By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
As Christmas draws closer, non-holiday events are sparser, but there's still plenty of fun to be found over the weekend. Here's our roundup of activities.
Events
- Amarillo Little Theatre will close out its three-weekend run of Young Frankenstein with performances through Sunday on the Main Stage, 2019 Civic Circle. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. 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.
- Stand-up comic Jason Thompson will make his Amarillo debut with an 8:30 p.m. Friday show at No Dogs Allowed, 700 S.W. 10th Ave. Also performing are Amarillo comics Skylar Potter and Tristan Pinter. Cover is $3 each or $5 for couples. Check out my interview for more.
- Amarillo native Brandon Wilhelm will offer Throw Energy at the Awkward, a one-man cabaret show, at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Fibonacci Space, 3306 S.W. Sixth Ave. Wilhelm, a Randall High School and West Texas A&M University graduate with several professional theater credits in the Dallas area, will perform songs from his dream theatrical roles, including tunes from Jersey Boys, Hamilton, Frozen, The Last 5 Years, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and others. "I just kind of wanted to show Amarillo what I've been up to for the last five years," Wilhelm said. "And in between songs, I'll tell awkward audition stories from my career — and I have a lot." The show is free.
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.
- 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.
- The fifth annual Zoo Lights event will continue at the Amarillo Zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday through Dec. 23. Stroll through the zoo to see holiday displays, costumed animal characters, kids games, nightly readings, crafts and more. Admission is $4 for ages 13 to 61, $3 for seniors and $2 for children ages 3 to 12. Call 806-381-7911.
- Palo Duro Cowboy Church's Living Cowboy Nativity is open from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday around the church, 12200 W. U.S. Highway 60. Admission for the drive-through event is free. Call 806-655-4700.
- Several Amarillo performers will team up for the Naughty List Variety Show at 10 p.m. Saturday at RR Bar, 701 S. Georgia St. Admission is $10, and toy donations will be accepted. Burlesque, comedy, singing, sideshow and drag acts from Bomb City Pretties, Broken Belts Collective, Pickled Sisters Sideshow, and The Royal F---- will perform. Call 806-341-5141.
- Home Alone will screen at noon Saturday at United Artists Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd. Make sure to bring the kids — all of them, even Kevin.
- The Amarillo Symphony hopes to launch a new Christmas tradition with its Happy Holiday Pops concerts at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $19 to $55, plus fees. Call 806-376-8782 or 806-378-3096. Here's my preview.
- Don Harrington Discovery Center's Let It Snow holiday light show will expand this year to add matinee hours. Showings are set for 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Monday through Dec. 23, and 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Wednesday through Dec. 23. Matinee tickets are $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers, plus center admission fees; evening tickets are $4 for members and $6 for nonmembers. Call 806-355-9547.
- Amarillo Public Library's Southwest Branch, 6801 S.W. 45th Ave., will host a Yak and Yarn Club session to teach how to make crochet gifts from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Call 806-259-2094.
- Palo Duro Canyon will host a Christmas in the Canyon Balloon Glow from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, featuring several hot-air balloons, performances by The DryLand Dreamers and Oakdale Elementary School honor choir and more. Admission is free with a donation of a nonperishable food item after 4 p.m.; regular park entry fees will apply before 4 p.m. The glow will take place at the Mack Dick Group Pavilion. Call 806-488-2506.
- The Humane Society of Deaf Smith County will hold a holiday bazaar and craft show from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Hereford Community Center, 100 Avenue C. Call 806-363-6499.
- Jingle Jam, a concert featuring singers Devlon Jones, Chana Smith, Melia Roberts and others, is set for 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday at In This Moment, 707 S. Polk St. The event also will include hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $15 each or $25 for couples and are available at Da Spot Barbershop, 1102 W. Amarillo Blvd. Call 806-679-2615.
- First Baptist Church's annual Christmas concert will be performed at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the church, 1208 S. Tyler St. Admission is free. Call 806-373-2891.
- A Winter Solstice hafla belly-dancing event is set for 8 p.m. Sunday at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Call 806-322-1806.
- The Flying J Wranglers will bring their Cowboy Christmas show back to Amarillo for a 7:30 p.m. Monday performance at Amarillo Little Theatre, 2019 Civic Circle. Tickets are $25; ALT members get a 10 percent discount. Call 806-355-9991.
- Amarillo native Kristin Key will celebrate the release of her new holiday album, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Kristin, at her annual Home for the Holidays show at 10 p.m. Wednesday at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road. Cover is $10. Check out my interview with Key before you go.
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.
