By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
From the magic of hot air balloons to the ice-cold action of Bulls hockey, here's a look at the activities and events in store for you this weekend.
High flying fun
Up in the Air for Family Care Balloon Rally moves to one central location — John S. Stiff Memorial Park, 4800 S. Bell St. — for its seventh-annual event. (Here's my full preview and a recap of the time I rode in a balloon with paraplegic pilot Michael Glen.)
The festival kicks off with hot air balloon ascensions from a variety of schools at 7:30 a.m. Friday. Schools scheduled to see balloons are South Georgia Elementary School, 5018 Susan Drive; Greenways Intermediate School, 8100 Pineridge Drive; Sundown Lane Elementary School, 4715 W. Sundown Lane; San Jacinto Elementary School, 3400 W. Fourth Ave.; North Heights Alternative School, 607 N. Hughes St.; and Belmar Elementary School, 6342 Adirondack Trail. Balloons also will rise from Happy State Bank locations at 5100 S. Coulter St. and 3423 S. Soncy Road.
All activities then move to the park for a sunrise mass ascension at 7 a.m. Saturday; an outdoor festival from 3 to 9 p.m. featuring live music, children's area, food and beverage vendors and a balloon glow at sunset; and a 7 a.m. Sunday sunrise mass ascension.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted to benefit Family Care Foundation, which assists those in financial need during a one-time medical emergency.
Action on the ice
The Amarillo Bulls home season opens with a match against the Odessa Jackalopes at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.
Single tickets range from $13 to $23, or $9 for children ages 2 to 12.
Other opponents this fall include: Lone Star Brahamas on Sept. 17 and Oct. 14-16, Wichita Falls Wildcats on Oct. 28 and 29, Corpus Christi IceRays on Nov. 4 and 5, and Shreveport Mudbugs on Nov. 18 and 19.
The home season continues through April 1; here's a full schedule.
Going to the dogs
Panhandle Kennel Club of Texas will host its annual dog show from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Sept. 15 to 18 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex North and South Exhibit Halls, 401 S. Buchanan St.
The event — which will feature obedience trials and classes, as well as vendor booths — is free.
For details, click here.
Fundraisers
- Amarillo Botanical Gardens' Mad Hatter's Ball fundraiser includes a full meal, open bar and prizes. Tickets are $50 or $500 for a table of eight. Attendees should wear "a curiously adorned hat." Call 806-352-6513 for ticket availability.
- Classic country singer John Conlee will headline the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo Gala at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Amarillo National Center on the fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave. Tables of eight are $500; proceeds benefit the fair's scholarship endowment. Call 806-376-7767 for ticket availability.
- Friends of the Amarillo Public Library will hold its annual book sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Downtown Library, 413 S.E. Fourth Ave. (Friends members can shop exclusively from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday). Books are $5 per bag on Sunday or priced as marked Saturday. Call 806-378-3054.
Other activities
- Panhandle PBS and the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will host a free advance screening of Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War at 7 p.m. Thursday at the fellowship, 4901 Cornell Street. The film, by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky, will premiere at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 on PBS. It tells the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and his wife from Wellesley, Mass., who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to multiple life-threatening missions in Europe.
- The Ruffles and Rust traveling boutique expo will offer shopping hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St. More than 80 vendors from three states will offer vintage items, home decor, fashion and other bling. Admission is $5 or free for ages 12 and younger.
- Amarillo Community Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on and around the grounds of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce at the historic Bivins Building, 1000 S. Polk St.
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.
