASSED THAT WITH MORE THAN 27,000 RUNNERS. VISIT. OKC SAYS THE CITY WILL HOST PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER. AT LEAST 30% OF THOSE FOLKS ARE TRAVELING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IN THE WORLD, REGISTRATIONS FROM ALL 50 STATES, AND WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO, IF WE HAVEN’T HIT IT TODAY, 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES REPRESENTED. AND JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE FINISH LINE, 550,000 PEOPLE WILL VISIT OKC. S FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS OVER ITS FOUR DAY SPAN. SEEING ART, TRYING FUN FOODS AND SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES. ECONOMIC IMPACT WHEN YOU COMBINE EVERYTHING TOGETHER, WE HAVE THE MARATHON, WE HAVE THE ARTS FESTIVAL, WE HAVE BETTER BARREL RACING TAKING PLACE OUT AT OUR FAIRGROUNDS. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE THUNDER, JUST THE MARATHON AND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING IN MORE THAN $25 MILLION. 13 MILLION OF THAT IN TOURISM RELATED SPENDING, BUT ALTOGETHER, VISIT OKC SAYS IT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST WEEKENDS OF THE YEAR FOR THE CITY. IT’S A HUGE WEEKEND FOR OKLAHOMA CITY AND ONE THAT SHOULD BE BENEFITING AND IMPACTING EVERYONE. NOW AGAIN, RACES FOR THE MARATHON KICKOFF TOMORROW AT 1 P.M. THAT TIME PUSHED BACK BECAUSE OF WEATHER. BUT HERE AT THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, THEY SAY THE SHOW MUST GO ON. SO THEY PLAN TO BE OPEN TOMORROW, SATURDAY, FROM 11 A.M. TO 10 P.M. AND THEN SUNDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 7 P.M. REPORTING LIVE

Oklahoma City to see big economic impact this weekend

It’s a big weekend in Oklahoma City with lots to do and more than $25 million in economic impact projected for the city

It’s a big weekend in Oklahoma City, with lots to do and more than $25 million in economic impact projected for the city.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelIt’s been busy at the Festival of the Arts, and the crowds in Oklahoma City are only going to get bigger as weekend events continue.WATCH: Check out the best food at OKC’s Festival of the Arts“People are always looking at us and seeing how much we are growing, just how successful the city has become,” said Adam Wisniewski, the vice president of sports development for Visit OKC.Thousands of people are lacing up their shoes and picking up their bibs, ready to run in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.“This year, the goal was to get 25,000 runners for the 25th anniversary; they’ve already passed that,” Wisniewski said.With more than 27,000 runners, Visit OKC officials said the city will host people from all over.“At least 30 percent of the folks traveling from all over the country and the world, registration from all 50 states, and getting close to, if we haven’t hit it today, 20 different countries represented,” Wisniewski said.WATCH: Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon set for this weekendAnd just a few blocks aways from the finish line, 550,000 people will visit Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts over its four-day span, seeing art, trying fun foods and supporting small businesses.“Economic impact when you combine everything together, we have the marathon, we have the arts festival, we have better barrel racing taking place out at our fairgrounds, and of course, we have the thunder,” said Wisniewski.WATCH: Oklahoma City leaders hoping for boom from Thunder playoffsJust the marathon and Festival of the Arts are expected to bring in more than $25 million with $13 million of that in tourism related spending. Altogether, Visit OKC officials said it’s one of the biggest weekends of the year for the city.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.“It’s a huge weekend for Oklahoma City and one that should be benefiting and impacting everyone,” said Wisniewski.Some races for the Memorial Marathon start Saturday at 1 p.m., which was pushed back due to the potential for rain. The Festival of the Arts will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.Top HeadlinesTIMELINE: More storms with tornado risk possible Friday in OklahomaEvery pick from the first round of the NFL draftOklahoma City crews battled at least 2 house fires started by lightningScene cleared after crash involving jackknifed semi shuts down westbound I-40 in OKCWATCH: Tornado touches down near Freedom

OKLAHOMA CITY —

It’s a big weekend in Oklahoma City, with lots to do and more than $25 million in economic impact projected for the city.

>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel

It’s been busy at the Festival of the Arts, and the crowds in Oklahoma City are only going to get bigger as weekend events continue.

WATCH: Check out the best food at OKC’s Festival of the Arts

“People are always looking at us and seeing how much we are growing, just how successful the city has become,” said Adam Wisniewski, the vice president of sports development for Visit OKC.

Thousands of people are lacing up their shoes and picking up their bibs, ready to run in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

“This year, the goal was to get 25,000 runners for the 25th anniversary; they’ve already passed that,” Wisniewski said.

With more than 27,000 runners, Visit OKC officials said the city will host people from all over.

“At least 30 percent of the folks traveling from all over the country and the world, registration from all 50 states, and getting close to, if we haven’t hit it today, 20 different countries represented,” Wisniewski said.

WATCH: Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon set for this weekend

And just a few blocks aways from the finish line, 550,000 people will visit Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts over its four-day span, seeing art, trying fun foods and supporting small businesses.

“Economic impact when you combine everything together, we have the marathon, we have the arts festival, we have better barrel racing taking place out at our fairgrounds, and of course, we have the thunder,” said Wisniewski.

WATCH: Oklahoma City leaders hoping for boom from Thunder playoffs

Just the marathon and Festival of the Arts are expected to bring in more than $25 million with $13 million of that in tourism related spending. Altogether, Visit OKC officials said it’s one of the biggest weekends of the year for the city.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

“It’s a huge weekend for Oklahoma City and one that should be benefiting and impacting everyone,” said Wisniewski.

Some races for the Memorial Marathon start Saturday at 1 p.m., which was pushed back due to the potential for rain. The Festival of the Arts will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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