DH)--Years in the making, a hotel in downtown Enid is open. After a decade of fits and starts, as well as a number of different developers, Enid’s Best Western GL? hotel, in the 100 block of West Maine, will begin taking online reservations today for visitors to book one of its 96 rooms. The four-floor hotel’s exterior is stone-gray, as requested by the city of Enid. A single towering blue column featuring the GL? name will light up at night, visible from U.S. 412. The hotel includes dining area where hot breakfast will be available each morning, a board room, a workout room and a laundry room, as well as ADA-compliant hotel rooms for hearing-impaired people and wheelchair users. A bar will open once the liquor license with the state is finalized. Enid Mayor George Pankonin is set to be the Best Western’s first official guest checking in this afternoon, while a grand opening is set for next Friday, April 30. In anticipation of the opening, Visit Enid already has negotiated two state conferences coming to Enid in the next couple months. Both Oklahoma Transit Association and Oklahoma Game Wardens Association needed rooms for their conferences at Stride Bank Center.
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RD)--The 16th annual Hanor Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ is expecting up to 50 teams from throughout the region this weekend to cook and be judged in the pursuit of cash and titles. The public is welcome to tour the cooking stations as teams prepare their entries Friday and the morning of Saturday in the parking lots east of Stride Bank Center. As part of the festivities on Friday the Bacon Bash will feature teams to compete for the title of champion, using pork products supplied by title sponsor Hanor Family of Companies, which is based in Enid. The bacon cook-off will benefit the United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, whose annual chili cook-off fundraiser was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With one $10 ticket, a guest will be able to taste 10 bacon creations from the 15 cooks competing in the cook-off. The Bacon Bash begins at 5:30 p.m. in the mezzanine of the Stride Bank Center. In addition, with the Stride Bank Center as the event’s financial backer this year, both a bar and live music entertainment will be around for cook-off patrons to enjoy. All proceeds from the event will go to United Way. There also will be a kid’s cooking competition, a dance sponsored by 4RKids and more. On Saturday, Enid Noon AMBUCS will hold a lunch for $8 a plate from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the grand ballroom on the first floor. Tickets will be available at the door. There will be curb-side pickup available on the east side of Stride Bank Center.
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KE)--Kites Over Enid 2021 will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Richard Dermer Memorial Flying Field behind Autry Technology Center on West Willow. April is National Kite Month, and the goal of Kites Over Enid is to introduce, or reintroduce, the joy of flying a kite to children and adults alike. Bring your own kite or purchase one on site and join the fun at this annual kite flying festival. There will be open flying times, special demonstrations, candy drops for the kids, food trucks and special activities on the ground.
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TS)--The Spring Tri-State Music Festival will be next week. The activities are set for April 28th - 30th. Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Show Choir, Chorus and Drumline will take place, but because of the Covid-19 virus, the Honor Choir and Honor Band will not take place this year. The annual parade has been moved to October 2nd, to coincide with the field marching contest.
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