Guide to Celebrating the Holidays in Amarillo, Texas

The holiday season is a special time for everyone, and in Amarillo, Texas, we do it up right. One of the best things about being in Amarillo during this time of year is the variety of community events that go on. You and your family can find events to help you give back to the community, let your kids have breakfast with Santa, and even go on a romantic evening to hear beloved Christmas hymns. Here are some of the favorite holiday happenings around Amarillo, Texas, for the 2006-2007 season. Happy holidays!

The Evelyn Rivers Christmas Project
November-January
All Over Amarillo and the Panhandle
For details visit http://www.evelineriversproject.org/
The Eveline Rivers Christmas Project is the pride of the Amarillo area during the holidays. For many years now Evelyn Rivers has led a group that spends their time bringing joy and warmth to children in the Amarillo area who otherwise would not have warm coats when it's cold, or new toys for the holidays. Serving the Amarillo area's children, adolescents, and teenagers, the Evelyn Rivers Christmas Project has provided over 70,000 winter coats and Christmas packages for the holidays. There are drop sites all over Amarillo, and a training site for volunteers at the sorting facility. There is no better way to make the holidays extra special than providing for those who are less fortunate.

Holidays in the City - Electric Light Parade
Dec 1 at 6pm
Downtown Amarillo
1-806-372-6744
Or visit www.centercity.org for more information
One of Amarillo's most exciting holiday events is the Electric Light Parade, this year dubbed "Holidays in the City." It is a parade with floats that are lit with festive lights for the holidays, and travels all the way through downtown Amarillo, ending at the Amarillo Civic Center. Once there, Amarillo's Christmas tree will be lit at 7p.m. If you have young children or are just looking for a festive way to start your holidays, the Electric Light Parade of Amarillo is a great place to start!

Kwahadi Indian Dancers 41st Annual Winter Night Ceremonials
Dec 28 - Dec 30
Kwahadi-Kiva Indian Museum and Performance Center-9151 I-40 E Amarillo, Tx
1-806-372-2463 for reservations or information
Or visit www.kwahadi.com
2006 will be the 41st year in a row for the Annual Winter Night Ceremonials. The Kwahadi Indian Dancers are a group of Amarillo performers who keep the Plains heritage alive with their community work and passion for ceremonial dance. Tickets (which include admission to the museum) for adults are $6.50, seniors are $5.50 and students are $4.50; attendees can have dinner at the performance for an extra charge. Having been to the Winter Night Ceremonials many times in years past, I can tell you that it is not to be missed when in Amarillo for the holidays.

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Holiday Open House
Dec. 1 - Dec. 2
Panhandle Plains Historical Museum-2503 Fourth Ave, Canyon, TX
1-806-651-2244
Or visit www.panhandleplains.org
Located just outside of Amarillo, in Canyon, Texas, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Holiday Open House provides every possible type of entertainment for families during the holidays, including musical entertainment, storytelling, and period role players in Pioneer Town. There is no admission charge, so if you're going to be in Amarillo for the holidays, drive five miles south to Canyon and visit the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Holiday Open House.

Amarillo Little Theater-A Christmas Carol
Nov. 30-Dec.
Amarillo Little Theater-2019 Civic Circle, Amarillo,Texas
Or visit www.amarillolittletheater.org
The Amarillo Little Theater is always a great place for the whole family to get in a little culture, but during the holidays the performances are at their best. A beautiful, yet intimate space that adds to the festive feeling, this holiday season the Theater will be performing the Broadway adaptation of the classic, A Christmas Carol. With music by Little Shop of Horrors' Alan Menken, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens of Ragtime, A Christmas Carol is a festive way for you and your family to enjoy the holidays in Amarillo.

Amarillo Community Prayer Breakfast 2006
November 21, 2006
Amarillo Civic Center- 401 S. Buchanan, Amarillo, Texas
Breakfast at 6:00 am, event Starts at 7:00 am
Visit www.amarillociviccenter.com for more information
A yearly celebration to kick off the holidays, the Amarillo Community Prayer Breakfast is a way for the Amarillo community to come together and pray for a bountiful and blessed holiday season for all. Everyone is welcome, and there is a different guest speaker every year. For 2006, the guest speaker is Mr. Glenn Sanders, who will share how God has made a difference in his remarkable life.

The Annual Bishop Hills Lights Tour
Yearly throughout the month of December
Bishop Hills area, west of Amarillo, Texas
Five miles west of Amarillo, just off Boys Ranch Road, you'll find an upscale community with some of the most beautiful architecture in the state of Texas. Within the Bishop Hills Community, homeowners spend the months before Thanksgiving every year getting ready for the annual Bishop Hills Lights Tour. Here you'll find some breathtaking and elaborate holiday lights on almost every home, and the oohs and ahhs can be heard around the city! If you have children looking for some neat Christmas lights this year, The Bishop Hills Lights Tour just outside Amarillo is the place to go.

The Nutcracker
December 8-10, 2006
Amarillo Civic Center-401 S. Buchanan, Amarillo, Texas
Visit www.artsinamarillo.com for more information
Tickets are $15, $20, $25, and $35
The pride of Amarillo, the Lone Star Ballet, is once again presenting it's most beloved performance of the Nutcracker, along with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. Beautiful music, sets, and costumes take you back in time and evoke the spirit of the season. Tickets are on sale now, for $15, $20, $25, and $35. Come to Amarillo and celebrate the magic of the holidays with your family by seeing a performance of the Nutcracker!

Amarillo Symphony Uncorked: New Year's Eve Gala
December 31 8:00 pm
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts- 500 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo, Texas
featuring:
James Setapen, conductor
Keith Redpath, violin
Eric Barry, tenor
If you're looking for the perfect evening to cap off your holidays in Amarillo, make plans to attend the New Year's Eve Gala, "Uncorked", with the Amarillo Symphony. It will be a night to remember, full of beautiful music and a midnight countdown complete with champagne, food, and dancing to jazz standards. Formal attire is suggested, and please try to order your tickets early for the best seating. Surprise your sweetheart with a romantic New Year's Eve at the Amarillo Symphony's Uncorked Gala 2006!

Breakfast With Santa
Date to be determined
Don Harrington Discovery Center-1200 Streit Drive Amarillo, Texas
1-806-355-9547
Or visit www.dhdc.org for date of event
A tradition for the holidays in Amarillo, Breakfast with Santa at the Don Harrington Discovery Center is the most fun you can have for Christmas with your children. Kids of all ages in Amarillo enjoy visiting the North Pole Village each year to meet with Santa Claus, eat breakfast with the elves, and participate in games and crafts. Families can also enjoy a laser show in the Discovery Center's Digistar 3 Theater.

As you can see, Amarillo offers so many activities for the holidays that it can be difficult to choose which ones to participate in. Hopefully this article introduces you to a new family tradition. The holidays are always the best time to make memories together. Happy Holidays!