By: Ali Kirtley, Enid Travel Advocate

I’m Ali Kirtley, your Enid Travel Advocate for Visit Enid, and I’m excited to spill the beans on my absolute favorite five events happening year-round in the spectacular Enid, Oklahoma! If you know me, it’s no secret these are my favorite events to go to:

1. Enid Outlaw Games: Slam Dunking Fun!

• • Okay, confession time – I’m not exactly a sports fanatic, but you’ve got to catch the adrenaline rush at the Enid Outlaw Basketball Games! Whether it’s cheering with friends or bonding with family, the Outlaws games never disappoint for a good time. These hoop heroes are not just court wizards but also community champs, hosting cool Meet & Greets, basketball day camps, and other events in the community. I still cherish some posters I have from the first season of the Enid Outlaws with OG Lindy Waters’ autograph, from pre-Thunder era!
  • Grab your tickets at Stride Bank Center or the Enid Outlaws’ website – every seat is a front-row experience! Also, for more slam-dunk updates, check out their full-listing of their social media on their website: www.enidoutlaws.com.

2. Main Street Enid First Fridays

1. • When it comes to FREE local shindigs, Main Street Enid takes the cake with their fabulous First Fridays. The whole community comes out on one Friday evening a month, from April until October. My absolute favorite – May’s First Friday Fiesta which is the ultimate Cinco de Mayo celebration – think food trucks, authentic music, and dancing but of course the best parts are the street tacos, margs, and smiles!
   • Wanna be part of the action? MSE posts their First Friday details and MSE is always looking for Volunteers to help their events, info awaits on their website: https://www.mainstreetenid.org/

3. Enid Cars & Coffee: Fueling Your Fun!

1. • Rev up for FREE fun at Enid Cars & Coffee events – Our local Cars & Coffee club likes to keep up the excitement by alternating morning meet-ups at Blaze’s BBQ and cruisin’ evening events on the Van Buren boulevard. Waymaker Coffee isn’t far from the parking lot of the morning Cars & Coffee events too if you’re a fan of specialized local brews. Whether you have a hot rod to show off or just enjoy seeing the cool cars in town you’ll enjoy bringing the family out to see what awesome rides are here in town.
   • Learn more about the schedule on Enid Cars & Coffee Facebook Page.

4. Enid Speedway Races: Fast Lane at the Dirt Track!

1. • Zooming into the car theme, Enid can also boast exciting dirt track races at the “fastest 3/8 mile track in the Midwest”. I love to go with my friends and family to watch not only the local the dirt track racers but also racers who travel from states away to race at our local Enid Speedway in series such as the Sooner Late Model Series, ASCS Sooner Region Sprints, OCRS Sprint Series, and URSS Sprints. Car classes range from the Sooner Late Models, Factory Stocks, Sport Mods, B-Mods, Hot Shots and more! With the Oklahoma wind you might leave with some dirt in your hair, but you’ll enjoy the excitement with the crowd from the races.
   • Get in the fast lane by checking Enid Speedway’s Facebook Page.

5. Enid Comic Con: Where Nostalgia Meets Creativity!

• • Nostalgia and creativity go hand in hand at Enid’s Comic Con. I always love to see the exciting costumes that people take hours to create. From superheroes to villains, we all have that favorite show our childhood we remember well. I love to see the fandom from some of my favorites and relive the nostalgia!

So come out into the Enid community and cruise into the action, catch a game, savor delightful treats, and dive into nostalgia with all the events that Enid has to offer! Enid is calling – let the adventures begin!

About the Author:

Ali Kirtley has been a resident of Meno, OK nearly all of her life and is a huge advocate for Northwest Oklahoma. She currently serves as the Marketing Director for PT Coupling and has five years in the manufacturing industry paired with 10 years of experience in the communication field with an emphasis in education.

She loves to live life to the fullest, and participate in as much as possible, to help promote a positive community and make every moment count.

In May 2022, Ali received the award for “Top 10 Women of Influence” through E-Town Magazine; and was one of 11 winners awarded for the Manufacturing, Industry, Trades and Agriculture Category for “NextGen Under 30 Award”.

She is involved on various committees and boards such as NAHAD Technology Committee, IDCO Women’s Group (Chair), PT Coupling’s THRIVE Committee (Chair), NWOSU Foundation & Alumni Association (President), Division of Business at NWOSU – Advisory Council (Member), and Gloss Mountain Cruisers in Fairview (Marketing & Communications Chair). She also volunteers on committees for Main Street Enid, Big Cruise & Car Show (Alva, OK), Miracle League, and various other community events.

Ali graduated from Leadership Greater Enid (Class 30) in May 2021, and previously served on boards and committees such as the Enid Young Professionals, INTEGRIS Bass President’s Philanthropic Council, Enid Women in Business Advisory Committee, 2020 Census Committee for Northwest Oklahoma, Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association and Society of Professional Journalists.

When Ali isn’t in the office, volunteering her time, playing with her dogs or studying for her Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification, she enjoys being on the family farm or participating in events in Enid, Fairview, and Alva, Oklahoma as well as drag racing her 2000 z28 Camaro.

 To learn more about the Enid Travel Advocate program click here.