Good morning, Amarillo.

A local nonprofit called Bridging the Gaps acquired a motel, now known as Charlie's Place — a safe haven for homeless men that offers therapy, dentistry, and eye care.

The organization plans to house four or five men within the next week and urges local businesses to hire them.

The Amarillo Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 29th annual barbecue cook-off, drawing thousands to enjoy food, music, and business networking — an event that supports local businesses when meeting with lawmakers.

The celebration, now nearly 30 years in the making, reinforces the chamber’s commitment to advocating for business interests.

The Spectrum Support Society and partners ADVO Inc. and Hope Village are hosting two free October events that celebrate art, ability and inclusion—Family Art Day on Oct.

4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at ADVO and the Inclusion in Color Gala and Auction on Oct. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. Proceeds from the gala will support the society’s work to connect families with local services and programs.

Firehouse Subs is hosting a Touch-the-Truck event this Saturday, October 4 from 1 to 3 p.m.—at two Amarillo locations where local firefighters will meet residents and share fire safety tips with free materials featuring Sparky the Fire Dog to kick off Fire Prevention Week.

Local musician Dean Yates and fellow Amarillo players teamed up to present a Queen tribute benefit—this concert will support new updates for the 55+ Club facility at Center City.

The event will be held at the Globe-News Center of the Performing Arts Saturday, Oct 11 at 7:30 p.m., with raffles, drawings, and local restaurant gift cards available and tickets priced at $25.50.

Amarillo Animal Welfare & Management is offering free microchipping for pets every Saturday and Monday in October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.—pet owners can have their pets chipped at 3501 S.

Osage St. to help reunite lost animals with their families.

More than 100 community members marched downtown on Oct.

1 for the Domestic Violence Awareness Walk from Legal Aid to the Potter County Courthouse lawn to honor victims and raise awareness as local cases exceeded 1,700. Organizers will host more events on Oct. 4 at El Alamo Park and on Oct. 11 at Amarillo College’s Oeschger Family Mall to keep the focus on stopping abuse.

Big Country Cafe in Dumas reopened after a devastating fire — caused by an electrician mistake during remodeling — and owner Tim Rehkoff said the rebuild met the need for a breakfast spot north of Amarillo as customers lined up every day.

The Amarillo Museum of Art’s Biennial 600 opens this weekend and will run free through Jan.

4 with a cover-charged opening reception at 6 p.m. featuring cocktails and gallery talks by curators and artists — the exhibition shows work from artists within a 600-mile radius.

Amarillo College has surpassed its Badger Bold campaign target—raising over $47 million since launching its quiet phase in 2020 to support student experience, staff enrichment, and campus improvements.

West Texas A&M students and alumni will participate in the Homecoming 2025 parade themed Wild West Texas, which will start at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First United Bank Center and travel down Russell Long Boulevard to the Sybil B.

Harrington Fine Arts Complex. NewsChannel 10 will host the live broadcast as the homecoming week wraps up with a football game on Oct. 4.

Amarillo Special Advisor Floyd Hartman—who served for over 20 years and led water utilities and planning groups—was honored last week with the prestigious Beelee Goodwin Public Administrator Award.

Hartman, who will retire in January, said the award recognizes both his work and that of his colleagues, and City Manager Grayson Path praised his leadership in securing sustainable water for the city.

The Amarillo Chamber hosted its 29th Annual BBQ Cook-Off on October 2 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds—nearly 100 teams competed and guests paid $45 for an all-you-can-eat event featuring smoked meats—drawing food enthusiasts from around the city.

OpenShift Fundamentals Training

Mon, Oct 6 – Wed, Oct 8 — Amarillo College — Cost information not provided — Enhance your software development skills with this Linux-focused training class.

Amarillo International Film Festival

6-9 p.m. — Arts in the Sunset — Check website for ticket info — Celebrate global cinema with independent films, director panels, and industry insights.

Cottonwood Faire

10 AM – 6 PM — Thompson Memorial Park — Enjoy a variety of entertainment and food — Experience medieval combat, interact with characters, and relish festival fare at Amarillo's Renaissance faire.

Neon Slugfest - Calling All Slug Bugs Car Show

Get ready to glow at NEON SLUGFEST: Our 12th Annual Car Show happening Saturday, October 18th at Street Volkswagen! Live music, food trucks, prizes, face painting & more. It's free to register at streetvw.com

Autocross Event #5

8:30 a.m. — Westgate Mall — $35 SCCA Members, $45 Non-members — Experience the thrill of racing while helping set up the course at this exciting autocross event.

Motown: Back in the Day, Here to Stay

7-10:30 p.m. — The Bliss Venue — Tickets available — Experience a soul-stirring celebration of Motown music with electrifying performances from premier R&B groups.

VMware vSphere 8.0 Skill Up Training Class

Mon-Fri, Oct 27-31 — Amarillo College — $2400 — Enhance your VMware skills with this hands-on training course.