Woodward Celebrates Four Wins at 2026 Red Carpet Country Awards

Woodward was well represented at the annual Red Carpet Country Conference on August 25, 2026, at Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City, bringing home four awards recognizing excellence in tourism, marketing, events, and agritourism.

Visit Woodward received two honors during the awards program, earning Best Website for VisitWoodward.com and Outstanding New Event or Festival for Woodward’s Día de los Muertos Celebration.

Two additional Woodward-based attractions were also recognized: Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum received the award for Best Brochure / Publication / Newsletter for its rack card, while Kenny Farms was named the recipient of the Outstanding Agritourism Award.

“These awards are a tremendous reflection of the creativity, hard work, and collaboration happening throughout Woodward,” said Megan Johnston, City of Woodward’s Tourism Director. “Tourism is truly a community effort, and it is exciting to see so many different organizations and attractions from our area recognized on a regional level.”

VisitWoodward.com Named Best Website

VisitWoodward.com earned the Best Website Award for its exceptional design, user experience, functionality, and ability to effectively connect visitors and residents with everything happening in Woodward.

Following the transition from the Woodward Convention & Visitors Bureau to Visit Woodward, the website became the centerpiece of a broader effort to modernize Woodward’s tourism presence and create a stronger, more recognizable destination identity.

Rather than functioning as a static online brochure, VisitWoodward.com is actively maintained as a real-time tourism and community resource. The website is continually updated with events, seasonal content, new photography and multimedia, attraction and business information, community announcements, original editorial content, and ongoing search engine optimization improvements.

A defining feature of the website is the continued growth of the Tourism Insider blog, which provides story-driven content featuring upcoming events, local businesses and attractions, seasonal travel ideas, weekend activity guides, hidden gems, and regional experiences.

Together, these features help the website serve a wide variety of audiences, from travelers planning Oklahoma getaways and families looking for things to do, to outdoor enthusiasts, rodeo attendees, business partners, and local residents.

The website’s responsive design and easy navigation allow users to discover Woodward attractions, events, dining, shopping, lodging, and trip-planning resources across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Día de los Muertos Celebration Recognized as Outstanding New Event

Woodward’s Día de los Muertos Celebration was honored with the Outstanding New Event or Festival Award, recognizing the event’s remarkable growth and impact in just its second year.

Created to celebrate Hispanic culture and tradition, foster inclusion, and introduce a distinctive new cultural tourism experience to northwest Oklahoma, the celebration has quickly become an important addition to Woodward’s fall event calendar.

Attendance doubled from the event’s inaugural year in 2024 to its second year in 2025, prompting organizers to move the celebration to the larger Woodward County Event Center to accommodate continued growth and improve accessibility and the overall guest experience.

The 2025 celebration featured live entertainment from Mariachi Orgullo de America, traditional Matachines dancers, DJ Vega, educational displays about Día de los Muertos traditions, immersive décor, interactive photo opportunities, authentic cultural experiences, and a special appearance by Catrina Bones in a custom Woodward-themed dress.

A major component of the event’s success was its fully bilingual marketing campaign which was the first of its kind for a large-scale destination-led event in Woodward. Promotional materials and outreach were intentionally developed in both English and Spanish, helping create a welcoming and accessible experience while reaching audiences that had historically been underrepresented in local tourism programming.

The recognition highlights the event’s success in combining cultural authenticity, innovative outreach, measurable growth, and meaningful community engagement.

Additional Woodward Attractions Honored

Woodward’s success at the Red Carpet Country Awards extended beyond Visit Woodward.

The Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum received the Best Brochure / Publication / Newsletter Award for its rack card, recognizing excellence in creativity, design, content, and the ability to effectively communicate the museum’s story to visitors.

Meanwhile, Kenny Farms was honored with the Outstanding Agritourism Award for its continued growth and contributions to tourism in northwest Oklahoma.

Since opening in 2016, Kenny Farms has become a beloved seasonal destination for families across the region. The farm combines agriculture and entertainment through interactive activities, pumpkin experiences, outdoor recreation, and educational opportunities for school groups.

In 2025, Kenny Farms continued investing in improvements to enhance guest experiences, including expanded activities, improved traffic flow and parking, and enhanced amenities designed to serve visitors of all ages. Through strategic marketing and a growing regional draw from Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, Kenny Farms continues to strengthen Woodward’s position as a destination for family-friendly agritourism.

A Strong Showing for Woodward Tourism

The four awards represent the diversity of tourism experiences available in Woodward, from cultural celebrations and digital destination marketing to museums, agricultural attractions, and family traditions.

Together, the recognition demonstrates the continued growth of Woodward’s tourism industry and the commitment of local organizations, businesses, attractions, and community partners to creating memorable experiences for both residents and visitors.

For more information about attractions, events, dining, lodging, and things to do in Woodward, as always, visit VisitWoodward.com.