Play Here's Weekend Activity Picks for Dec. 1 and beyond

By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer

Singing monsters and art walkers, visits from Santa and a Christmas explosion: All this and more are waiting for you this weekend and beyond.

Events

• Amarillo Little Theatre opens its eagerly awaited production of Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks' musical based on his 1974 classic comedy, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for a three-weekend run in the ALT Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Production dates are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15; 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17; and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18. Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for students and seniors, and $16 for children Thursdays and Sundays, and $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors, and $18 for children Fridays and Saturdays. Call 806-355-9991. Check out my preview here.
• 5 in 5: Journey on the Open Road, in which five community notables will discuss aspects of a pair of photography exhibitions, begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St. The event is in conjunction with a pair of exhibitions on view at the museum: The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip, on view through Jan. 1, and High Plains Highways, on view through Jan. 15, both focus on trekking cross-country via Route 66 and other iconic highways. The event is free. Check out my preview for more details.
• West Texas A&M University senior dancers will perform and choreograph for the school's fall dance concert, Falling Into Dance. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in WT's Sybil B. Harrington Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and free for WT students, faculty and staff. Call 806-651-2804. See my preview for more details.
• The monthly First Friday Art Walk runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at The Galleries at Sunset Center, 3701 Plains Blvd. Among the new exhibitions include Canyon Rim Co.'s Prairie Primitives and a pair of openings at R Gallery, No. 48 on the east side of the galleries. R will host a solo photography exhibition by Jessie Story and a group show featuring Israel Guarjardo, Nita Dyslin, Tiffany Creuzbaur, Lauren Dennis, Shay Wesley, Anna Lee Bowers, Renea Dauntes, Stacy Lavon, Jim Livingston and more. Musicians Danny Dobervich and Moses Morin will perform.
• Amarillo disk jockey and radio personality DJ RoRo will face a firing squad of friends in a roast at 10 p.m. Friday at Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 S.W. 10th Ave. Roasters include comedian Austin Ulen, rapper JP tha Rappa and others. Admission is $10 or one package of diapers.

Holiday

• The Waterfield Christmas Walk is open from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1 at the Citadelle Gardens, 520 Nelson St. in Canadian. Admission is free. Call 806-323-8899.
• Harrington House has decked the halls in '50s fashion for its annual holiday exhibit, on view through Dec. 15 at the historic home, 1600 S. Polk St. Sybil B. Harrington's gowns from designers such as Bob Mackie, Bill Blass, Pierre Balmain and others also are on view. Free tours are by appointment only on the half hour between 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 806-374-5490.
• More than 200,000 lights are on view nightly from 6 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 23 at Christmas in the Gardens at Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive. Each night features live music as well from a variety of schools and performing groups. Call 806-352-6513.
• The new Nights of Lights at Enchanted Acres horse farm, 6505 S. Osage St., boasts more than 300,000 Christmas lights. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 31 (excluding Christmas Day). Admission is $10 per car or $20 per passenger van or limo with more than 10 passengers. 
• The new Town Square Village, 9200 Town Square Blvd., has strung 400,000 lights around its main section and offers light shows every half hour between 6 and 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 31. Call 806-803-8178.
• Amarillo Escape & Mystery, 12208 Canyon Drive, will feature The Christmas Caper from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1. The holiday-themed escape asks two to 10 players to help Santa escape his safe. Cost is $20 each, plus tax. Call 806-570-5067 or 806-282-8433 or email amarilloescapeandmystery@yahoo.com.
• Trolley Express will offer Christmas Light Tours at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. nightly from Thursday through Dec. 23. Tours last about 45 minutes each and travel from Parties & Events, 3301 Olsen, through the Colonies neighborhood and back. Admission is $15 or free for ages 10 and younger. Call 806-359-0517.
• Western singer Michael Martin Murphey will bring his Cowboy Christmas Ball back to town for a 7 p.m. Thursday performance at the Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian, 9151 E. Interstate 40. Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 for front seating, or $35 in advance or $40 for general seating. Cowboy Gelato Smokehouse will provide dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are an additional $30. Call 806-335-3175 for reservations; tickets are selling quickly, said Charles Ritchie, the Kwahadi museum's director.
• "Weird Al" Yankovic joins the RiffTrax guys for a rebroadcast of the RiffTrax Holiday Special Double Feature of the 1964 turkey Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and some odd holiday shorts. They'll both screen at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd.
• Center City of Amarillo will kick off the holiday season with the annual Electric Light Parade at 6 p.m. Friday through downtown Amarillo. The Songs of the Season parade will feature more than 70 lighted entries traveling north on Polk Street from 11th to Third Avenue. The lighting of the city Christmas tree, a performance by the Golden Spread Men's Chorus and an awards presentation will be held following the parade at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. Call 806-372-6744. Center City has canceled tonight's Electric Light Parade because of the forecasted rain and snow, according to Executive Director Beth Duke. The tree-lighting ceremony will be rescheduled.
• Carol of Lights begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Buffalo Fountain on West Texas A&M University's Vaughan Pedestrian Mall. The event is free.
• Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum's Christmas Open House returns for a 38th year from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon. Activities include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday crafts, storytelling, cookie decorating, live holiday music and more. Admission is free with one can of food per person to benefit High Plains Food Bank. Call 806-651-2244.
• The annual Bishop Hills Christmas lights will be on view from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays through Dec. 25. Admission is free to drive through the village, located northwest of Amarillo on Tascosa Road, but donations of cash and used eyeglasses will be accepted for Amarillo Downtown Lions Club. Santa Claus will hang out on the porch of 11 Nottingham on Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 22 and 23. Call 806-418-4192.
• The 212 Club will host its annual Eveline Rivers Christmas Project benefit drag show at 10:30 p.m. Friday at the club, 212 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover is $7. Call 806-372-7997.
• Kris Kringle comes back to town for the annual Breakfast with Santa event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive. Admission includes a family-friendly breakfast, a photo with Santa (additional photos with Santa are $15 each), selfies, hands-on Christmas and science activities and more; advance tickets are $15 each or $10 for Discovery Center members through 4:30 p.m. Friday, or $17 each (or $12 for members) at the door. Call 806-355-9547.
• Ruffles & Rust Expo will hold a pop-up Christmas show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at San Jacinto Christian Academy, 501 S. Carolina St. Cost is $5 for ages 13 and older. Call 806-231-9822.
• The Tulia Chamber of Commerce's Christmas in Tulia activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with Breakfast with Santa at First United Methodist Church, 119 N. Briscoe St., and the annual arts and crafts show in the Senior Citizens Center, 619 S.E. Second St. Other activities include a silent auction and book signing at 10 a.m. at the Swisher County Museum, 127 S.W. Second St.; a free Christmas movie at 1 p.m. at Royal Theatre, 118 S.E. Second St.; cookies and hot chocolate with Santa at the Santa Fe Depot; and the annual light parade at 7 p.m. Call 806-995-2296.
• Lake Meredith Aquatic and Wildlife Museum, 104 N. Robey Ave. in Fritch, will host its annual Christmas Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Call 806-857-2458.
• Artist Mike LaFleur will be featured at the annual Christmas Open House in Palo Duro Canyon, as will Ann Coberley, who'll sign copies of her book Meditations on Palo Duro Canyon. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and benefits Partners in Palo Duro Canyon. Call 806-488-2506.
• The holiday classic A Christmas Story will screen at noon Saturday at United Artists Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd.
• Amarillo Public Library's Southwest Branch, 6801 S.W. 45th Ave., will throw a Winter Party from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday featuring a screening of A Charlie Brown Christmas, snacks, crafting and more. Call 806-359-2094.
• Christmas in Canyon events include a visit with Santa from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday and the Canyon Lions Club Christmas Pancake Dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cole Community Center, 300 N. 16th St.; the Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. down Fourth Avenue, and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the square following the parade. Dinner is $5 each; other events are free. Call 806-655-7815.
• Fritch's Christmas Light Parade and Gala begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Fritch City Hall Annex, 104 N. Robey Ave. Call 806-857-3143.
• Palo Duro Metro Chorus will present its Christmas Wishes concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at New Life Foursquare Church, 5515 S.W. 50th Ave. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for Amarillo Teen Christmas. Call 806-672-5898.
• St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 W. Interstate 40, will offer a performance of Handel's Messiah at 10:50 a.m. Sunday during services. Call 806-352-5615.
• Artist Kenneth Wyatt will host a meet and greet from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at his Amarillo gallery, 7306 S.W. 34th Ave., Suite 12. Call 806-995-2239 or 806-803-9265.
• West Texas A&M University choirs and symphony orchestra will team up for a pair of holiday concerts, I Heard the Bells, at 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall. More than 200 musicians, including Ascension Academy High School Choir and First United Methodist Church of Canyon's Handbell Choir, will perform a program of carols and holiday music. Also featured will be violinist Rossitza Goza, organist Raenell McDonough and narrator Royal R. Brantley. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Call 806-651-2840.
• Amarillo College Concert Choir will perform during a Christmas service at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St. Call 806-376-6316.
• Amarillo Public Library's Downtown Branch, 413 S.E. Fourth Ave., will feature holiday skits based on popular children's books Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present and Christmas with Morris and Boris at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Dec. 8 and Dec. 12 to 15. Call 806-378-3089.
• Amarillo Public Library's North Branch, 1500 N.E. 24th Ave., will host a pajama-party screening of The Polar Express at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Call 806-381-7931.
• The DryLand Dreamers will perform at a Christmas sing-along and potluck dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road. Admission is $5. Call 806-352-6007.
• The Amarillo College Christmas tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8 on the Oeschger Family Mall on the Washington Street campus.
• The annual Tascosa Pops concert and dinner begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom, 401 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $25; deadline is Dec. 1. The performance by Tascosa High School's orchestra and band also will feature guest orchestra conductor Mark Bartley of West Texas A&M University and narration by Billy Talley. Call 806-326-2662.

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