OKC-area events, news: Historical ghost tour; Boots, Bandanas and Barbecue benefit and more

Edmond historical ghost tours

EDMOND — The Edmond Historic Preservation Trust is hosting a ghost tour 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Shannon Miller Park located at S Jackson Street and E First Street, near the Edmond Library.

Tour guides will lead you through different ghost scenes in the park, and you'll hear documented stories from five of Edmond’s historical figures, including Elma Childers, early Land Run matriarch; Earl Rodkey, founder of the Flour Mill; W.Z. Spearman, owner of three historic movie theaters; Milton “Kickingbird” Reynolds, first editor of the Edmond Evening Sun; and Carrie Nation, prohibitionist against saloons on Two Street.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 at the Edmond Historical Society and Museum, 431 S Boulevard, or the night of the event. Children 10 and under are free.

For more information, go to https://visitedmondok.com/events/2476/edmond-historical-ghost-tours.htm

Boots, Bandanas and Barbecue benefit at the Governor’s Mansion

Oklahomans are invited to celebrate with Gov. Kevin Stitt and first lady Sarah Stitt to benefit Friends of the Mansion, a nonprofit organization that strives to ensure the preservation and upkeep of the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion. The Boots, Bandanas and Barbecue is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Governor's Mansion, 820 NE 23.

Guests will be treated to local cuisine, catered by Head Country BBQ, beverages provided by local Oklahoma beer vendors and live music entertainment by Tulsa alternative country group Voth. Returning this year will be the silent dessert auction.

Tickets to the evening event are $75 per person and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/BootsBandanas2022.

For more information, call 405-557-0198 or email friendsofthemansion@gmail.com.

Drone pilot course at OCCC

Oklahoma City Community College is offering a course that can help students get their commercial drone pilot certification. The class is eight weeks long and starts Oct. 17.

The class will examine the components and objectives of the National Airspace System and the regulations of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) flight operations. Students will also prepare for their FAA Part 107 Certification, as well as have the opportunity to do some hands-on drone piloting.

For more information on qualifications or to register, call 405-682-7535, or go to https://www.occc.edu/registration/.

Learning centers are opening in Oklahoma City

The Learning Experience, a child care and early education center, is opening its first Oklahoma City location this fall followed by four more locations across the area over the next year.

The first location in the Quail Springs area is at 15008 Gambels Trail Drive. Each location will be a brand-new 10,000-square-foot building with up to a 5,000-square-foot outdoor playground, employing roughly 30 staff members and certified teachers.

The Learning Experience provides child care and early education for children between 6 weeks and 6 years of age. Its preschool curriculum features engaging educational characters like "Bubbles the Elephant" and teaches children everything from the ABCs and 123s, to science and sign language, to lifelong lessons on the value of kindness, inclusion, and helping others in the community.

For more information, call 888-865-7775 or go to https://thelearningexperience.com/.

UCO adds an indoor labyrinth

EDMOND — The University of Central Oklahoma added a second spot dedicated to reflection and meditation with the opening of its second labyrinth painted on the gym floor of Wantland Hall, on Central’s campus, 100 N University Drive.

The painted seven-circuit walking path was designed with the university’s mission in mind, offering students opportunities for transformational learning, promoting stress management and relaxation.

In 2013, UCO became the first public university in Oklahoma to provide on campus a labyrinth, which is an outdoor, paved 11-circuit walking path at Heartland Plaza, west of the Y Chapel of Song. This makes UCO one of 12 institutions in the world with a labyrinth and one of seven institutions in the world with an indoor labyrinth.

To learn more, go to www.uco.edu/ceps/departments/khs/campus-labyrinth/.

To be considered for this column, please email news and events with photos to DLindauer@Oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City metro-area happenings: News and events