This weekend’s fiesta of cultural delights is shaping up to be one of those magical fall experiences that I love so much. Even Mother Nature is excited, and plans to come dressed in her finest autumn splendor.
In case you’ve been so enraptured by the presidential debates that you’ve lost track of our local happenings, this weekend promises to be a veritable feast of cultural experiences. You see, this is the weekend of the first ever Clarendon College Stampede NIRA Rodeo, majestically enhanced by the annual Clarendon Arts Festival, graciously presented by Les Beaux Arts Club.
The Clarendon College Stampede, which is a National Intercollegiate Rodeo, opens Thursday, October 25, and runs through Saturday, October 27. The Stampede will begin at 7:00 p.m. each night.
There are over 400 rodeo contestants from 16 colleges and universities, including Clarendon College, West Texas A&M, Frank Phillips College, Texas Tech University, Tarleton State University, along with a nice assortment of colleges and universities from around the Southwest and Oklahoma.
Events will include bull riding, barrel racing, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and an open double mugging each night. So, come prepared to witness and enjoy an excellent rodeo.
The Stampede is produced by Bad Company Rodeo. If you’ve never witnessed a Bad Company Rodeo, you are in for rocking, rolling extravaganza. These people know how to produce memorable rodeo experiences, so come prepared for good music, good riding, big time thrills and big time spills.
After you’ve enjoyed yourself at the rodeo, watching the young college contestants test their skills against the rank rodeo stock, you can then head on over to the Clarendon Arts Festival and partake of the cultural delights offered by Les Beaux Arts Club of Clarendon. The festival will be held at Donley County Activity Center.
A preferred buyers’ reception kicks things off, and will be held on Thursday, October 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you are interested in buying excellent art at a discount, there is still time to get registered to attend the reception. Call Tommye Duncan at 874.2224. If she doesn’t answer, leave a message and she will get back to you. A $100 deposit is required if you want to buy great art at great prices. Entertainment for the reception will be provided by The Jazz Standard of Canyon, Texas.
This year, the Arts Festival will have 10 booths, presenting art in several different mediums, including water colors, acrylics, and oil paintings. Additionally, mesquite wood inlaid with turquoise will be exhibited. There will also be fine photography, unique jewelry, along with other assorted crafts, including colorful hair bows.
Les Beaux Arts Club wants to encourage our young artists to participate in the festival this year. A “Kids’ Corner” booth will offer our young artists, age’s k – 6, a chance to develop their interest in art at a young age. The festival’s presenters want to promote art to younger kids, especially those who like to draw.
Children are encouraged to bring their drawings and paintings with them to the festival. Their work will be exhibited in the “Kids’ Corner” this weekend. So, get your children busy drawing and painting, and encourage them to bring their work to the festival.
There will be refreshments available for sale. St. Mary’s Catholic Church will offer breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls Saturday morning. Sunday at noon, St. Mary’s will serve an enchilada dinner.
Saturday, October 27, hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, hours are from 11 a.m., to 4 p.m.
Doppler Dave says that Mother Nature will bless these events with a lovely fall weekend, with crisp, clean air and gentle breezes to add a touch of color to our cheeks.
So, let’s all get out and enjoy our cultural heritage this weekend, enjoy our beautiful autumn weather, and most importantly – enjoy each other as we celebrate life and learning.
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