By Chip Chandler — Producer
Here's a quick take on your 10 best entertainment bets in the next 10 days.
1. Sounds of Summer
June's the perfect time to enjoy these outdoor concerts. Amarillo Botanical Gardens' annual Music in the Gardens series will continue at 8 p.m. June 13 with The Darling Brothers at the gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, followed by Amarillo rock band Moon Dog at 8 p.m. June 13. June Jams will feature party band Insufficient Funds at 7:30 p.m. June 13 and Americana singer Eddie Esler at 7:30 p.m. June 20, both on the lawn of the Randall County Courthouse in Canyon. The Starlight Theatre series will continue at 7 p.m. June 18 with Amarillo-born rock band Dear Marsha at Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street. The Amarillo College June Jazz season will continue with Esquire Jazz at 7 p.m. June 18 on the AC Washington Street campus. Center City of Amarillo's High Noon on the Square will continue its 25th anniversary with music from the cast of Matilda and food from Crush at noon June 19 on the lawn of the Potter County Courthouse, 501 S. Fillmore St.
2. Jeff Dunham
Achmed, Bubba J., Walter and all the rest (including that human dude they hang out with) will return for a 7 p.m. June 14 show in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium.
3. The Pillowman
The summer theatrical season continues with this Martin McDonagh drama about a writer accused of horrific crimes, to be staged at 9 p.m. June 14 and 15 (continuing June 20 and 21) at RR Bar, 701 S. Georgia St. Also on stage: long-running outdoor musical Texas at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through Aug. 17 in Palo Duro Canyon's Pioneer Ampitheatre and, at 8:30 p.m. June 17 and 24; the Texas company's production of Shakespeare comedy Love's Labours Lost, also in the canyon; and Merely Players' biblical drama Above the Sun, opening June 21.
4. Community festivals
Party in north Amarillo in the Juneenteenth celebration of the African-American community with events including a 10 a.m. June 15 parade, leading to festivities for the rest of the day (including a 7 p.m. concert by saxophonist Tom Braxton) in Bones Hooks Park. Plus, the San Jacinto community host the annual Route 66: The Heart of Amarillo festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 15 with a street party between Western and Georgia streets, featuring a car and bike show, live music, swap meets, art shows and more. The annual Dogie Days in Dumas will include ca carnival, a pit barbecue luncheon and parade through June 15. And Amarillo's LGBTQ+ community will celebrate Pride Month with a slew of activities from Panhandle Pride, The 806 Coffee + Lounge and RR Bar.
5. Amarillo Bombers
The city's soccer squad will continue its season with a 6 p.m. June 15 bout against Lubbock in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum. The Amarillo Sod Poodles will face the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on June 13 and the Tulsa Drillers on June 14 to 16, all in Hodgetown, 701 S. Buchanan St. And the Amarillo Venom will battle the Oklahoma Flying Aces at 6 p.m. June 22 in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum.
6. Toy Story 4
Woody, Buzz and the gang return to theaters June 21, and if any franchise can deliver with a sequel that we don't necessarily need, it's this one. Also opening that weekend is a reboot of the horror favorite Child's Play. Before that, check out the new Men In Black: International, Mindy Kaling comedy Late Night and a multigenerational continuation of Shaft the weekend of June 14. Special theatrical engagements will include cultural acceptance documentary Free Trip to Egypt at 6:30 p.m. June 12, a TCM Big Screen Classics screening of Field of Dreams on June 16 and 18, Charleston church shooting documentary Emanuel on June 17 and 19, and the live summer kickoff for Drum Corps International on June 20. Plus, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will screen a stormy mystery movie at 8:30 p.m. June 14 on its lawn, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon, and Amarillo Parks and Recreation will screen The LEGO Movie 2 at 8:45 p.m. June 14 in Memorial Park, 2501 S. Washington St.
7. Welcome to Summer Party
Summer officially arrives with this annual Palace Coffee celebration at 6 p.m. June 21 on the Amarillo College campus, featuring a cornhole tournament, Six Car Pub & Brewery beer, and Purple Flamingo Pops, StiX and Porch Swing Kettle Korn food trucks.
8. Discover for a Dollar
Check out all the Don Harrington Discovery Center has to offer (including Space Theater shows, live science demonstrations and more) with $1 admission from 6 to 9 p.m. June 21 at the center, 1200 Streit Drive.
9. CBH Bubbapalooza Music Festival
Rising country star Randall King will headline this benefit for the Brian Hunton Memorial Scholarship, established after the firefighter's death in the line of duty in April 2005. The party kicks off at 6 p.m. June 22 at Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunset Drive, and also will feature Jesse Raub Jr. (replacing Cameran Nelson) and JW Lane & County Road X.
10. Comanche Moon
The Amarillo-based progressive Americana band returns home after a mini-tour for a 10 p.m. June 22 show with The Lowdown Drifters at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road. Other concerts of note: a tour kick-off for Amarillo bands Smooth Taste, Lake Dads and D-Mok at 7 p.m. June 14 at Fibonacci Space, 3306 S.W. Sixth Ave.; Amarillo rock band Mind Plays at 10 p.m. June 14 at Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd.; Texas country star Casey Donahew with Red Dirt singer Stoney LaRue at 8 p.m. June 15 and Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute act Lone Star Skynyrd at 8 p.m. June 21 at Starlight Ranch Event Center; touring bluesman John Ford at 7:30 p.m. June 19 at Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St.; roots rocker Duane Mark at 10 p.m. June 20 at Leftwoods, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave.; indie rock band Amarionette at 10 p.m. June 21 and Wichita Falls-based singer-songwriter James Cook at 10 p.m. June 22 at Golden Light Cantina, 2908 S.W. Sixth Ave.; and Texas soul band Prophets and Outlaws at 10 p.m. June 21 at Hoots Pub.
Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS and a member of GALECA. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
