Community Calendar

As a participant, we agree:

* to share our own poetry or the works of others, acknowleding the poet
* to listen and offer constructive and helpful comments
* to limit our reading time to accommodate all readers,
* to encourage new poets, and
* to respect the work, time, and commitment of all in attendance.

Journalist and author Bill Kurtis will be a special guest at the 15th Annual Kansas Book Festival at Washburn University Saturday, Sept. 26. His 2025 memoir, "Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News" will be available for purchase.

Other highlighted books to be featured include "Kansas Matters: Twenty-First-Century Writers on the Sunflower State," "Stories from the Phog: Forty Years of Kansas Basketball," and "Opinionated: Kansas Journalists Who Proved Why Commentary Matters, Then and Now."

Additionally, 40+ publishers, nonprofits, and individual authors, and guests are invited to dine at local food trucks, listen to live music, and bring the whole family to enjoy children’s activities.

The event plays host to an award ceremony for the Kansas Notable Books selected annually by the State Library of Kansas, as well as a presentation by the winner of the Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award, granted by the Kansas Studies Collection at Mabee Library.

The Kansas Book Festival is now expanding to year-round programming, including arranging author visits to local schools and awarding grants to Kansas libraries in need.

Meet Amber Starbuck, author of "Ramblings of Grief," from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Amarillo's Westgate Mall.

Purchase an autographed copy of her book from Lingering Lines Publishing and spend some time with Starbuck, take pictures and receive an exclusive bookmark!

The final program in the William Allen White Community Partnership 2026 "Journalism" series will feature "The Kansas Reflector & Kansas Journalism with Sherman Smith and Clay Wirestone."

Smith is the award-winning, widely read editor of the Kansas Reflector--and a journalist with close ties to Emporia. Wirestone's new book "Opinionated" was recently released and will be available for purchase at the event.

The Emporia Arts Council Emil Babinger Art Mobile will also be on site with a variety of art and craft projects for all ages.

The home of famed newspaper publisher, William Allen White, is known as Red Rocks.

Open seasonally from mid-April to mid-October, Wednesday through Saturday, 10am-5pm, and 1-5pm on Sundays. See the KHS website for exact open dates.

Pratt Community College alumni Kelley Elder will portray Mark Twain, famed American author of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and “Live on the Mississippi” from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 in Carpenter Auditorium.

Ignite your curiosity!

Girls Who Science is a FREE program that includes conversations, presentations, and Q&A's with esteemed women professionals in the STEM industry.

This program is intended to inspire girls ages 8-18 to pursue a career in STEM, but family and other interested community members are also welcome to attend!

Following the presentation and Q&A, the center will provide a half hour, hands-on learning activity to match our speakers' topic of study. This particular activity is for Girls Who Science club members only.

Girls who Science coincides with Free First Mondays, so the whole family can join in and explore the center's immersive exhibits!

Drop off policy:
-Drop off will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 5 p.m.
-All participants will need to sign in prior to the program starting
-All participants need to provide an emergency contact name and phone number
- Participants under the age of 14 will require a guardian signature if being dropped off

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, invites the public to a free Open Government
Seminar from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Amarillo Area Foundation, 919 S. Polk.

The seminar covers state open meetings and
public records laws and is designed for journalists, attorneys,
government employees and engaged citizens. State Bar Continuing Legal Education credit is available for attorneys.

Reservations are encouraged, but
not required. RSVP to kelley.shannon@foift.org.

For more information go to www.foift.org or
call 512-377-1575.

The 3rd edition of the Amarillo International Film Festival returns October 8 to 10. Join us for what promises to be another fantastic weekend at Arts in the Sunset!

New this year: Friday Filmmakers’ BBQ.

Awards include:
Narrative Feature: $2,500
Documentary Feature: $2,500
Narrative Short: $1,000
Documentary Short: $1,000
Student Short: $500
Animated Short: (from all short submissions) $500

Greater Amarillo Filmmaker Award: $1,000
This will be awarded to the best film in which the filmmaker resides in the Greater Amarillo area (Texas Panhandle) or at least 50% of the film was shot in the Greater Amarillo area.

Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health Award - TBD

Legacy Award - Awarded at the discretion of the Festival Director and committee.
Visit Amarillo Route 66/ Road Trippin' Award -$500

New in 2026 for Route 66 Centennial Anniversary, this will be awarded to the film that best embodies the Route 66/ Road Trip vibe and/or is filmed on Route 66.

Non-Cash Awards:
Audience Choice Best Narrative Feature
Audience Choice Best Documentary Feature
Audience Choice Best Narrative Short
Audience Choice Best Documentary Short
Audience Choice Best Student Short
All award winners receive a special artisan-made AiFF Award.

The 3rd edition of the Amarillo International Film Festival returns October 8 to 10. Join us for what promises to be another fantastic weekend at Arts in the Sunset!

New this year: Friday Filmmakers’ BBQ.

Awards include:
Narrative Feature: $2,500
Documentary Feature: $2,500
Narrative Short: $1,000
Documentary Short: $1,000
Student Short: $500
Animated Short: (from all short submissions) $500

Greater Amarillo Filmmaker Award: $1,000
This will be awarded to the best film in which the filmmaker resides in the Greater Amarillo area (Texas Panhandle) or at least 50% of the film was shot in the Greater Amarillo area.

Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health Award - TBD

Legacy Award - Awarded at the discretion of the Festival Director and committee.
Visit Amarillo Route 66/ Road Trippin' Award -$500

New in 2026 for Route 66 Centennial Anniversary, this will be awarded to the film that best embodies the Route 66/ Road Trip vibe and/or is filmed on Route 66.

Non-Cash Awards:
Audience Choice Best Narrative Feature
Audience Choice Best Documentary Feature
Audience Choice Best Narrative Short
Audience Choice Best Documentary Short
Audience Choice Best Student Short
All award winners receive a special artisan-made AiFF Award.

St. Luke Presbyterian Church and Amarillo United Methodist Church are hosting Dr. Ruben Habito, Professor Emeritus of World Religions and Spirituality, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

We offer three sessions beginning at 6:30 on Friday evening, and 10 am on Saturday morning and 1pm on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Habito will be the preacher in a combined worship service of both congregations at 11 am on Sunday morning.

His topic titles are:
You Are My Beloved
The Good News in Daily Life
Contemplation in Action: Toward Healing Our Wounded World