By Chip Chandler — Producer
The end of summer is certainly not the end of party season.
Groups around the Panhandle are planning parties, rodeos, music festivals and more through Labor Day Weekend. Here's a convenient roundup of all of the parties (listed chronologically), and check our weekly roundups on Thursdays for more information.
Curry County Fair
The annual fair in Clovis, N.M., will feature carnival rides, fair food, home arts and agricultural exhibits, live music and entertainment daily through Aug. 18. Tejano musicians AJ Castillo, Yahari, and Los Garcia Brothers will perform at 7 p.m. MDT Aug. 16. Country band StateLine will perform at 10 p.m. MDT Aug. 17. And Texas country acts Shotgun Rider, Koe Wetzel and Sam Riggs will perform at 7:30 p.m. MDT Aug. 18. (4 p.m. MDT Aug. 16; continues through Aug. 18. Curry County Events Center, 1900 E. Brady Ave. in Clovis, N.M. Admission $7 dail or $18 for the week for ages 13 to 55, $5 or $15 for ages 56 and older, $3 or $8 ages 5 to 12; additional tickets required for Monster Truck Thunder. 575-935-7000)
Cowboy Classic Rodeo
The 11th anual Dumas rodeo will feature bronc riding, roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and team roping, plus kids' events, a queen contest, rodeo clowns and more. (7 p.m. Aug. 17; continues through Aug. 18. Moore County Rodeo Arena, 1329 Durrett Ave. in Dumas. Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at gate. 806-570-8904)
Create! 2018
Center City of Amarillo's annual downtown party will feature music by James Owens, karaoke with Katie Eddins, Burn Studio painting activities, caricatures by Kyle Singleton, an art show and sale, and silent auction and raffle. (7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 17; VIP party at 6 p.m. Embassy Suites Amarillo, 550 S. Buchanan St. Tickets $50; $2,500 for VIP tables. 806-372-6744)
Wheatheart of the Nation
Perryton will celebrate its 99th birthday with two weekends of activities. Festivities begin with the 20th annual Wheatheart Rodeo, with bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing, mutton busting and more. Lubbock country singer Drake Hayes will perform at a dance at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 18. (7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 and 18, Ochiltree County Arena, West Texas Highway 15 and Northwestern Street. Tickets $10 ages 12 and older, $5 ages 6 to 11. 806-435-6575)
Festivities will continue with the three-day Wheatheart celebration, beginning with a block party, cook-out, watermelon feed and more on Aug. 23, then the major party on Aug. 25 with a free breakfast, Old Timers Reunion, Wheatheart Car Show, Arts & Crafts Festival in the Park, Museum of the Plains Pioneer Day, barbecue lunch, Wheatheart of the Nation Parade, Wheatheart Demolition Derby and more. (Aug. 23 to 25, various locations in Perryton. Most events free; $2 barbecue lunch and derby tickets $11 ages 12 and older, $5 ages 5 to 10. 806-435-6575)
SuSpence Fest
Rock out at this second annual festival in Pampa. Lineup includes Sons of Texas, Aranda, Locust Grove, SuSpence, OddFellas, Leddit Ride, A Special Case, Dryvr, Mudd Flux, Alloy and Haggardz Hellraizerz. (12:45 p.m. Aug. 18, Norris Pavilion at Top O' Texas Rodeo Arena, 200 N. Ballard St. in Pampa. Tickets $35. 806-440-6874.)
Texas Panhandle Craft BeerFest
The annual Townsquare Media celebration of beer will benefit Hands On Amarillo. The party will include souvenir tasting glasses, music from Andy Chase and more. VIP tickets include a catered meal, pint glass, T-shirt, exclusive beers and more. (4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 18, Amarillo Netplex, 4101 Hillside Road. Tickets $35 in advance, $45 at door; $100 VIP. 806-355-9777)
Birthday Bash
Celebrate both Golden Light Cantina and The 806 Coffee + Lounge and raise funds for school supplies and lunches for San Jacinto Elementary School children with this big party. Bands will include Deathbelles, Mount Ivy, Jason Hodges, Like Red Giants and more. (6 p.m. Aug. 18, Golden Light Cantina, 2908 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover. 806-374-9237)
Bomb City Death Fest
A dozen regional death metal bands will join forces for this new festival. Lineup includes Anal Sausages, Horrid Demise, Sinworm, Rectoral Amputation, Oily Anal Discharge, Backhanded Compliment, Bill Nye Da Nazi Spy, Asphyxiation Infecta, Thornside, Aborning, Never the Victim and Kill Everything. (6 p.m. Aug. 18, Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 S.W. 10th Ave. Tickets $10. 806-331-7305)
'50s Night and Car Show
Head down to Sandell Drive-In for this classic car show and screening of the beloved film American Graffiti. (6 p.m. Aug. 18, Sandell Drive-In, 12 S. Center Drive in Clarendon. Tickets $8 adults, $6 children, free ages 2 and younger. 806-874-0685)
Backyard Barbecue
The Randy Rogers Band will return with support from Mason Lively and Next to Kin for Starlight Ranch's first backyard barbecue. (6:30 p.m. Aug. 18, Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive. Tickets $18, plus fees. 806-678-7002)
National Pinot Noir Day
Amarillo classic rock band Jackie Haney & Geezers Gone Wild will help celebrate the release of Bar Z's 2016 Bayer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir. Coast to Coast food truck will be on site. (7 p.m. Aug. 18, Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541. Cover $10. 806-488-2214)
Hogs at the Point
This bike rally will feature a kids' cook off, an IBCA state championship sanctioned cookoff, live music, auctions, fun run, games and more. Proceeds benefit Panhandle Children's Foundation. (5 p.m. Aug. 24, Talon Point Retreat, 5145 Farm-to-Market Road 722 in Channing. 806-935-5598)
Back to School Bash
Amarillo singer-songwriter Matt Martindale and former Amarillo singer-songwriter Charlie Shafter will team for this end-of-summer show. Plus four acts will compete in a battle of the bands. Proceeds benefit the Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society. (5:30 p.m. Aug. 25, Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive. Cover $20 ages 7 and older, $15 students or $25 per pair of students. 806-678-7002)
Jazzin' Up Santa in the Summer, New Orleans Style
The annual fundraiser for Eveline Rivers Christmas Project will feature Las Vegas-based country singer Scotty Alexander and Esquire Jazz, silent and live auctions and a meal provided by Chef Tim Youngblood. (7 p.m. Aug. 25, Eveline Rivers Christmas Project, 314 S. Jefferson St. Tickets $65 singles, $120 couples. 806-372-3985)
FASO Jazz Fiesta
Enjoy a Mexican dinner and music from Polk Street Jazz's Jim Gardner and Doug and Sandy Storey at this fundraiser for Friends of Aeolian-Skinner, Opus 1024. (5:30 p.m. Aug. 26, 3207 S. Lipscomb St. Tickets $35. 806-376-6316, Ext. 105)
Panhandle PBS Cuts Footloose
This '80s-themed summer garden party will celebrate Panhandle PBS's 30th anniversary, featuring drinks and small plates from Chef Rocky Dunnam, music from popular Amarillo party band Noah Jenda, and cool refreshments from Purple Flamingo Popsicles. (6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 30, Reed Beverage, 3701 S.E. 25th Ave. Tickets $30. 806-371-5477)
Amarillo Civic Center Complex 50th Anniversary Celebration
Downtown Amarillo's performance and convention center will celebrate its golden anniversary with a community celebration featuring facility tours, free ice skating, cake and punch, plus concessions with throwback prices. (4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 31, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. Free. 806-378-3096)
Amarillo Crime Stoppers Car Show
The 10th annual car show will feature dozens of cars inside the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Proceeds benefit Amarillo Crime Stoppers and Student Crime Stoppers. (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 1, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. Admission $5 ages 11 and older. 806-374-4400)
Boys Ranch Rodeo and AdventureFest
The annual rodeo returns for a 74th year, with rodeo action kicking off at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 1. The day begins at 10 a.m. with adventureFest, a family festival featuring food, games, hands-on learning and souvenirs. A free barbecue lunch begins at noon. (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch northwest of Amarillo. Tickets, which include adventureFest and lunch, $10 for ages 7 and older. 800-687-3722)
Yellow City Sounds Music Festival: Music Made Here
Three beloved Amarillo bands — including the band that first serenaded audiences with mega-hit “Wide Open Spaces” — will reunite at the second Yellow City Sounds Music Festival: Music Made Here.
The festival — featuring The Groobees, among other popular bands from Amarillo’s musical past and some of the brightest stars of its current scene — is a joint venture of Panhandle PBS and Amarillo College’s FM90 and part of the ongoing commemoration of Panhandle PBS’s 30th anniversary. Music kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Other bands include Krakt, Turbine Toolshed, Mount Ivy and Comanche Moon. A dozen food trucks are expected, including Coast to Coast, Cowboy Gelato Smokehouse, Freshbox, GoldenLight Go, J&L Good Grubs, J&R Family Catering, Mitch E's Frozen Lemonade, PaPa's Concessions, Pizza Nomad, Purple Flamingo Pops, Tacos Plaza and Thumper's Grill.
Chick-Fil-A Kids’ Area activities will include Amarillo College Teach Club, Amarillo Fire Department Smokehouse, Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo Zoo, Don Harrington Discovery Center, Happy Faces by Sheila Howard, Home Depot, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and more.
Vendor and other booths will include Amarillo College, AmaDazzle, Coffee Memorial Blood Center, Family Care Foundation, Fishlady’s Fashion Bowtique, Free Cheese Prints, Henna House, IV Rejuvenation Station, MetroPCS, Red Cross, the SanJac Art Collective, Studio3313 and more. (2 to 10 p.m. Sept. 1, Memorial Park on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus. Free. 806-371-5224)
Tribute to the Greatest Generation
The fourth annual commemoration of the official end of World War II will feature dinner and dancing to big band music. Patrick Swindell & Esquire Jazz will perform, and a tribute will be given to those who served in the war. (6 p.m. Sept. 1, Texas Air & Space Museum, 10001 American Drive. Tickets $50 or $35 for military. 806-374-2006)
La Frontera Block Party
Latin singer Stefani Montiel will headline the 33rd annual block party. Also performing are Zavala, Monica y Adixxion and Amarillo Godfathers. (6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 2, 1401 S. Arthur St. Free. 806-372-4593)
Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
