Update

There are many things going on, so make sure you check back everyday as we will be posting regular updates. Be sure to look at everything we have posted -you don't want to miss anything!

Here is some information about the Big Country July 4th Family Festival:

Jul. 4th Big Country July 4th Family Festival
Benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Abilene
Put on your sunscreen, bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a day of family fun with food booths, vendors, games and activities for families including, three-legged races, pie eating contest, kite flying and much more.
Live entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m. sponsored by Clear Chanel Communications.
Nelson Park, E.S. 11th & Loop 322
Noon to Dusk—FestivalDusk—Fireworks display sponsored by Musgrave Enterprises
Free
325-672-1712, Mark Young

Jul. 4th Abilene Zoo Serenade
Enjoy a dinner of fried chicken, catfish, watermelon and ice cream. Also featured is live music through out the evening by Rick Diaz, Vincent Dawson, John Heslep, Greg Young and AKA. Watch the city’s fireworks display after the music ends.
Non-members: $25—Adults; $15—ChildMembers: $20—Adults; $10—Child
Only 500 tickets will be sold.
Tickets on sale through June 30th
Abilene Zoo, E.S. 11th and Loop 322
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.325-676-6085, Abilene Zoo

Don't forget about the Abilene Shakespeare Festival coming in July. The tickets are free, but you need to get yours as soon as possible. You can contact the Box Office for tickets at:
325-674-2787

Dallas Area fun.

Another place to enjoy in the DFW area is Six Flags over Texas and accross the Interstate is Hurricane Harbor.

Hurricane Harbor
This is a great place to bring the kids or go as a group. Click on any of the following links for more information. Tickets,Rides and Attractions,Driving Directions,Guest Services,Food and Shops,Nearby Parks,Hours of Operation

Six Flags Over Texas
Just across Interstate 20 is another great place for fun with the family or a group of people. Click on any of the following links for paark information. Park Tickets, Rides and Attractions,Lodging, Driving Directions, Shops and Food

surrounding area

If you are looking for something to do, consider the surrounding area.

ARLINGON TX

So you have nothing to do this weekend? Well, guess again sports fans! Here is a chance to see two great MLB teams go head to head. There will be plenty to do and free things for the kids.
This coming weekend, you can see the battle of Texas as The Houston Astros take on the Texas Rangers at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.




















Click here for Tickets ,Seating & Pricing,Parking & Directions,Local Area

Information:
Friday 30 June: 7:35pm
Houston Astros vs. Texas Ranger
Promo for the First 10,000 Fans - 14 & OlderCoca-Cola / RaceTrac Michael Young/Julio Franco Figurine

Saturday 1 July: 12:20pm
Houston Astros vs. Texas Ranger
Promo for the First 25,000 Fans Upper Deck Texas Rangers Card Packs
99.5 The Wolf Post-Game Concert featuring Robert Earl Keen

Sunday 2 July 7:05pm
Houston Astros vs. Texas Ranger
Promo for kids 13 & Under Dreyer's $1 Ice Cream First 15,000 Fans - 14 & Older Picnic Blanket

Monday 3 JulyToronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Ranger 7:05 pm
Promo Ameriquest Mortgage Company Patriotic Fireworks Show Sponsored by KTVT


For more information follow this link:Texas Rangers

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So Baseball is not your thing:


SWEEETWATER TX:

















Cooder Graw is a four-piece band from Texas that has generated a considerable buzz in the Texas Music scene in its seven-year history, known for their own unique version of loud, raucous country with the writing chops to make it great.
When: Friday, June 30th
Where: Azteca sports bar and grill, 100 East Broadway, Sweetwater, Tx
What time: 9:00 p.m
Cost: 18-20 yrs of age $10, 21 and over $5
To find out more about the concert please visit http://www.aztecaclub.com/, or to learn more about this awesome country band please go to http://www.coodergraw.com/

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When: July 1st and 2nd
Time: July1st (9:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m)
Jul 2nd (9:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m)
Location: July1st @ Newman Park and down town Sweetwater,
July 2nd @ Newman Park
Cost: Free
The first fireworks extravaganza held at Newman Park attracted more than 10,000 people. This year's display will be the centerpiece of a four-day celebration of Sweetwater's 125th anniversary. Sweetwater became the permanent county seat of Nolan County in 1881, and during the next 125 years grew to become a business and transportation center for the region. Sweetwater celebrates its quasquicentennial with two days of family-oriented fun, including arts & crafts fair, classic car cruise, live bands, disc golf, softball, swimming, picnicking and the annual Fire in the Sky fireworks extravaganza.
For more information, call the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce, 800/658-6757. Or visit http://www.sweetwatertexas.org/

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STAMFORD TX



















Stamford: 39.8 miles is not that far to drive for a chance to have all kinds of fun.


The History:
TEXAS COWBOY REUNION - The Texas Cowboy Reunion, founded in 1930 as a tribute to the Texas cowboy, is held each year for three days around July 4 in Stamford. It is a gathering of working cowhands, not professional rodeo cowboys, aimed at honoring their traditions. Held in conjunction with the rodeo are the Texas Old-Timers Reunion, the Texas Quarter Horse Show, and the John Selmon Memorial Art Show. In February 1930 a group of thirteen Stamford businessmen met to discuss establishing some type of local celebration to counteract the depression morale. Since Stamford was central to several large ranches, a rodeo seemed appropriate, and, in order to make it unique, the founders named it the Texas Cowboy Reunion and dedicated it to preserving the heritage of the typical West Texas cowboy. That first year was a success in every way. Ninety-eight cowboys participated in four events. Calf roping was the most popular, but was followed closely by wild-cow milking, steer riding, and bronc riding. A total of 12,000 persons attended the rodeo in three days. In the following years the event grew. By 1937 crowds totaling 70,000 attended, with people coming from all over the Southwest. To accommodate them, reunion officials provided permanent grandstands, new lighting, a small lake, a two-story pavilion, and a bandstand. Attendance dropped sharply with World War IIqv but rose to between 50,000 and 65,000 by 1955. In the years after that it dropped until it leveled off at 10,000 to 12,000.The Texas Cowboy Reunion has established its own style.

A visitor to Stamford for the rodeo is met by the yells of the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboy Band leading off the parade, invited to eat at a chuck wagon, and entertained by local cowboys trying to best some of the meanest rodeo stock around. If that is not enough, there is always an old-timer at the bunkhouse who is eager to describe his version of life on the Texas range; it is his heritage that the Texas Cowboy Reunion celebrates each year on its fifty-five acres of land just west of Stamford.

You can read more about the history by following this link:Handbook of Texas Online

THE EVENTS:
The Texas Cowboy Reunion:

Follow this link for a detailed schedule:http://www.tcrrodeo.com/schedule_of_events.htm

You can learn about more of what will be going on at this link:Handbook of Texas Online: TEXAS COWBOY REUNION

Faire Park Miniature Golf Course

The best place in Abilene to play a few games of miniature Golf is Faire Park:












This is a great place for many reasons:


































Here are a few pictures:





























































Here is a link for more information


Play Faire Park The Family Fun Center and Miniature Golf Course - Abilene, TX

Lots of Choices - little time

Hello everyone! The next 10 days are going to provide you with a lot of choices when looking for something to do. I am going to try and list everything in this one post, but we will try to make individual posts that feature certain events as the week progresses.


Let's get started:

Live Theater: If you are tired of just going to a movie, why not try a live play?
You have two choices this week:

Jun. 29th -- Jul. 1st
“Wait Until Dark”
Drama/Thriller
Dinner Theatre McMurry University, Amy Grave Ryan Fine Arts Center
Dinner & Show: 7 p.m. — $18
Show Only: 8 p.m. — $8
325-793-3889, Box Office

Jun. 30th -- July 1st
“Twentieth Century”
Oscar Jaffe, a bankrupt Broadway director, boards the famous 20th Century Limited to persuade Lily Garland, the chorus girl he transformed into a leading lady, to star in his latest show. Trouble is, now that she is a Hollywood diva, she despises him. All aboard...for a hilarious evening!
Abilene Community Theatre
8 p.m.
$10--Adults; $8--Sr. Citizens, Military, Students; $5--Ages 12 and younger
325-673-6271, Box Office

Classic Movie:












PARAMOUNT SPECIAL EVENT FILM -
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,
7:30 pm.
As a special July 4th film presentation we are pleased to present this 1939 classic, widely considered the best film from Frank Capra, one of Hollywood's most honored and respected directors. Jimmy Stewart stars in this patriotic and uplifting film as a young politician who, after being sent to Washington as a junior senator, matures in wisdom, fights political corruption and ultimately guards American values as a moral hero. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. 1939, black & white, 129 minutes. Not Rated. The Paramount Film Series ticket prices are $5 for adults and $4 for students, seniors, military and children.

Jun. 30th -- Jul. 1st
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
A Frank Capra film starring Jimmy Stewart
Paramount Theatre 7:30 p.m.
$5 Adult; $4 Student/Seniors/Military
325-676-9620, Box Office
Box OfficeWeb Site: http://www.paramount-abilene.org/

New Movies:
Century Abilene 12
3818 John Knox Dr, Abilene, TX 79606









The Devil Wears Prada
Release Date: June 30, 2006
Run Time: 1 hr. 46 min.
Rating: PG-13 - some sensuality
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Adrian Grenier
Director: David Frankel
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: Andy is a recent college graduate with big dreams. Upon landing a job at prestigious Runway magazine, she finds herself the assistant to diabolical Miranda Priestly. Andy questions her ability to survive her grim tour as Miranda's whipping girl without getting scorched. Based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger.
For more information follow this link: The Devil Wears Prada

Don't Forget about Superman Returns!









Century Abilene 12
3818 John Knox Dr, Abilene, TX 79606

Superman Returns
Release Date: June 28, 2006
Run Time: 2 hr. 37 min.
Rating: PG-13 - some intense action violence
Cast: Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth
Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Synopsis: While an old enemy plots to destroy him once and for all, the Man of Steel returns after a long absence to a much-changed world. Lois Lane has moved on with her life, and society has learned to survive without him. Superman must find a way to reconnect with her and find his place in a world that may no longer need him.
For more information follow this link: Superman Returns











Jun. 29th
Sunset Safari & Spots and Stripes Forever Summer Concert Series
Enjoy the Zoo until 9 p.m. and a concert by John Heslep from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Abilene Zoo, Nelson Park, E.S. 11th & Loop 322
$3—Ages 13-59; $2—Ages 3 to 12 & Sr. Citizens
325-676-6085,

Racing:








TSTC West Texas Street Night
Thursday June 29
$10 race or watch
Street Legal - no track cars
7-11pmRun for a trophy Car and Motorcycle trophy
Bracket racers with street legal cars can run in our Pro Street Trophy class!

Dodge & Mopar's Ram-bunctious Friday
Friday June 30
Gates open 6 pm
Gates Open 6-midnight
Quick 16 - see flyer
Midnight Madness 10-12pm, $10 car load

Saturday July 1
Abilene DragstripPoints Race
FIREWORKS DISPLAY
Gates Open 4:00 pm
Jr Time Trials 4pm
Big Cars 5pm


If you have never been to the Abilene Dragstrip, here is some information:
Abilene Dragstrip is a 1/8 mile drag strip in located in Abilene, Texas. We are located just west of Abilene on Interstate 20, easily accessible from the Abilene area, Dyess Air Force Base, Interstate 20 and Hwy 277. We are centrally located in west Texas, approximately 180 miles west of Fort Worth on I-20 Texas MapWe are a full service racing facility that caters to the drag race fan as well as the participant. We feature excellent covered seating, state-of-the-art timing equipment, paved parking, lighting and on site fuel sales along with other amenities. In 2004, Abilene Dragstrip was voted IHRA's Sportsman Track of the Year. We were also recognized for bringing the most racers into the Summit Super series.
Here is the link to the website: Home














There are many more things going on. Check back often as we will be updating all week!

WWE Biggest Party of the Summer

Summer Slam & RAW present WWE’s Biggest Party of the Summer! at Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene, TX on
Sunday, July 16th at 7PM

Tickets on sale Saturday, June 24th

No Holds Barred Grudge Match
John Cena vs. Edge w/ Lita

2 on 5 Handicap Match-The Return of DX
Shawn Michaels and HHH vs. Spirit Squad

Kane vs. Randy Orton

Intercontinental Championship Match
Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin

Matt Striker confronts “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair

6 Diva Tag Team Match
Torrie Wilson-Trish Stratus-Maria vs.
Mickie James-Victoria-Candice Michelle

Charlie Haas vs. Umaga w/ Alejandro


Tickets prices: $35-25

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TAYLOR COUNTY COLISEUM BOX OFFICE, ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, TICKETMASTER.COM AND CHARGE BY PHONE 325-677-4376
DON'T FORGET:Tickets go on sale on Sat, 06/24/06 10:00 AM. This event will be held at Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene, TX.

Click here for ticket info