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Play Here's Activity Roundup for Aug. 3 to 10

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chip chandler
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PLAY HERE

By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer

Summer's end is in sight, but there's still plenty of fun to be had in the week ahead, including Ama-Con, the Polk Street Cruise, Boots vs. Badges, MindFest, bull riding, art shows and more.

 

Thursday

  • First Thursday Art Show: Celebrate The 806's 10th anniversary at a group art show. (7 p.m. Thursday, The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. free. 806-322-1806)
  • Music in the Gardens: Americana band Comanche Moon will perform. (7 p.m. Thursday, Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive. $5 garden members, $10 ages 13 and older.)
  • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)

 

Friday

  • First Friday Art Walk: Stroll through galleries featuring about 100 artists at this monthly event. (5 to 9 p.m. Friday, The Galleries at Sunset Center, 3701 Plains Blvd., free. 806-353-5700)
  • Modern West: Eight local and regional artists offer new takes on Southwestern art in this new exhibition, on view through Sept. 22 and opening with a Friday reception. For more on the artists, check out my preview. Proceeds from the opening reception will benefit Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation. (Friday to Sept. 22; opening reception 6-9 p.m. Friday, Cerulean Gallery, 814 S. Taylor St. 806-576-0063)
  • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)

 

Saturday

  • Amarillo Community Market: The downtown farmers and crafters market returns for a second year (which runs through Oct. 14). Look for live music and activities weekly. (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday around the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, 1000 S. Polk St. Free.)
  • MindFest: Kids can get their brains warmed up for their return to school at this annual Don Harrington Discovery Center event. Activities include leatherworking; construction with wood, hammer and nails; water rockets; UFO creation; the dismantling of a car; construction of solar eclipse viewers; ceramics; painting; and more. (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive. $11 adults, $8 children, students, military and seniors; free for members. 806-355-9547)
  • Ama-Con: Celebrate pop culture of all stripes in this two-day event from Friends of the Amarillo Public Library. Author Patrick Rothfuss, author of the Kingkiller Chronicle novels, will headline with a keynote address and panel discussion on Saturday, but the con will be packed with other special guests, vendor booths and more featuring comics, gaming, anime, sci-fi and more. Check out my preview for a full schedule. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. $8 for two-day pass, $5 for one-day pass, free ages 6 and younger. 806-378-3089)
  • Polk Street Cruise: The Amarillo Area Corvette Club and other car clubs and individual car lovers will revive the downtown cruises of old with this 14th annual slow crawl. Cars of all types will cruise in a loop running south on Polk and north on Tyler between Fourth and 12th Avenues. Enter on 12th Avenue if you want to take part. (5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Polk and Tyler streets in downtown Amarillo. Free. 806-622-0601)
  • Boots Vs. Badges: Police officers and firefighters battle it out in an exhibition softball game benefitting the 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle and Coffee Memorial Blood Center. (7:05 p.m. Saturday, Potter County Memorial Stadium, 3300 S.E. Third Ave., $5. 806-358-4563)
  • Koben Puckett Invitational: This bull- and ranch bronc-riding event kicks off for a fourth year; proceeds benefit the Press On Foundation. I interviewed Puckett last year; check out his inspirational story here. (7:30 p.m. Saturday, Will Rogers Range Riders Arena, 313 Texas Loop 335. $15 advance, $20 at gate. 806-622-2102)
  • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)
  • Movies at the Lake: Moana will screen at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. (9 p.m. Saturday, Fritch Fortress Amphitheater at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, free. 806-857-3151)

 

    Sunday

    • Ama-Con: Celebrate pop culture of all stripes in this two-day event from Friends of the Amarillo Public Library. (Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. $8 for two-day pass, $5 for one-day pass, free ages 6 and younger. 806-378-3089)
    • The Marriage of Figaro: Company members of Texas will produce a concert version of this classic Mozart opera. "They'll be in costumes and makeup, but we'll have narration and photos of the action (projected behind the singers)," said director Cloyce Kuhnert. Mozart's operas are notoriously difficult to stage, particularly when the cast is spending hours every day on their main job in the outdoor musical, but the opportunity to give the company members the chance to stage Figaro "is going to be wonderfully beneficial for them and also entertaining for the audience," Kuhnert said. (2 p.m. Sunday, Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall at West Texas A&M University, $10. 806-655-2181)
    • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)

     

    Monday

    • The Marriage of Figaro: Company members of Texas will produce a concert version of this classic Mozart opera for a second time on the outdoor musical's off night. (7:30 p.m. Monday, Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall at West Texas A&M University, $10. 806-655-2181)

     

    Tuesday

    • Starlight Theatre: Country-rock band Windy City will perform. (7 p.m. Tuesday, Sam Houston Park, Western Street and Line Avenue. Free.)
    • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)

     

    Wednesday

    • High Noon on the Square: Cover band Insufficient Funds will perform, with fajitas from Joe Taco. (11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Potter County Courthouse, Sixth Avenue and Tyler Street. Lunch $8 or $75 for season-long punch card; music is free.)
    • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)

     

    Aug. 10

    • The First Air War:  Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and Panhandle PBS will team for a screening of this NOVA special, followed by a roundtable discussion. It's in conjunction with the museum's ongoing focus on World War I. (6 p.m. Aug. 10, PPHM Hazlewood Lecture Hall, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon. Free. 806-651-2244) 
    • Movie Night: A family friendly film will be screened at dark by Center City of Amarillo and KVII TV. (5 p.m. Aug. 10, Potter County Courthouse, Sixth Avenue and Tyler Street. Free. 806-372-6744) 
    • Music in the Gardens: The Esquire Jazz Band will perform. (7 p.m. Aug. 10, Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive. $5 garden members, $10 ages 13 and older.)
    • Texas: The outdoor musical drama continues its 52nd season. (8:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Pioneer Amphitheatre. Adults $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees; children $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees. Dinner: $16 adults, $9 children. 806-655-2181)

     

    Ongoing

    • Amarillo Botanical Gardens: The gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (during Music in the Gardens season) and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children through eighth grade. Call 806-352-6513.
    • Amarillo Escape and Mystery: Attempt to escape a variety of themed locked rooms in 60 minutes at this attraction, 12208 Canyon Drive. It's open daily by reservation; games must be booked two hours in advance. Cost is $20, plus tax. Call 806-414-2382.
    • Amarillo Museum of Art: The museum, 2200 S. Van Buren St., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Amarillo Biennial 600: Architecture is on view through Oct. 1. Admission is free. Call 806-371-5050.
    • Amarillo Public Library: Look for daily events for children (and book clubs for adults) throughout the summer at all branches. Call 806-378-3051.
    • Amarillo Railroad Museum: The museum, 3160 I Ave., is open 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Call 806-335-3333.
    • Amarillo Suite Escape: Visitors can attempt to escape from three rooms with rotating themes at this attraction, 715 S. Lamar St. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Cost is $20, plus tax. Call 806-640-3831.
    • Amarillo Zoo: The zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors and $2 children ages 3-12, and free on Monday. Call 806-381-7911.
    • American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum: The facility, 2601 E. Interstate 40, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (closed holidays). Admission is $7 adults, $5 seniors, $4 veterans, $3 children ages 6 to 18 and free for active-duty military and children 5 and younger. Call 806-376-4811. 
    • Bill’s Backyard Classics: The classic car and truck museum, 5309 S. Washington St., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older. Call 806-373-8194.
    • Cerulean Gallery: The gallery, 814 S. Taylor St., features Modern West through Sept. 22. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and by appointment Saturdays. Call 806-576-0063.
    • Don Harrington Discovery Center: The center, 1200 Streit Drive, is featuring Physics @ Play and Cubelets Robot Blocks through Sept. 17. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays in the summer. Admission is $11 adults, $8 children and students (to age 22), military and seniors. Call 806-355-9547.
    • The Galleries at Sunset Center: The galleries, 3701 Plains Blvd., are generally open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Admission is free. Call 806-353-5700.
    • Harrington House: The historic home, 1600 S. Polk St., features a summer exhibition through Wednesday9. Free tours are conducted on the half hour from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 806-374-5490.
    • Lake Meredith National Recreation Area: The park, located 50 miles northeast of Amarillo near Fritch, is open 24 hours a day. The area also includes Area includes Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. Admission is free. Call 806-857-3151.
    • Palo Duro Adventure Park and Zip Line: This attraction, located near the entrance of Palo Duro Canyon State Park, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in the summer. Call 806-488-2260.
    • Palo Duro Canyon State Park: The canyon, 12 miles east of Canyon on Texas Highway 217, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission $5. Call 806-488-2227.
    • Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum: The museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon, is featuring The Great War and the Panhandle-Plains Region and A Picture from Home: Snapshots of the Great War on the Plains through Dec. 30. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays through August. Admission is $10 adults, $9 seniors, $5 children and free for members and children younger than 4. Call 806-651-2244.
    • River Breaks Ranch: This attraction, 7802 Durrett Drive, offers sporting clays, team roping, horse racing and more. Call 806-374-0357.
    • Texas Air & Space Museum: The museum, 10001 American Drive, is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is free; donations accepted. Call 806-335-9159.
    • Wildcat Bluff Nature Center: The center, 2301 N. Soncy Road, is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Admission $4 adults, $3 seniors and children. Call 806-352-6007.
    • Wonderland Park: The park will continue its 66th season. Park hours vary throughout the summer, so check their calendar for the most up-to-date information. Full access passes are $31.95 for Tuesdays through Thursdays, $33.95 for Fridays, and $39.95 for Saturdays and Sundays. Spectator passes are $5. WOW passes are available in any amount. Miniature golf is $5; hours are 5 p.m. to close Tuesdays through Fridays and 1 p.m. to close Saturdays and Sundays. Call 806-383-3344. 

     

    Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.