For lunch today, why not head over to the Center for Contemporary Arts for their mid-month movie? From noon to 1 p.m. learn how contemporary art addresses the idea of consumption by watching the documentary entitled, “21^st Century Art: Consumption,” which explores different questions through the work of such artists as Barbara Kruger, Michael Ray Charles and more. Admission is free. Call the Center at 325-677-8389 for more information.

Also starting today is the Taylor County Livestock Show and Sale. The show runs through Friday, the 20^th in the Horse Barn and Griffin Arena. Daily show times do vary. Contact the Taylor County Expo Center at 325-677-4376 with any questions.

Watch our local talent slam-dunk the completion this season! Thursday night the Hardin Simmons University Cowgirls and Cowboys will challenge Mary Hardin Baylor in basketball; game times are 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Hardin Simmons. Both teams will play again against Concordia on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3p.m. Tickets are $3 to $6. Call Kim O’Dell at 325-671-5768 for more information.

Friday through Sunday grab your little ones and head over to downtown Abilene to see the Paramount Production of Disney’s the Jungle Book Kids! Watch as this exciting stage adaption of the Disney classic is brought to life with live music, song and dance! A local cast of children aged 8 to 14 are featured in this colorful and lively production.  Show times are 7:30 p.m Friday and Saturday evenings and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors military and children.

Need a laugh this weekend? The Abilene Community Theatre brings to Abilene the wildly funny farce, “Love, Sex and the I.R.S.” Starting Thursday and running through Saturday, watch two male and out of work musicians room together in New York City try to save money by filing their tax returns listing them as a married couple. Chaos ensues when the IRS sends an investigator to check out the happy husband and wife, a fiancée and ex-girlfriend make an appearance to stir the pot, as well as one of the gentleman’s mother. Showtime starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets for adults are $10, students, seniors and active military are $8 and children 12 and under are $5. Contact the box office at 325-673-6271 if you need more information.

The West Texas Rehab Center Telethon is back this weekend! On Saturday from 7 pm to midnight, watch your favorite television and country western stars, including headliner Summer Sweeney, perform at this annual fundraiser at the Abilene Civic Center. Tickers are $10-$15 dollars a person. Don’t forget to check out their online auctions at www.rehabauction.org to shop a tremendous variety of pieces. Auctions will close at midnight on the 21^st.  Have questions? Call the West Texas Rehab Center at 325-793-3529 to get them answered.

Post what you picked to do after the jump!

January 1, 2011 the ACVB launched a new revamped hospitality training class for hospitality employees entitled, “In Your Own Backyard.” The purpose of the class is to raise awareness about Abilene among hospitality employees, as well as teach them customer service traits so they can provide visitors with a positive experience! Participants visit Abilene attractions and learn what all there is to do in Abilene. In 2011 the ACVB educated over 75 hospitality employees in the Abilene area. This class is 4 hours and offered 6 times a year. It is free!  Contact us for dates in 2012 if interested!

Abilene was host to: Outlaws & Legends Music Fest, a first ever music fest that included over 6,000 residents and visitors in attendance on March 4-6. In addition the event was able to generate a donation of $31,810 to Disability Resources, Inc. The biggest 1 day, 1 stage event in Texas will return! The second annual Outlaws and Legends music fest will be held March 2-3, 2012. For more information check out www.outlawsandlegends.com.

Another first was our Your24 social media campaign. The premise of the contest was to video-capture, in four minutes or less, Your24: the hours that make up (or made up) your day in Abilene. Entries did not have to be professionally shot or edited, but were encouraged to be creative, energetic and include positive content about the entrant’s twenty-four hours in Abilene. All videos were professional panel and will be evaluated based on overall appeal, creativity and uniqueness to Abilene. Broken up into four categories in the Your24 Video Contest: Students, Locals, Visitors, and Businesses/Professionals. The campaign was a smashing success and we plan to continue it in 2012.

It was a banner year for the ACVB’s social media in general! Our bureau was selected as one of the 25 recipients for an Austin American-Statesman Texas Social Media Award. The Statesman reported that they received more than 358 nominations for the 2011 Statesman Texas Social Media Awards, a record. “We had a very strong lineup from which to choose the 25 winners,” said Robert Quigley, Statesman social media editor. The Abilene CVB social media strategy began a year-and-a-half ago with a simple Facebook page and it has since grown into several channels for communication to keep up with the times. The ACVB’s marketing programs promote an awareness of Abilene as a tourist destination. Social media has become an integral part of the ACVB’s overall marketing strategy, because it connects consumers to Abilene and allows us to connect with people around the world!

For the 22nd year, Abilene welcomed the Texas High School Rodeo State Finals in June. Each year the finals bring 660 contestants and over 1,200 visitors to Abilene. The event is held at the Expo Center and generates over $1.5 million into Abilene’s economy. We love having them and hope Abilene is called home for many more years!

What’s more West Texas than high school football? This year Abilene was host to 14 high school football playoff games from over 25 schools like Snyder High, Arlington High, Bronte and Windthorst. Over 42,000 people attended those games with an economic impact of over $630,000 dollars in just 4 weeks!

Through the efforts of the Abilene Sports Alliance and generosity of our community, a $1,000 college scholarship was awarded to awarded to one male and one female graduating student athlete from Abilene Christian, Abilene, Cooper and Wylie high schools. Since 2004, the ACVB Sports Alliance Committee has given out $53,000 in scholarships. We are looking forward to contributing to the futures of more deserving Abilene high school athletes.

These were just a few of our highlights from the past year. Time really does fly when you’re having fun. We look forward to new and exciting promotions and campaigns in 2012 and continuing to serve this great community!

Play Faire Park

If you’re looking for affordable fun in Abilene, look no further than Play Faire Park. This colorful mini golf course has been serving the Big Country since 1947 and has been dubbed one of the oldest, continuously operated courses in Texas. The Park has two 18-hole golf courses packed with plenty of whimsical and “old school” challenges such as the loop-d-loo, spinning wheel and castle drawbridge.

The facility is not solely a miniature golf course—they host monthly tournaments, live music weekly, special events, parties and much more. The Park is also well known for hosting annual music festivals and even tie-dye clinics on the grounds!

In October, Play Faire Park will host the 7^th annual SOLID Groove Music and Arts Festival. There will be two stages and 26 performances by artists that call the Big Country home. This year, there will be artist booths and a children’s area with inflatables. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and coolers to enjoy this family-friendly event. On Friday, October 7, Walker Lyle will perform at 7 p.m.; Old Banner, 8 p.m.; Colton Owsley, 9 p.m. and 7 Stories, 10 p.m. On Saturday, October 8, Blinded by Bears will take the stage at 1 p.m.; 3 Shades Blue, 2 p.m.; Tony Barker, 3 p.m.; Yan Hartman Project, 4 p.m.; Meatball, 5 p.m.; Twyla Foreman and the Reserves, 6 p.m.; Slim Chance and the Survivors, 7 p.m.; Los Smokin Blues Primos / SOLID, 8 p.m.; Lance Richburg, 9 p.m. and Hunters & Gatherers, 10 p.m. On Sunday, October 9, Daniel Mathis will perform at 2 p.m.; Sherry Ball Luster, 3 p.m. Brenton Dowdy, 4 p.m.; Ignite, 5 p.m.; Kirk House, 6 p.m.; Catclaw Creek, 7 p.m. and Soul Church, 8 p.m. Cost: Friday, $6; Saturday, $10; Sunday, $6. Festival Pass: $15 per person for all three days. Tickets can be purchased at Relics Home or at The Park.

Play Faire Park is located at 2300 N. 2^nd St. in Abilene. During the fall, they are closed Monday. Open Tuesday through Thursday, 3-10 p.m., Friday, 3-11:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1-10 p.m. One round of miniature golf typically costs $3-5 dollars per person. Group rates are available. Info: 325-672-2977 or click here.

Post your humorous caption by 12:30 p.m. & be entered to win!

*Feel free to post as many times as you’d like with different captions. No purchase or obligation of any kind is necessary to enter and will not increase your chance of winning. The Photo Caption Contest is subject and applicable to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law. Employees of the Abilene CVB are ineligible. The Abilene CVB will select three winning captions based on their creativity and humor. We reserve the right to remove/disqualify derogatory comments from the contest. We will announce the winner(s) by 12:30 p.m., September 15. Winner(s) must pick up their tickets by 5 p.m., Sept. 15 at the Abilene CVB, 1101 N. 1st St. as the tickets are valid for tonight’s fair and rodeo. If the winner is unable to attend, we will move on to the “second place” choice.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Are you ready for a B!G DAY DOWNTOWN?

You can jumpstart your day at the Farmer’s Market. They will open at sun up until produce is sold out. Music lovers will enjoy the “Abilene for Japan” benefit concert in Minter Park, Cypress St. and N. 2nd, featuring ten bands. Performances include: Magic Lamp Belly Dancers, 11 a.m.; Blinded By Bears (indie rock), noon; Catclaw Creek (bluegrass), 12:30 p.m.; Joie De Vivre (soul), 1:30 p.m.; Fraid Knot (original), 2 p.m.; Shane Cannedy (blues/rock), 3 p.m.; Smokin’ Blues Primos (blues), 3:30 p.m.; Philip Mahon (classic rock/folk), 4:30 p.m.; Hungry Mother (rock), 5 p.m.; and Kirk House (blues/rock/soul), 6 p.m. The entertainment is free, but donations will be accepted. “Abilene for Japan” also features a silent auction at Cockerell Galleries and Studios and t-shirts “Hope for Japan.” All donations and proceeds benefit Abilene’s own, Global Samaritan Resources.

Downtown merchants will be open offering give-away items, special sales and/or discounted admissions. Frontier Texas! is also hosting a living history day complete with cowboys and cannon fire, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Round out your day with dinner at the Beehive Restaurant & Saloon or Cypress Street Station & Abilene Brewing Company followed by more live music and coffee at Monks Coffee Shop, 7 p.m. to midnight.

For complete details, pick up a flyer at any downtown Abilene business or visit the event website.