Most people have no idea where Copan, Oklahoma, is or that the town even exists. Though, those of us who know about the small town, know that it’s a special place. There are many of us who do not live in Copan (or Oklahoma for that matter) who were introduced to the town by Dewayne Bryan, who has hosted various events at Dad’s Copan Garage throughout the past year. There are many people, myself included, who drive quite a distance to attend these events. (Actually, my drive is on the shorter side — just a little over 6 hours. I know some who drive 12 or more hours for these events). Just a couple of weeks ago, I made my fourth trip to downtown Copan for another gathering at Dad’s Copan Garage.
This event was called the “Winning with Grace Benefit Poker Run and Silent Auction for Lisa Cole Bryan”. This event helped to raise money for Lisa Cole Bryan and her battle with breast cancer. To help raise money, there were various activities that attendees could participate in including a poker run, a BBQ contest, a cornhole tournament, a silent auction, and a live auction. There was also event-specific merchandise for sale including shirts, bracelets, hats, and koozies. Additionally, the meat cooked for the BBQ contest was served for dinner among delicious sides and desserts. (If whoever made the pasta salad is reading this — I’ll do anything for the recipe).
While all these activities were going on, various talented musicians kept live music playing all day. These musicians included Dylan Irvin, Robbi Bell, Dylan Schrader, Addi Gastelum, Colten Glover, and Alisha Kay Fryar. (Many more artists shared their talents with us that day; these are just the names that I can remember). The live music is one of my favorite aspects of all of the events hosted at Dad’s Copan Garage. These events help expose smaller artists to a larger audience and also help them to gain experience with live performances. As a listener, it is so refreshing to be introduced to new artists and their styles and talents. Also, keep your eye on the names mentioned above — they’re going places!
Another one of my favorite aspects of these events at Dad’s Copan Garage is how friendly everyone is. At every Copan event that I’ve been to, I’ve made even more friends. Even as someone who is rather introverted, I find it easy at these events to strike up a conversation with someone I haven’t met before. In my experience, all the people I’ve met at these events have been super welcoming, helpful, and friendly. Honestly, I’ve met some of the best people I know at these events!
I would say that the Winning with Grace Benefit was a great success. There was a great turnout and it was the largest crowd that I have seen at Dad’s Copan Garage in the four events I’ve attended. I don’t have specific numbers but I know that we were able to raise quite a bit of money for this great cause. In addition to raising a lot of money, everyone seemed to have a great time and, thankfully, we had great weather for it.
Here are a few photos I took at the event:
If you wish to keep up with Lisa Cole Bryan and her battle with cancer, check out the Winning With Grace Team Lisa Facebook group. This group provides timely updates on Lisa and her battle and it also gives you opportunities to support Lisa monetarily if you feel so inclined.
I can’t wait to return to Copan for another event, hopefully later this year. If you’re interested in learning more about Copan, Oklahoma, or if you want to stay updated about upcoming events, check out the Copan Garage Facebook group. Also, check out Copan Garage on YouTube to see exclusive clips from events at Dad’s Copan Garage.
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