Family-Friendly Starlight Music Series hits 19th year
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
For 19 years, the Starlight Music Series has attracted music lovers of all kinds for free, family-friendly entertainment under the stars at the beautiful Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater.
The 2020 Starlight Music Series begins May 2, followed by shows on May 16, May 30, and June 6. We invite families, friends, and visitors to bring your picnic baskets, coolers, blankets, and lawn chairs for four Saturday nights of rockin’ fun.
Here’s the lineup:
May 2: Britishmania
The legend lives on with Britishmania, the World’s Best Beatles tribute band. With mind-blowing performances and true-to-era attire, Britishmania recreates the revolution that changed the world. The foursome delivers note-for-note theatrical performances that will take you back in time.
May 16: Bidi Bidi Banda with guest Quimikoz Del Son
Bidi Bidi Banda is Austin’s first all-star Selena tribute. Composed of members of some of Austin’s premier Latin bands, Bidi Bidi Banda is the dream of Stephanie Bergara, a native Austinite who grew up listening to Tejano radio and singing to a hairbrush while wearing her mother’s red lipstick. The band’s interpretation of Selena’s greatest hits will leave you belting lyrics, doing the washing machine, and reliving greatness of the Queen of Tejano Music.
May 30: Infinite Journey with guest Desperado
Infinite Journey is an international Journey tribute band based in Dallas that has been performing high-energy shows across the country since 2012. The five-piece group delivers a musically immersive Journey experience, focusing on the overall sound, solos, and soaring vocals that made Journey iconic.
June 6: Cupid & the Dance Party Express with guests Mi’Chel Rose and the Zydeco Players
Louisiana-born R&B vocalist Bryson Bernard, popularly known as Cupid, first sang in his church choir and was encouraged by his pastor father. Cupid shuffled his way into the hearts of millions with the up-tempo party song, “Cupid Shuffle,” which also inspired the popular dance craze of the same name.
Load up your coolers, blankets and lawn chairs for another packed schedule of open-air concerts at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater.
Here are more details:
- Gates open at 6 p.m., with the concerts starting at 7.
- Free parking is available at Post Oak Mall, with handicap parking off Colgate Drive.
- Coolers and containers must be 48 quarts or smaller.
- Pets, kegs, and glass aren’t allowed.
- Chairs are welcome but may not occupy blanket-only seating.
- Smoking isn’t allowed in the main seating area, but we provide designated smoking areas.
- Concessions are available for purchase.
For more information, visit cstx.gov/starlight, call 979-764-3486, email parks@cstx.gov, or visit the Stephen C. Beachy Central Park Office at 1000 Krenek Tap Road.
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 15 years, the last eight as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
Christmas in the Park delights community again
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
As Santa heads back to the North Pole to prepare for his Christmas Eve deliveries, the Parks and Recreation staff is cleaning up, repairing lights and picking up remnants of the good times left behind from this year’s Christmas in the Park events.
Over the last two weekends, we enjoyed watching families revel under the giant Christmas tree and delight in the festive light displays and activities. Everyone seemed to have a positive response to Christmas in the Park, and the shuttles from Post Oak Mall made the short trip to Stephen C. Beachy Park seamless.
More than 18,125 guests savored the holiday sights and sounds during the four days of celebration.
Since it began in 1984, the event has evolved from a small light display into a beloved community tradition. We’ve added a few activities — a petting zoo, inflatables, shuttle, and two real snow slides — but it essentially remains the same program at heart. We strive to handcraft our light displays with the same loving care and spirit of the great Christmas in the Park teams of the past.
Here’s a glimpse at the impressive numbers from the event days (Dec. 6-7, 13-14):
- 12,000 cups of hot cocoa served.
- 24,000 Christmas cookies devoured.
- 14,462 wristbands given away.
- 9,060 people rode the shuttle.
- 120,000 pounds of ice used for snow slides.
- 12,500 candy canes handed out by Santa.
- 168 volunteers assisted, including 28 from Bryan Collegiate High School.
- 1 million+ Christmas lights displayed.
While the organized activities are finished for this year, our beautiful lights will be displayed from 6-11 p.m. each night through Jan. 2. We offer a special thanks to our sponsors: Britt Rice Electric, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and H-E-B.
We’d love to hear what you think about this year’s event. Just leave your comment on this blog or the city’s Facebook page.
Merry Christmas!
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 15 years, the last eight as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
Games of Texas benefit BCS by a cool $8.1 million
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
The final numbers are in for the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas. The Olympic-like festival attracted 8,461 athletes from across the state to compete in a dozen events from July 25-29.
Only 130 participants were from College Station, which means the rest – along with about 20,000 of their coaches, family members, and friends – were visitors who dropped an estimated $8.1 million into the local economy by filling local restaurants and hotels.
- Photos: 2019 TAAF Games of Texas
Participants by Sport
| Event | Participants | Venue |
| Archery | 49 | Texas A&M Physical Education Building |
| Boxing | 114 | Hilton College Station & Conference Center |
| Flag Football | 276 | Veterans Park & Athletic Complex |
| Judo | 57 | Texas A&M Physical Education Building |
| Golf | 65 | The City Course at Phillips Event Center |
| Lifeguard Competition | 60 | Adamson Lagoon |
| Pickleball | 92 | Lincoln Recreation Center |
| Skateboarding | 21 | Williamson Skate Park |
| Swimming | 2,638 | Texas A&M Student Recreation Center |
| Track & Field | 4,459 | College Station High School |
| Ultimate Frisbee | 440 | Bryan Regional Athletic Complex |
| Tennis | 190 | Bryan High School, Texas A&M Mitchell TennisCenter, Texas A&M Omar Instructional Tennis Center, Phillips Event Center |
| Total Participants | 8,461 |
Here are some interesting tidbits reported by the Bryan and College Station Parks and Recreation Departments, which partnered with Texas A&M to manage the event:
- Athletes set 53 Games of Texas records — 42 in swimming and 11 in track and field.
- Participants and volunteers consumed 38,304 bottles of water and used 27,160 pounds of ice.
- Local sponsors donated 1,185 meals for participants and volunteers.
- 162 volunteers assisted, including 44 from the Texas Army National Guard.
- 331 tennis matches were played over three days.
- 37 boxing bouts were conducted, four involving girls.
- The lowest golf 18-hole single round score was a 74 by 17-year-old Ethan Galvan from McAllen. Ethan also had the lowest 36-hole tournament score of 74-82=156.
College Station played host for the seventh time after hosting previous events in 1988, 1994, 2000, 2014, 2015, and 2018. The Games of Texas will move to Corpus Christi for the next two years and to Brownsville in 2022-23.
Local GOT Participation by Year
2019: 8,461
2018: 7,621
2015: 7,750
2014: 8,438
On behalf of the Cities of College Station and Bryan, we extend a special thank you to our volunteers, TAAF liaisons, commissioners and Texas Army National Guard Warriors. The overwhelming success of the event is a direct reflection of your dedication. We sincerely appreciate your gift of time, energy, and enthusiastic support.
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 15 years, the last eight as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
Thousands pour into town for Games of Texas
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
Let the Games begin!
The 2019 Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas starts Thursday at premier venues across College Station and Bryan. The Games run through Monday.
The Olympic-like festival features roughly 8,500 amateur athletes of all ages from across the state competing in multiple sporting events, mostly in swimming and track and field. Other events are archery, boxing, flag football, golf, judo, lifeguard competition, pickleball, skateboarding, tennis, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Daily admission tickets are $7 for swimming, and $5 for boxing and track and field, while other events are free. You can also follow the action at facebook.com/taafnation.
The City of College Station, in collaboration with the City of Bryan and Texas A&M, is playing host for the seventh time after conducting the event in 1988, 1994, 2000, 2014, 2015, and 2018. We’re thrilled to be the host city again.
Last year’s Games attracted more than 19,000 athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers, who made an estimated economic impact of about $7.7 million on our community.
We invite you to help welcome our visitors at the opening ceremonies on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Wolf Pen Creek Festival Site. Led by the College Station High School Cougar Marching Band, the parade of athletes begins at 7 p.m. A thrilling trampoline show by Flippenout Productions tops off the event.
Traffic Delays, Facility Closures
College Station Parks and Recreation facilities and pools will be closed Thursday through Sunday. Affected facilities include the Parks and Recreation offices, Meyer Senior and Community Center, Lick Creek Nature Center, Lincoln Recreation Center, Southwood Community Center, Adamson Lagoon, and Cindy Hallaran Pool.
Motorists can expect delays around College Station High School throughout the Games as lanes will be minimized to accommodate parking. In addition, Holleman Drive from Dartmouth Street to the former Sears Service Center parking lot will be closed on Friday from 4-9 p.m.
For more information, visit taaf.com/gamesoftexas or call 979-764-3486.
Related Links
- College Station High School Parking Map
- Texas A&M Campus Parking Map
- Games of Texas Event Program
- Photos
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 15 years, the last eight as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
