More than 400 people filled the lawn outside the Potter County Courthouse on July 2 for High Noon on the Square, as the long-running downtown tradition entered its final month of its current season with a patriotic celebration and live Americana music from Andy Chase and Friends.
Beth Duke, executive director of Center City of Amarillo, said the gathering began with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, setting the tone for a festive afternoon leading up to the Fourth of July.
“It’s a patriotic week,” Duke said. “And today we have great Americana music, beautiful weather, popsicles to cool you off, and something for everybody — especially when you have great local talent like we do.”
Duke said strong attendance has been a theme this summer for the free concert series, helped by mild weather and a loyal following. The June 25 “High Noon” performance by the cast of the musical “Texas” — the long-running outdoor musical drama performed each summer in Palo Duro Canyon — drew more than 500 people and sold out of lunches, marking the largest crowd so far this season.
“That turnout meant so much to us,” she said. “People wake up, check the weather, and when it’s this perfect, they show up ready to enjoy the afternoon.”
Held each Wednesday at noon, High Noon on the Square features live entertainment and lunch for $10 on the courthouse lawn. The series is part of Center City’s effort to bring people into historic downtown and support its revitalization through arts and culture.
The weekly event has grown into a family tradition for many in Amarillo.
“I saw at least three families today who have not missed a single High Noon since we started,” Duke said. “Some of them plan their summers around it. They bring lawn chairs, their kids or grandkids, and make it part of their week — every week. It’s become a cherished part of their lives, and that’s what makes it so special.”
She added that the sense of shared memory — birthdays, reunions, and even weddings — adds to the feeling that the courthouse lawn belongs to the entire community.
Four events remain:
“This event brings people from every neighborhood,” Duke said. “We want downtown to always be everybody’s neighborhood.”
More details and the full schedule are available at centercity.org and on the Center City of Amarillo Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: High Noon on the Square enters final month with strong turnout
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
