Third Annual COUFest Rocks Downtown Tulsa

Downtown Tulsa has only a few hours left to be the "Center of the Universe,” musically at least. The summer’s biggest music festival is wrapping up its final day.       

In the previous two years, COUFest hosted an estimated 42,000 people. Organizers say those number haven't gone down, and with each year that goes on, at the end of it all, it's all about fun and the music.

When there's plenty of live music to go around, the party can keep on going.

"This is a new Tulsa staple,” Stephanie Broach, the owner of Caz’s Chowhouse and Pub said. “It's a fantastic thing. It brings music together and anything that brings people together in our city that helps bring money for the city we're ecstatic to be a part of."

COUFest schedule, info

The two-day music festival brings in money and people from around the city state and country to see 100 bands.

The people are people here are reaping the benefits of the entertainment, but so are many of the restaurants and bars that line the streets.

“We're doing great,” Mary Ellen Slape said. “Everybody really looks forward to this weekend every year."

Slape is the Hunt club owner and says her spot is no stranger to live bands, and so far her business is booming. Around the corner at Caz's Chowhouse, business is doing well there, too.

“We are fingers crossed that today is going to be another slam Center of the Universe, we as business inside the grounds we love festivals like this,” Slape said.

COUFest organizers say it feels great knowing businesses benefit. And while having an average crowd size of 42,000 is wonderful, it is about more than that. It's about highlighting Tulsa and showing the world what the city has to offer.

“We're not trying to outgrow ourselves,” Philip Kaiser said. “We're still young. What we want is quality over quantity. We want a good experience for everybody."

The festival is expected to go on until at least 1 a.m. The headlining acts -- Panic! At the Disco and Three Days Grace -- are expected to take the stage at 10 p.m., then the after-party bands kick in.