Texas, Amarillo | featured news

The upcoming 20th Diocesan Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Amarillo is celebrating a spirit of hope and unity beginning Friday.
Father Hector J. Madrigal, pastor at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, said the event usually averages 2,000 in participation and he encourages people of all cultures and faiths to come participate.
“That’s always been our focus — to bring people from different languages and cultures as a sign of unity,” Madrigal said.

The likes of Igor, Inga, The Monster and “Fronkensteen” — not Frankenstein — from Mel Brooks’ 1974 classic film “Young Frankenstein” are coming to the stage during Amarillo Little Theatre’s upcoming musical production.
Director Allen Shackles said the musical, titled “The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein,” has been adapted for the stage with music and lyrics by Brooks himself, so the audience can expect to see the same characters and stories as the movie.

The region’s best young musicians are joining together for the upcoming All Region Orchestra Concert.
Bowie Middle School 8th-grade violinist Jeremy Kongdara said the community should come just to enjoy the music.
“I feel like once you listen to classical music it like makes you feel really good,” he said.
“And it’d be good for the community and everything to come listen to good music and have a good time.”
All Region Orchestra is comprised of middle and high school students from Amarillo and Canyon independent school districts.

It’s time to ring in and sing in the Christmas season, complete with audience participation.
The West Texas A&M Music Department will entertain with Christmas music and a chance for audience members to sing during its annual concert, “I Heard the Bells: A Holiday Musical Celebration,” during two performances at 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall.
The best part?
It’s free and won’t disrupt the holiday spending budget!

What do Santa Claus, hot-air balloons and live music have in common? All three can be found during the Christmas holiday season around the Canyon.
A magnificent view of the Canyon at night illuminated by the glow of hot-air balloons can be had during the Christmas in the Canyon Balloon Glow from 5 to 8 p.m on Dec. 17.
In addition to the balloons, music will be provided by the Oakdale Elementary School honor choir. And there will be hot chocolate and a chance to visit with Santa as well.

Here’s a chance for the kids to have breakfast with Santa on Dec. 3 at the Discovery Center.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. join Santa for a family-friendly breakfast and holiday activities and crafts that will delight the children.
Plus there’s a chance to get your own special photograph with Santa.
Breakfast with Santa includes a breakfast bag filled with goodies provided by Chick-fil-A on Georgia Street., Donut Stop, McDonald’s, Sam’s Club on Ross Street., and Southwest Dairy, and beverages.

The feeling of Christmas arrives in Amarillo for certain when the Electric Light Parade comes down Polk Street each year. The theme of this year’s Electric Light Parade is “Songs of the Seasons.”
This year the lighted parade starts at 11th Avenue and Polk St. at 6 p.m. on Friday and will continue through downtown to the Amarillo Civic Center for the lighting of the city’s Christmas Tree. The celebration will be highlighted with a musical performance and an appearance from Santa Claus.

Michael Martin Murphey will return to the Plaza in the Kwahadi Museum in concert on Thursday evening.
There will be a meet and greet dinner at 6 p.m. and the Cowboy Christmas Ball follows in the Plaza at 7 p.m. Ticket prices have not yet been posted on the Museum’s website, but last year the prices were $15 for the meet-and-greet diner and $35 for the concert. The food this year will be provided by Cowboy Gelato.
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WAITING A WEEK
Black Friday has worked its way backwards into Thursday as what were once post-Thanksgiving sales get started earlier and earlier.
For some customers, the shopping event lasts all week.
About 10 shoppers had camped outside Best Buy before 9 a.m. Thursday.
By opening time, there were hundreds queued up, stretching into an adjoining parking lot.
The first in line, local radio host Tommy Hacker, had been sleeping in a tent on the sidewalk since Sunday night.

Like the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth Rock centuries ago, Amarillo’s newest residents didn’t quite know what to make of the strange food their hosts were offering.
Participants in the Texas Refugee Services’ ESL class eyed the pumpkin pie laid in front of them apprehensively.
A few adventurous souls piled slices onto their plates, then doused them in canned whipped cream.
Some refugees had been in America for months; others, mere weeks.