COVID-19 caused the cancellation of last year’s Hennessey Wine & Chocolate Festival, but this year’s outdoor event is set for Saturday, Oct. 16.

The date for the festival was decided by the Hennessey United Association board of directors Thursday evening.

Vendors may register with Hennessey United board members Wes Hardin (wine, 405-853-0115) or Teresa Oliver (chocolate, 405-368-8741).

The festival will continue to be held at Memorial Park on Main Street and times for this year’s festival, and other details will be decided by the non-profit group next month.

It was first meeting in several months, and President Stacy Cline hosted the board at her family’s new Wellness Mercantile business on Main Street.

Other board members at the meeting were Vice President Oliver, Scotty Hajek, Dagan Hardin, Mariana Gonzalez, Kaden Mitchell and Barb Walter. Absent were Treasurer Tammy Lott Hopkins, Secretary Cathy Howard and Wes Hardin.

Cruisin’ Car Show April 18

Hennessey restaurant owner Tony Blackburn was at the meeting and asked to use United’s stage, tables and canopies for a Sunday, April 18, car show in Hennessey.

He is a member of Cruisin’ Oklahoma, a statewide group of car owners. He said members enjoy driving their cars and motorcycles all over the state and will stage a Hennessey show to get people in town to help restaurants that have had “hard times” due to COVID.

The show will be from 1-6 p.m. and there will be vendors in Memorial Park for a nominal fee “but no food vendors. This is strictly to help the restaurants here,” said Blackburn (405-503-8173), owner of Golden Chick.

He also asked that United donate its time with an Enid radio station to have a remote show in the park that afternoon and the board gave it an approval.

Blackburn said he’d also have a band playing in the park that afternoon and he has the sound equipment needed.

In addition to the car show, there will be off-site helicopter rides for $40 and a burnout competition on First Street off Main.

He said the car show is free and there could be 250-500 vehicles.

They will start their cruise in Oklahoma City and drive through Okarche and Kingfisher on their way to Hennessey.

He said it’s important for all of the cars to be able to stay together and he will check with the sheriff’s office to see if they can help with that where there are street lights.

He is trying to line up parking at businesses that will be closed that Sunday afternoon and with local police who said they will have eight officers at the event.

Blackburn also asked for United volunteers to help with shuttles for people who come to see the show and Hajek said he has two vehicles that could be used.

Others said they will help where needed.

Gonzalez suggested Blackburn contact HHS Counselor Jill Moery to see if National Honor Society students who need community service hours would want to volunteer.

Leadership Program

Walter said she’d talked to HHS Principal Angela Avila and the school would again like for United to conduct a leadership class for high school seniors this fall.

It was canceled for this year’s seniors due to COVID.

Enel Energy sponsored the program for two years and Walter said she has been unable to make contact with their representative, but plans to talk with them Soon.