Things to Do in Amarillo

From the fluid orchestration of an event's activities to the floral arrangements that beautify its tabletops, Parie Designs' delicate work can be spotted in all aspects of a wedding or party. Parie, a florist with 30 years of experience, tackles event production and design with control and clarity to ensure that galas run smoothly. Customers can admire her floral artistry in person at Parie Designs' shop, which carries assorted decor items and jewelry, or they can enter Planit Lounge to peruse an encyclopedic collection of wedding resources. Hosts can also rent Parie's portable photo booth to entice guests at parties, proms, or FBI stings to step in and flash a smile at the camera.

Pitch black except for fluorescent, zig-zagging putting greens, Lights Off Golf's glow-in-the-dark facility invites families and friends to test their putting acumen in 18- or 36-hole contests. Guests can also opt for a day pass to thoroughly test Newtonian physics against the difficult angles and elevation changes of the course. Lights Off Golf's party area can also host birthday parties and the wandering crowds of clubgoers drawn like moths to neon lights.

As an affiliate of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the Randall County Roller Dames challenge a lineup of regional rivals to fast-paced bouts of derby, eliciting cheers from an adoring flock of fans. The athletes sport helmets, skates, and tough nicknames based on obscure Cockney rhyming slang as they race around a circuit, elbowing and knocking away enemy skaters in a dizzying display of skill and teamwork. The Roller Dames exhibit a lasting loyalty to their home turf, not only through a series of six exhilarating home bouts, but also through yearly charity benefits for nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

At Eastridge Lanes, competitive camaraderie bonds athletes as they slug bowling balls down 32 glossy lanes. Bumpers ascend to guard gutters when kids or nesting squirrels are nearby, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs keep adults entertained. The alley's leagues and tournaments cultivate friendly face-offs, often over the promise of a cash prize. Casino No Tap Bowling, held each Saturday at 8 p.m., pits adults against each other for jackpots of up to $500. These games adhere to an altered rule, which awards a strike for knocking down nine pins. Lunar Bowling sessions transform the lanes into galactic sphereways, which, much like the international space station's discothèque, are illuminated by the glow of blacklights. Nearby, Lane 33 Cafe slings nachos, hot dogs, or fresh pizza for birthday partygoers and refueling athletes, and Don's Pro Shop outfits competitors with gear from Brunswick T-Zone and Ebonite Maxim.

Vivid reds, blues, greens, and yellows fill Jump-N-Jive’s 39,000-square-foot facility as kids bounce on a spectrum of inflatable objects. The indoor playground’s party-like atmosphere has earned praise in the Amarillo Globe-News, whose readers voted Jump-N-Jive the best venue for children's birthdays in 2008–2011. Available party packages include a party assistant, treats, and supplies, making the blow-up jungle gym an excellent spot for field trips, corporate parties, or flash-mob reunions.

Like the kids and families who make their way through its 3.5 miles of husk-lined trails, the corn maze at P Bar Farms wears a different costume each Halloween. This year, it celebrates the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA Finals appearance with a winding logo-shaped maze that has 95 different decision points and innumerable twists and turns. After navigating the hand-cut labyrinth, a feat that generally takes most maze-goers about one hour, folks can make their way around the property and enjoy P Bar Farms’ many other fall-flavored activities. The Main Barn serves as the hub where visitors can recharge with concessions, relax at picnic tables, or challenge a rooster to a sing-off during free karaoke sessions. Outside, families can enjoy a hayride over to the farm's pumpkin patch or make their way to the barnyard to pet farm animals. The property's big red barn plays host to adrenaline-fueled laser-tag matches, and mini golf allows for more leisurely family fun.