Welcome Back “Icebreaker” Weekend
If this weekend is any indication, the only required formula to bring Grand Lake out of these record-breaking doldrums of winter is some warmer temperatures and those clear blue skies. While the annual tribute to love and romance made a significant contribution, with Valentine’s Day conveniently following on a Friday, the lake was crawling with friends we haven’t seen in a while to take advantage of the first truly beautiful weekend since the “Fall Ball.”
As the old cliché from the movie “Field of Dreams” proclaimed, “If we build it, they will come.” Grand Lake translation….Give Grand Lakers a reason to enjoy their lake to the max, regardless of the season, and past history tells us they are all in with Welcome Back Weekend and the annual Christmas Boat Parade being prime examples. And come the weekend of March 1st, the organizers and sponsors of this year’s Welcome Back Weekend plan to give them the best reason ever in the 22 year history of the annual re-opening of Grand Lake which was launched in 1992.
What started as a five stop poker run on the first Saturday in March, come rain, snow or shine, has been modified and expanded over time with this year’s event having the most attractions ever. Things will get underway at the Cherokee Yacht Club’s Hooker’s Sports Bar on Friday night with a Welcome Back “Icebreaker” cocktail party, open to the public, with the first drink being provided by the Cherokee Yacht Club, Tom McKibben and Joe Harwood.
Saturday has always provided the backbone of the weekend and gets underway with a Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by the “Girlfriends of the Airport,” getting underway at 8:00am at Arrowhead Yacht Club with the proceeds benefitting the South Grand Lake Regional Airport. Chef Mark and his staff from Arrowhead Yacht Club will be serving up pancakes and the trimmings until the scheduled start of the Poker Run. Breakfast is provided in exchange for a donation to the “Girlfriends of the Airport” with a minimum donation of $8.00 recommended. Volunteers will be on hand to pass out information pertaining to the poker run and the chamber’s Bootlegger Ball scheduled for that evening
Welcome Back “Icebreaker” Weekend Grand Lake OK
The Poker Run is scheduled to get underway at 10:00am with eight sponsored stops; Harbors View Marina, Dick Lanes of Grand Lake, Arrowhead Yacht Club, Cherokee Yacht Club & Marina, Grand Lake Boat Sales, Shangri-La Resort, Cedar Port Marina and Hammerhead Marina. Chips must be collected from each of the eight locations to be redeemed for six playing cards at Hooker’s Sports Bar beginning at 6:00pm. A participant must be 21 years or older to play. The best five cards will be utilized by participant for their best hand and the winners will be announced at the Chamber’s Bootlegger’s Ball going on right next door.
This year’s Welcome Back “Icebreaker” Weekend, prizes are bigger and better than ever; the first place hand will claim a $2500 travel voucher, second place will be a dual membership in Arrowhead & Cherokee Yacht Club’s valued at $1400 and third place will be $250 of fuel from Grand Lake Boat Sales/HiLift Marina. There will also be a drawing featuring the “Biggest Losers” Grand style to claim gifts donated by the poker stop sponsors. A big thank you is extended to the poker run sponsors who make this event special in so many ways… Harbors View Marina, Dick Lanes of Grand Lake, Arrowhead Yacht Club, Cherokee Yacht Club & Marina, Grand Lake Boat Sales, Shangri-La Resort, Cedar Port Marina and Hammerhead Marina.
The Bootlegger’s Ball promises to put a grand cap on an evening of fun getting underway at 6:00pm. Seventy-five years ago those workers who brought the Pensacola Dam from a dream to reality were not only sipping their moonshine on Whiskey Point, they were rapidly closing in on their task. In recognition of their contribution to the Grand Lake we enjoy today, the Grand Lake Area Chamber is dedicating their annual Welcome Back Weekend event as a salute to a truly remarkable feat. The Bootlegger’s Ball, A Speakeasy Soirée, is set Saturday night at Cherokee Yacht Club.
While the location of Welcome Back “Icebreaker” Weekend, the salute will be complete with all the modern day yacht club amenities, the operation will be hosted in a 1930’s setting when drinking establishments were definitely found behind closed doors and subject to police raids from time-to-time.
Some will say the high point of the event evening will be a review of the shenanigans which reportedly took place on Whiskey Point, by MC Mike Williams, and the introduction of “Grand Shine” to commemorate the work effort on the project, while others will argue for the announcement of the big winners in the annual Poker Run.
Other activities will be a silent auction featuring Dam Site memorabilia and other items donated by the Grand Lake business community. Other plans include not only the introduction of Grand Shine at the Bootlegger’s Ball, but a full jazzy swing band will be performing, poker girls will be walking around for your enjoyment and entertainment for amusement only, jail house photo booth with props, great appetizers provided by Cherokee Yacht Club and of course, live auction items will all be part of the soiree – that is until the party gets busted by the fuzz.
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased now at GrandLakeAreaChamber.org or call 918-782-3214 and get the password. The ball will begin at 6:00 PM at Cherokee Yacht Club, 33152 Browning Lane, Cleora, OK.
But that’s not all…On Sunday, Arrowhead Yacht Club will be hosting an “Icebreaker’s Brunch” which will also be open to the public. It a three day re-opening of the lake like we’ve never seen before and any real Grand Laker won’t want to miss out on the fun. Look out Old Man Winter…here we come.
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