By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
EL RENO – The best in Oklahoma beer, wine and barbecue is coming to central Canadian County … all in one place, on one special day this month.
The inaugural Oklahoma Wine, Brew & BBQ Festival will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Canadian County Expo & Event Center, 3001 Jensen Road East.
Participating wineries and breweries will be inside an 18,000-square-foot facility and the barbecue will be outdoors.
Attendees are invited to sample some of the best wine, beer and BBQ in this area.
There will be “lots of BBQ flavors, wineries, breweries, and distilleries from across Oklahoma promoting their businesses in one place,” said Nathan Smith, director of the Canadian County Expo & Event Center.
“We’ll have handmade and Oklahoma-themed shopping.”
Event admission is free; tasting wristbands are on sale.
The Canadian County Expo & Event Center – which opened in July 2021 – is partnering with the Yukon Chamber of Commerce to host this first-ever Oklahoma Wine, Brew & BBQ Fest.
This event is produced by the Canadian County Expo & Center as part of its C3 (Canadian County Cares) program.
“Much like the Community Night Gala we produced in March, this is another in-house event created to bring folks to our county and raise money for a non-profit inside of Canadian County while advertising our facility and creating some great attractions for those who live in our communities,” Smith explained.
This year’s beneficiary is the Yukon Chamber of Commerce.
Confirmed vendors include Oklahoma Stock Gifts & Accessories, Indian Motorcycles, Gourmet Beef Jerky, Tumbleweed Alley Hat Co., and more.
“There will be plenty of opportunity for folks to get a head start on Christmas shopping,” Smith said.
‘OPEN’ BBQ CONTEST
The Oklahoma Wine, Brew & BBQ Fest at the Canadian County Expo Center will feature a barbecue contest.
This is an “open show,” which means anyone who registers in time may compete in the BBQ competition. Entries will be judged based on taste, tenderness and appearance.
“Businesses with a membership in one of the Canadian County Chambers can enter for free and promote their business while having some serious fun,” Smith explained. “Those who are not members can still compete by registering and paying the entry fee.”
Find out more at www.canadiancountyexpo.org
Other highlights Oct. 15 will be a concert from 6:30-7:30 p.m. by Hunter Thomas & Band, a drawing for a Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill provided by Ross Seed Co., and a “Kid Zone” on-site.
“We’ll also be streaming the OU game on the big screens inside the climate-controlled Event Center,” Smith said.
Event sponsors are BancFirst (“Ranch” sponsor), Grassland WAGYU (“Pit” sponsor), Tractor Bobs (“Froth” sponsor), Integris Canadian Valley Hospital (“Chord” sponsor), and The Yukon Progress.
Taster wristbands are $24 each for wine, beer and BBQ; or $12 each for BBQ only.
“It’s free to attend, and anyone can purchase food or drinks while they’re here and attend the concert and shop,” Smith noted. “Those who purchase the wristbands are the ones who can get access to the samples.”
To buy wristbands or register to complete, visit www.canadiancountyexpo.org or call (405) 422-5400.
GREAT IMPACT
The Oklahoma Wine, Brew & BBQ Fest will be the latest large event presented at the $20 million Canadian County Expo & Event Center, east of Highway 81 just south of Interstate 40.
The festival “brings folks to our area who are spending dollars in our community,” Smith said. “Tickets have been sold to folks as far away as Dallas. Our hotels, shops and business owners feel that impact.
“Our community gets to enjoy fun in our own back yard, and it helps produce funds for an entity that is focused on furthering the cause of economic growth.”
There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the Oct. 15th Oklahoma Wine, Brew & BBQ Fest.
The Canadian County Expo & Event Center’s director has been to BBQ competitions where it was way too difficult to find something to eat or even sit down with a meal.
Smith promises this one will be different:
“You can come shop and try beverage samples inside the climate-controlled Event Center, taste BBQ samples, buy a BBQ meal if a sample is not enough to fill you up, let the kids play on the inflatables or get a sno-cone, check out a motorcycle, try your luck on the Marines’ pull-up bar, test your aim in the axe-throwing trailer, grab a bag of kettle corn, and hear some music.”
