By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Fair fun, political chicanery, show dogs and more are on tap for you this weekend and beyond. Here's the scoop on all the events and activities through Sept. 22.
Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo
Food on a stick, exhibitions, rodeo action, music and more: The Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo is back beginning Friday.
Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday through Sept. 23. The parade through downtown Amarillo begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.
There's free admission until 1 p.m. Monday through Sept. 23; otherwise, admission is $10 ages 13 to 54, or $5 ages 6 to 12 or ages 55 and older. Half-price adult admission tickets are available at Walgreens through Friday.
Ride wristbands are $30 daily; midway hours are 4 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and 1 p.m. to midnight on weekends.
Mega Passes (including daily admission to the fair and all rides except for the power ride) are $65 through Sept. 15 and $70 afterwards.
The fair also offers special admission rates nearly nightly. Check here for full details.
The Best Man
See how very little politics has changed in the past 50-plus years when Amarillo Little Theatre stages this drama by Gore Vidal.
As I detailed in my preview of the drama earlier this week, the drama focuses on the increasingly bitter race between patrician William Russell (played by ALT veteran Justin Loe) is facing off against upstart Sen. Joe Cantwell (newcomer Cy Scroggins).
"My character is ruthless," Scroggins said. "I would say and am going to do what it takes to win and leave the moral issue out of it."
"He doesn't care who he steps on," Loe said, "or who he hurts."
The Best Man will open at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sept. 22; 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sept. 23 and 24; and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in the ALT Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Tickets are $19 for adults, $16 for seniors and students and $13 for children Thursdays and Sundays, or $21 adults, $19 seniors and students and $15 for children Fridays and Saturdays.
Call 806-355-9991.
On Edge, Part 1
Artists Sarah Atlee, Fritz Danner, Nic Noblique and Victoria Taylor-Gore will push boundaries in a new show opening Friday at Cerulean Gallery.
On Edge, Part 1 features "rich, dark pallets, hard lines and rough edges that, overall, reflect an intensity in each body of work," gallery founder Caroline Kneese said in a news release.
The exhibition will open with a 6 p.m. Friday reception at the gallery, 2762 Duniven Circle. A portion of proceeds of opening-night sales will benefit Panhandle PBS.
Amarillo Community Market
The outdoor Amarillo Community Market will shift locations slightly Saturday to accommodate the Tri-State Fair Parade. Look for locally crafted items, baked goods and produce from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot behind the Santa Fe Building, 10th Avenue and Tyler Street. The market features 60 vendors and usually draws about about 1,000 visitors — but look for that to increase this weekend with the parade crowd. This is one of your last chances this year to visit the market; its season closes Oct. 1.
Sculptures by Patrick Martin
An exhibition of works by glass sculptor Patrick Martin is on view through Oct. 3 in Mary Moody Northen Hall Gallery at West Texas A&M University. A reception and lecture will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
"A lot of my work has sociopolitical themes based on current events — racism, the proliferation of violence, especially gun violence," Martin said. "There's even one piece about the Iraq War and America's treatment of war prisoners and how we torture and capture prisoners and take them around the world."
Signature Chefs
The March of Dimes' annual Signature Chefs fundraiser adds a Texas twist this year with a move to Cornerstone Ranch Event Center, 1901 Cement Road. The event runs from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and will feature some of Amarillo's best chefs competing for your votes. Sponsorship levels are $2,000 to $10,000 (with some individual seats available for $200). Call 806-553-2391.
Other activities and events
The Walk to End Alzheimer's begins at 9 a.m. Saturday in Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street. The walk is free, but donations are accepted for the Alzheimer's Association. Call 806-372-8693. ... Panhandle Kennel Club of Texas will host a dog show through Sunday in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex North and South Exhibit Halls, 401 S. Buchanan St. The event is free. ... Amarillo Bulls will face off against the Lone Star Brahmas at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in the Civic Center Coliseum. Single tickets range from $13 to $23, or $9 for children ages 2 to 12.
Upcoming
Reservations are due Wednedsay for a Sept. 24 shrimp boil on the grounds of the Carson County Square House Museum, 503 Elsie Ave. in Panhandle. Tickets are $25 (or $30 at the gate). You'll be able to wander around the museum grounds (where I spent many an hour climbing around on the caboose in my youth) while eating shrimp and fixings. Adult beverages are allowed. Call 806-537-3514.
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.
