With a three-day weekend on the calendar, it's shaping up to be the perfect excuse to make a full day of it.
Discover! 5.0 runs from noon to 10 p.m. at the Don Harrington Discovery Center, a partnership between DHDC, the City of Amarillo, the Amarillo Symphony, and High Plains Public Radio. The day is free to the public, with $5 museum admission if you want to duck inside and see the Dinosaurs Around the World exhibit before it departs on September 7.
From noon to 5 p.m., John Ward Memorial Park turns into a family fairground: bounce houses, yard games, face painters turning kids into dinosaurs, and a food truck alley stacked with local favorites — frybread, barbecue, cheesecake, coffee, and more. Community groups take the stage throughout the afternoon, from the Amarillo Suzuki Program to folklórico and dance troupes, plus touch-a-truck with the fire department and a Panhandle Warbirds flyover at 12:52 p.m. For a good cause, guests can even take a shot at dunking local leaders — including DHDC CEO Wendy Taylor — in the community dunk tank. The band Insufficient Funds closes out the daytime lineup before the evening turns skyward.
As the sun goes down, the real spectacle begins. Grab a lawn chair or picnic blanket for a live outdoor concert from the Amarillo Symphony, performing American classics in honor of the nation's 250th anniversary. The orchestra takes the stage behind the Discovery Center around 7:30 p.m., building toward a choreographed drone show finale set to the symphony's closing pieces around 9 p.m.
High Plains Public Radio will be broadcasting live from the Don Harrington Discovery Center throughout the concert, from 7 to 10 p.m. Central Time, bringing the Amarillo Symphony's performance to listeners across the region on 105.7 FM, the HPPR app, and hppr.org.
A few things to know before you go:
- Street parking is not permitted in the Medical Center area during the event — towing will be enforced.
- Free shuttles run starting at 11:30 a.m. from Amarillo College's West Campus and AmTech Career Academy.
- VIP packages are available with reserved concert seating, catering from Teddy Jack's Armadillo Grill, an open bar, and priority parking.
- If you're making a weekend of it, Hyatt Place Amarillo-West is offering a special event-night rate for Discover! 5.0 guests — no promo code needed, just book through the link on the event page.
General admission and VIP tickets are available at discoverycentercollective.org/events/discover-5-0.
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