Festivals, tacos, solar eclipse tops Oct. 13 and 14 Amarillo events
October fun continues this weekend with a multitude of events for autumn vibes, from festivals to seasonal events and more.
Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm, located at 12908 Bell St., continues to offer fall family fun each weekend with its fall festival throughout the month with the Giant Corn Maze, pumpkin patch, Apple Cannons, cow train, ducky derby, pumpkin jumper, animal village and much more. Tickets and hours can be viewed online at https://www.maxwellspumpkinfarm.com/ .
On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14, the Amarillo Zoo is bringing back its annual Boo at the Zoo, featuring treats and craft stations, carnival-style games, food trucks and animal enrichment events for attendees to enjoy. The event will be held at the zoo from 6 to 9 p.m. both days, with admission stopping at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 per person. For more information, visit the Amarillo Zoo online at https://www.zoo.amarillo.gov/ .
The Amarillo Symphony presents "Celebraciones" at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 and 14 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Celebrate our region’s rich Hispanic heritage with this festive, fun, and fiery program, including award-winning Mariachi singer Nayelli Peña, Trio Los Reyes, and the Amarillo Symphony Youth Orchestra. Conductor is George Jackson. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com
Starlight Ranch, 1415 Sunrise Drive, is hosting Amarillo's annual Margarita and Taco Festival from 3-10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. There will also be Lucha Libre wrestling and live music by the Red Not Chili Peppers band. Tickets range from $15 to $150 (plus taxes and fees) depending on featured offerings per tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.bigtexan.com/starlight-ranch-event-center/
Homecoming Week festivities at West Texas A&M University culminate with events on Saturday. During Run with the Herd, WT Military and Veteran Services will host a 5K fun run around the WT campus at 8 a.m. The Buff Playlist-themed Homecoming parade will begin at 1 p.m. and will follow a route from the First United Bank Center to the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex along Russell Long Boulevard. Tailgating activities will begin immediately after the parade, and the Buffs will take on Western New Mexico at 7 p.m. in Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
Amarillo is among the parts of Texas that will see a full, annular solar eclipse on Saturday, starting at 10:13 a.m. with maximum coverage around 11:43 a.m. Broome Optical offered safe viewing glasses for $1 each and has sold out; proceeds will benefit the Downtown Women’s Center. Maxwell's Pumpkin Farm will host a solar eclipse watch party, and the Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site located at 4989 County Road 25 in Claude will host a Solar Eclipse Viewing and Fall Festival, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with hayrides, chuckwagon program, food trucks, and more.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery is hosting a Murder Mystery - Dinner with the Count on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14 at 7701 Interstate 40 in Amarillo. The 6 p.m. shows sold out, so they added a 9:30 p.m. time slot on Saturday. "Count Dracula is hosting the Blood Ball at the exclusive Fang and Rose Club uptown-where night walkers and blood drinkers of all ages can celebrate the immortal life. A little after midnight, Count Dracula returns to their dressing room after finishing their performance to discover a body drained of blood... . " The mystery includes a buffet featuring Prime Rib, Garden Salad, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, & Dinner Rolls Red Velvet Cake with Chocolate Ganache or Raspberry Cheesecake.
Other events on Saturday, Oct. 14 include (schedule subject to change):
Storybridge Live at Hodgetown, 10 a.m.-noon (9 a.m. early access), with 14 well-known book characters, face painting, balloon artists, children picking their own free books, and much more.
Guided Hike at 9 a.m. at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, covering the plant life, geology, and animals of The Bluff, led by a Wildcat Bluff staff member and Texas Master Naturalist. Guided Hikes are included with a Wildcat Bluff Membership, Wildcat Bluff add-on through The Discovery Center, or regular admission. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children over 3 and adults over 60. Participants should be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. For more information visit DHDC.org or Wildcat Bluff’s Facebook page.
Out of the Darkness Community Walk fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention West Texaschapter, with check-in at 5:30 p.m. and walk starting at 7 p.m. in Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.
Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River Music Festival at Bar Z Winery. The 8th annual wine festival includes wine tastings from different wineries, live music, a souvenir glass and more. 3-9 p.m. Saturday; 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541. Proceeds will be donated to the Texas Wine Foundation which helps students pursuing careers in the industry. For tickets, visit https://www.barzwines.com/product/8th-annual-pdtfrr-festival- .
Bushland Fall Festival - 5 p.m.
Fall Carnival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 1200 S. Washington St., presented by St. Mary's Cathedral School.
Robinson's Fall Festival, 1-6 p.m., 7451 S. Lakeside Dr.
Fall Fest at Panhandle Meat Processing / Ranchers Storefront, noon-3 p.m., 15891 S Dowell Rd., second annual event with food, live music and more.
5th Annual Hope for Our Heroes Gala, 5-9:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites, featuring An Evening with Marcus Luttrell, the "Lone Survivor" - more information at tickets available at https://www.hlhtexas.org/our-news#UpcomingEvents.
Plainview Halloween Bash, indoor trunk or treat at Ollie Liner Center, 2000 S. Columbia in Plainview.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Festivals, tacos, solar eclipse tops Oct. 13 and 14 Amarillo events
