If ever there were a weekend to take a rideshare into downtown, this is it. No less than five major events are scheduled to take place Friday in and around the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. (And, for a couple, the fun continues throughout the weekend.)
Up first: Christmas in the Sky, the Amarillo Sod Poodles’ holiday fireworks show in Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St. Gates for the free show open at 5:30, with music from San Antonio band Angela Stiggers & The Cue at 6 p.m. Fireworks begin at 7 p.m., and the crowd (past years have seen 25,000-plus, according to the team) will enjoy free hot chocolate, milk and cookies. Call 806-803-7762.
Then comes the Black Tie Affair at 6 p.m. Friday in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom. Though tables are sold out, you can still enjoy the party with one (or more) unwrapped toy(s), which benefits the Northside Toy Drive Giveaway at Palo Duro High School, 1400 N. Grant St. Now in its 13th year, the Black Tie Affair has provided toys for hundreds of children while also being the coolest party of the year. For information, call 806-680-3602 or visit northsidetoydrive.com. (We wrote about this toy drive and others in our latest issue.)
Or check out the kickoff to the Amarillo Wranglers’ homestand against the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, set for 7:14 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Civic Center Coliseum. T Tickets are $21 to $32; call 806-378-3096.
Families still love the Lone Star Ballet’s annual holiday production of The Nutcracker, now in its 51st year in the Civic Center Auditorium. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $23 to $60; call 806-378-3096.
And finally, hometown favorite Aaron Watson brings his annual family Christmas tour back to town for an 8 p.m. Friday show in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. The Randall High School graduate has kept his home base in Abilene since college, but he’s been among the leading lights of the Texas country scene for more than a quarter-century. Expect lots of traditional holiday favorites mixed with some of Watson’s biggest hits. Tickets are $41 to $61; call 806-378-3096.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Christmas in the Gardens: 6 to 8:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 23, then Dec. 27; 1400 Streit Drive; admission free for members, $10 nonmembers; 806-352-6513
The Droptines with Keyland: 9 p.m. Tuesday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover
A Streetcar Named Desire: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre on the Washington Street campus; tickets $10 adults, $8 seniors and $6 students; 806-371-5358
Amarillo Lights at Maxwell’s: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday; continues through Dec. 23; admission $22.95; 12908 S. Bell St.; 806-373-9600
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 pm. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday; ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle; sold out, but standby list available; 806-355-9991
Secret Society Rave-Mas Party: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; secret location TBA; cover $10 to $20, plus fees; livecapitalshows@gmail.com
Black Tie Affair Afterparty: 9 p.m. Friday; The Matador Cocktail Lounge, 626 S. Polk St.; free for ages 21 and older; 806-699-1119
Marvin Davis: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Hops ’n Shops Holiday Market: 11 a.m. Saturday; Old Tascosa Brewing Co., 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Merry Market: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday; Canyon Farmers Market, Fourth Avenue and 15th Street in Canyon; 806-567-0746
Kickback 2: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
“Stranger Things” Trivia Night: 7 p.m. Monday; Pondaseta Brewing Co., 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Movie options:
New releases:
Drama Ella McCay (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 25th anniversary screenings (opens Friday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); Zootopia 2 and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas double feature (Friday, Tascosa Drive-In, 1999 Dumas Drive); Broadway musical Merrily We Roll Along (through Dec. 18, Cinemark Hollywood 16); André Rieu’s 2025 Christmas Concert: Merry Christmas (Wednesday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); A Christmas Story (Wednesday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); Wedding Crashers 20th anniversary (Thursday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); Elf: Buddy’s Sing & Cheer Along Edition (Friday, Cinergy); Dick Van Dyke 100th Celebration (Saturday and Sunday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); Die Hard (Saturday, Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive) Elf (Saturday and Dec. 17, Cinemark Hollywood 16); The Polar Express (Saturday, Cinergy); Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris (Sunday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); A Christmas Story (Sunday, Cinergy); Sense and Sensibility 30th anniversary screenings (Sunday and Dec. 16-17, Cinemark Hollywood 16); Gremlins (Monday, Cinergy) Secret Movie Series (Monday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Dec. 16, Cinergy)
