10/30/2026
🎃 FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS… THANK YOU! ❤️
What a night! What started as an idea turned into something so much bigger, and we are still riding the high from an incredible evening at the Southeast Expo Center & Motor Speedway!
45 trunks, vendors, the Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Corrections, homemade games, inflatables, a hayride, Movie in the Park, candy (did we mention CANDY?! 🍬), FREE pizza, FREE water, and FREE popcorn!
But here’s the thing… an event like this doesn’t happen because of one organization. It happens because a community comes together. And boy, did ours show up!
We have a LOT of people to thank, and we want to make sure they know just how much they mean to us.
❤️ McAlester Tourism– Where do we even begin? This event would not have happened without you. From the very beginning of our collaboration to the countless hours, planning, and hard work leading up to event night. Thank you for believing in this idea, partnering with us, and supplying Movie in the Park. We couldn’t have done it without you!
❤️Jump and Slide Inflatables - Always willing to “jump” on board and be part of whatever we’re cooking up! Thank you for continuing to support our events and helping make memories for our community.
❤️ McAlester Pepsi – Thank you for supplying the water and helping us keep our community hydrated!
❤️ Occasions On The Go By Donna – Thank you for donating your time, creating and donating the BEST photo opportunities and entryway, and transforming my golf cart into what I personally consider BEST IN SHOW! 😂 You went above and beyond!
❤️ Little Caesars of McAlester – When the Expo called yesterday needing 90 pizzas, you didn’t even bat an eye! From the first phone call to pickup, your service was top-notch. Thank you for jumping in and helping us feed our community!
❤️ Tim Scally and buddies – Thank you for supplying the tractor, trailer, and hay, and for driving and managing the hayride. You gentlemen were top-notch, and we appreciate you more than you know!
❤️ Ross Selman – Thank you for supplying the hay for Movie in the Park!
❤️ Trevor Tannehill – Thank you for always being willing to jump in wherever you’re needed. From picking up to delivering pizzas, you never hesitate to help. We appreciate you!
❤️ LeeAnn Gragert- The games wouldn’t have happened without you and your girls! Thank you for taking that on!
❤️ Southern sounds for keeping the music going and making all the important announcements!
❤️ Our Southeast Expo Center and Motor Speedway staff – THANK YOU! Thank you for being up for the challenge, rolling with the punches, jumping in wherever needed, and never skipping a beat. There were a lot of moving pieces, a lot of last-minute details, and a whole lot of work. We survived, y’all! 😂 And we did it together!
❤️ Our 45 trunks – From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! Thank you for taking a chance on our first year, accepting the assignment, decorating, showing up, and making this event what it was. You helped create an evening full of smiles, laughter, and memories. Seeing those little faces light up made every bit of it worthwhile.
❤️ Our County Commissioners and their office – Thank you for your continued support of events like these at the Expo and for recognizing the importance of bringing our community together.
❤️ And finally, OUR COMMUNITY! – Thank you for spending your evening with us. Thank you for showing up, supporting the event, being patient with us as we navigated our first year, and making this night so special. We hope your families made some wonderful memories!
We know there may be someone we’ve accidentally left off this list, and please know it is absolutely not intentional. We’re still on cloud nine, and our hearts are just a little bigger tonight!
This event was a reminder that it takes more than a venue, a budget, or an idea to make something special. It takes people. Businesses. Organizations. Volunteers. Families. Neighbors. People willing to say YES and lend a helping hand.
That’s what community is all about.
From all of us at the Southeast Expo Center & Motor Speedway, thank you for allowing us to be part of making memories right here at home.
And if we’re being honest… I think we might just have to do it again next year! 😉🎃
McAlester, YOU showed up. And we are SO grateful! ❤️
