Featured speakers are Steven Barnes, general manager of the Chisholm Trail Expo Center in Enid, Melyn Johnson, program director for Main Street Guymon, and Rich Cantillon, president of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Office in Ponca City. A round table discussion on special events will include Karen Wilcox of Perry, Jim Curtiss of Woodward, Kim Little of Arbuckle Country, Jeff Fritz of Watonga, Jimmy Berkenbill of Hennessey and Wayne LaMunyon of Waynoka.

The Conference will be held at the Northwest Technology Center, at 1801 South 11th Street, in Alva, Oklahoma.

The event will run from 9 am to 2:30 pm on Oct 18. The registration deadline is October 12.

All the details are included in the Registration Brochure (PDF).

You are invited to come and help celebrate!

The parade starts at 10 am, and is just one of many activities.

At numerous stations, children preschool through elementary age will be able to enjoy hands-on activities and make a number of items to take home. These activities are designed so children can have fun while learning about the world around them. One station will be a large nature display. Other stations will feature “Animal Skins and Skulls”, “Petting Zoo”, “Trees”, “Rocks”, “Plants” “Early Life in Oklahoma”, “Oklahoma State Symbols” and many other interesting items.

The Alva Public Library will display books that children can check out to continue exploring these subjects. At 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M., the Alva Police Department K-9 Unit will make presentations using their drug dogs. At 11:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M., presentations will be made by the Alva Fire Department demonstrating the Jaws of Life.

Come join the fun!

For more information, call (580) 571-1123 – Click here for a printable EXPO Flier

Red Carpet Country is looking for photos of unique attractions, events, landscapes, etc., of this 16-county area of Oklahoma for the purpose of promoting Oklahoma’s Red Carpet Country as a tourist destination. All photos must be taken in Red Carpet Country (Alfalfa, Beaver, Blaine, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Major, Noble, Texas, Woods, and Woodward Counties) within the years of 2010 and 2011.

There are three divisions that photos may be submitted to. There are two divisions for adults; one for professionals, those who work in media, have sold photos, work in photographic studios and/or earn any money through photography; and a general category for non-professionals over 18 years of age.

A school age division invites photographs taken by students in grades K through 12.

There are several categories of subject matter that you may submit a photo to: Seasonal; Wildlife; Wildflowers; Events/Activities in Red Carpet Country; Lifestyle in Red Carpet Country; Landscapes; Historic Buildings; Children; Golden-age; Human Interest; Hobbies; Pets; Other.

Individuals may enter one photo in each category in their division.

A first, second, and third place will be awarded in each category and division. An overall prize of first ($250), second ($125), and third ($75) will be awarded.

Click here for the complete rules and instructions for submitting your photo.

Deadline to enter is August 1, 2011!

Members of the Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Club recently met to finalize plans for the 18th Annual Ponca City Herb Festival. Club members are front row: Melinda Peasae, Betty Caveny, and Eileen Frazier. Back row: Charlene Cole, Mary Ann Potter, Bobbie Aupperle and Jan Nalon.

This year’s festival will be held at the L.A. Cann Memorial Botanical Gardens, on Saturday, June 4th from 8 am – 4 pm. The free festival has grown throughout its 18 years, and will have over 100 vendor booths this year.

Betty Caveny, chairperson of this year’s event, said that booth selection has been quite difficult. “We have so many people wanting to be in our festival, and it’s very difficult selecting the final 100 that can participate. And as always, we’re working to ensure that we have a great variety of food booths for the hungry crowds” said Caveny.

Scheduled for this year’s event are several free seminars including Dutch oven cooking, “Cooking with Herbs” and the popular pie-baking contest (attendees get to eat the pies!) which made its debut last year. The Children’s Activities Area, another popular attraction, will return, with several hands-on activities scheduled, including creating garden hats, as well as planting flowers in recycled children’s shoes and recycled paper garden pots.

Entertainment will include crowd-favorite, Inkapirka as well as the students from Miss Suzi’s Singing School. Sweet Harmony, a local favorite new to the festival this year, will entertain the Cann Home patio crowd in the morning. Miss Elsie Cann will also be on hand (Carol Bouldin) to give an oral history of the Cann Gardens in the afternoon.

With the growth of the Herb Festival, the Sage Rosemary and Thyme Club has put out a request for volunteers, either individuals or groups, to help with set-up on Friday or tear-down on Saturday following the event. Volunteer coordinator Eileen Frazier can be reached at 580-762-7559 .

For more information, visit the Ponca City Herb Festival online or call Ponca City Tourism at (580) 765-4400.

Please join us this year for the 2011 Walk/Run 4RKids, September 24, 2011 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma. There will be food, games and lots of fun activities! The event begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends early afternoon. For more information you can visit our website at www.4rkids.com.

This years rodeo will feature the 2010 TCRA stock contractor of the year, McCloy Rodeo Company.  To help create a festive atmosphere for our 75th year, we are planning many special additions to an already successful rodeo. These additions will include a wide selection of food and merchandise vendors and FREE admission to the rodeo dance each night with your paid admission to the rodeo. We will also be giving away a rodeo princess saddle in addition to the queen saddle that is awarded each year. Collector addition 75th anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase each night of the rodeo.

To find out more information or learn about attending the rodeo check out their brand new website: http://www.cimarronriverstampede.com/

Communities and tourism based businesses in Red Carpet Country are invited to bring a display or promote an attraction, business or event in their community during the Red Carpet Country Tourism Conference. It’s free to participants.

If you or your community are interested in hosting a display please contact the Red Carpet Country office at 1-800-447-2698.

Come and show off your best attractions or events and share with other Red Car-pet Country communities!

Please download and view our brochure with registration information and the program agenda.

The event will begin Friday evening with gourd dancing at 6:00, followed by the Grand Entry at 7:00. Friday evening will also include the princess selection, intertribal dancing, tiny tots contest, and golden age contests.

Saturday’s event will begin with gourd dancing at 1:00, followed by the Grand Entry at 3:00. A traditional meal will be served at 5:30. The meal will then be followed by a Grand Entry at 7:00, followed by intertribal dancing and adult contests.

The Pow Wow will have plenty of food vendors as well as Native American Arts & Crafts. There is no admission charge, and parking and camping spaces are free. For more information contact Kristi Brown, Ponca City Tourism (580-765-4400) or go to www.poncacitytourism.com.