By Chip Chandler — Producer
Kick off 2019 with these entertaining, delicious ways to give back. Mark your calendars now!
Tri-State Open Chili Championship
Warm your stomach and your heart at the annual Tri-State Open Chili Championship.
The annual fundraiser for Make-A-Wish of North Texas on Jan. 12 promises tasty treats and hopefully no heartburn.
In 33 years, the event has raised about $750,000 for the nonprofit, organizer Pam Matheson said.
Setup hours are 1 to 11 p.m. Jan. 11. The event is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Rex Baxter Building on the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave.
Tasting cups are $5.
Cost is $30 to enter your own chili.
Call 806-674-8423.
Khiva Crabfest
Chow down on some tasty crustaceans at the sixth annual Khiva Crabfest.
The party will begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at Khiva Shrine, 305 S.E. Fifth Ave.
The event will include all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab flown straight from Oregon (while supplies last), live and silent auctions, casino games and music from The Solano Project.
Tables are available from $600 to $3,000; limited individual tickets will be available beginning Dec. 15 for $75.
Call 806-373-2845.
Hats Off to Willie
One of Amarillo's preeminent blues musicians will be honored at a benefit concert.
Amarillo musicians including the Texas Blues Rangers and the All-Star Blues Band will pay tribute to Blues Boy Willie at Hats Off to Willie.
The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 at I Don't Know Sports Bar & Grill, 1301 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to help cover the aging musician's living expenses.
Call 806-331-7985.
Burns Supper
Kilts are not required — just encouraged.
The annual Burns Supper, a fundraiser for Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, will toast Scottish poet Robert Burns with Scottish foods and treats, Scotch tastings, bagpipes, poetry and more.
The party will begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St.
Call 806-352-6007.
The Big Cheese
Nosh on the ultimate comfort food while giving back to an agency providing comfort to the grieving.
The Hope and Healing Place's annual The Big Cheese will feature up to 30 varieties of mac & cheese from area chefs.
The event is set for 6 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Rex Baxter Building on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave.
Tickets are $25 adults and $5 children.
Call 806-371-8998.
Cold As Ice 5K & 10K
Get Fit's annual two-race series kicks off with the Cold As Ice 5K & 10K on Jan. 26.
The races will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Get Fit, 1911 S. Georgia St., and will include 10K and 5K runs and a one-mile walk.
Entry fee is $25, and no race day registrations will be accepted. Entry fee will increase $5 on Jan. 25, packet pick-up day.
Proceeds will benefit The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center's one-stop approach to child abuse investigation. The series will continue in the summer with the Hot Blooded Run.
Call 806-372-2873.
AMoA Gala
A Texas couple and their contemporary collection will be honored at the latest AMoA Gala.
Fort Worth couple Pam and William Campbell — founders of the William Campbell Contemporary Art gallery — will be presented with Amarillo Museum of Art's Achievement in Art award at a Jan. 26 gala.
The gala will begin with cocktails and gallery viewing at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the museum, 2200 S. Van Buren St.
An exhibition of their collection will open to the public Jan. 27 and be on view through March 31.
Gala tickets are $150.
Call 806-371-5050.
Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
