Yee haw

T

he Wrangler ® National Finals Rodeo is moving to the

American Dream City. From Dec. 3-12, Arlington’s Globe

Life Field will host the Wrangler NFR 2020 – the frst nonbaseball event at the city’s newest entertainment treasure.

Event organizers confrmed the event will comply with all health and safety protocols for attendees. Globe Life Field ofcials have emphasized that recommended health and safety standards are being met. Safety measures will include a mask requirement at all times while inside Globe Life Field, and there will be additional hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the building. Fans attending Wrangler NFR 2020 can follow ofcial PRCA updates throughout the event at prorodeo.com.

Principals on all sides of the historic agreement are waxing enthusiastic about the prospects of bringing the rodeo to town.

“We are so pleased to be at this amazing stadium for the most celebrated event on the rodeo calendar,” says George Taylor, chief executive ofcer of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “We are committed to delivering a spectacular event for our fans and we are thrilled to be in Texas for it.”

“We are honored that the PRCA selected Globe Life Field to host the 2020 Wrangler Nationals Final Rodeo and are thrilled to be a small part of bringing this world-class event back to Texas,” says Neil Leibman, chief operating ofcer of the Texas Rangers.

To further ensure fan safety, seats will be sold in groups of four with separation between groups. Contact-limiting measures, such as mobile tickets, will be implemented throughout the event. There will also be metal detector screenings and a no-bag policy at entries on performance nights. Globe Life Field is encouraging all guests to check the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services websites for any guideline changes prior to the event.

The Arlington and Fort Worth convention and visitors’ bureaus and sports commissions are rolling out the welcome for this oneof-a-kind event, and both cities have worked hard to bring the Wrangler NFR to Globe Life Field.

“From cattle drives, museums and even the names of our professional sporting teams, our love of cowboy culture runs deep here in Tarrant County,” Arlington Mayor Jef Williams says. “I can think of no better choice for the Super Bowl of rodeo than to be hosted here in the heart of North Texas. Arlington and Fort Worth have so many family friendly attractions and rich experiences to ofer rodeo fans who will be traveling from across the country to cheer on these professional cowboys as they strive to set new records and achieve their American Dream in the arena.”

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is heading to Arlington

Photo: reviewjournal.com

Nearby Fort Worth will also play host to the Wrangler NFR 2020 experience, as the annual PRCA Convention will be held from Nov. 30-Dec. 3, in addition to the Cowboy Christmas and a slew of other fan-favorite events.

The NFR was born in Texas, but it moved to Las Vegas in 1985. The venue that hosts it annually is not available for live entertainment with fans this year due to coronavirus restrictions in Nevada. In a survey earlier this summer, rodeo fans said overwhelmingly that they wanted an NFR venue that would accommodate fans.

“Part of what makes Globe Life Field work for us is the ability to bring in fans and deliver the full NFR experience,” Taylor says.

The PRCA began looking for an alternate venue earlier in the summer. The State of Texas, the Texas Rangers and Globe Life Field stepped up. Ultimately, this has been a thoughtful partnership between Texas, Globe Life Field, the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Fort Worth, and the Sports Commissions of both Arlington and Fort Worth.

The Wrangler NFR is a 10-day event that includes the fanfavorite Cowboy Christmas, as well as the PRCA National Convention. The schedule also includes nightly Buckle Presentations, Benny Binion’s World Famous Wrangler NFR Bucking Horse Sale, the PRCA Awards Banquet and Gala and the Pro Rodeo League of Women Style Show and Luncheon.

Tickets for Wrangler NFR 2020 are on sale via the website texasrangers.com/NFR.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET TO HAVE A GREAT TIME

The acclaimed Farmers Market at Market Square (120 W. Main St., in downtown Grand Prairie) is open fve Saturdays this month – on Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Customers can fnd locally grown fruits and vegetables, plants, tamales, baked goods, salsas, dips, relishes, eggs, honey, chips, soaps, candles and more. (We decided this was a good time to allow your brain a chance to process all that goodness.) There are all manner of ways to appreciate the market, whether you’re a vendor or prospective vendor, a regular or frst-time shopper or a volunteer. In each case your senses will be overcome by the vast sights and pleasing aromas emanating from Market Square. The one-half acre park has a building that features bays for up to six vehicles to sell produce and other goods. The architecture is reminiscent of a red barn with a corrugated tin roof, evoking ties with the city’s history.

HELP THE AEF, PLAY BINGO AND LAUGH ... A LOT

The Arlington ISD Education Foundation, in partnership with the acclaimed improvisational comedy troupe Four Day Weekend (pictured), will host its frst Night of Virtual BINGO at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17. The event is designed to raise money for the ever-changing needs of the Arlington Independent School District during unprecedented times created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AISD is facing new challenges while navigating online learning. AISD teachers and administration are working tirelessly to ensure students receive education, food, social and emotional support and much more.

All you have to do to help this cause, this month, anyway, is invest in some laughter and try to fll your BINGO card faster than the other virtual players fll theirs.

Four Day Weekend, voted Best Comedy and named “Best Entertainment Experience in Texas,” presents a hilarious improv-based show that leaves audience members slapping their knees – and then wondering “how do they come up with all that funny stuf on the spot?”

Even some folks in Washington, D.C., have wondered the same thing – Four Day Weekend has performed for two U.S. presidents and delivered a keynote address to the United States Congress.

AEF has put together sponsorship packages of varying levels for the fundraiser. Your business will receive BINGO cards to distribute to staf/friends/ family, or you can donate your cards to AISD teachers who want to get in the game, which ofers BINGO-esque prizes to the winners.

For more: charityauction.bid/bingo.

MANSFIELD’S THE LOT DOWNTOWN IS GETTING FIT

What do you do when the COVID-19 pandemic plays havoc with your ritual of packing folks into your venue for music, movies and a smattering of the proverbial other?

If you’re The Lot Downtown in Mansfeld, you don’t pitch a ft. Rather, you fnd a unique way to help your community to get ft.

At 8 a.m. on Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 – all the Saturdays this month – The LOT Downtown and the Cooper Street YMCA are teaming for a free exercise series. The pros will lead attendees in an outdoor 45+ minute workout for various levels of exercise on the lawn at The LOT Downtown (110 S. Main St.).

MAGNOLIA LIFESTYLE CENTER OPENS AT VIRIDIAN

Elements at Viridian has reached another milestone: the opening of the Magnolia Lifestyle Center. Exclusive to the residents of the 55+ active-adult community, the Magnolia Lifestyle Center ofers a host of interior and exterior features to encourage an engaged lifestyle, says Kristi Hulme, lifestyle director for Elements at Viridian.

The 6,668-square-foot clubhouse includes a nearly 2,900-squarefoot ftness facility complete with cardio and strength training equipment. The clubhouse also includes a demonstration kitchen and gathering area for impromptu and planned events.

“We are following the recommended guidelines from the governor’s ofce regarding occupancy but look forward to when we can host large-scale events for all of our residents in this beautifully appointed space,” Hulme says. “Right now, our residents are enjoying all of our outdoor features and our ftness facility, but the indoor clubhouse is open by appointment only.”

A 3,462-square-foot covered terrace provides ample room for residents to gather outside. The complex also includes an infnity pool, courts for bocce ball and pickleball, a putting green, a fre pit and outdoor kitchen with a Big Green Egg.

“We’ve been hosting events for residents since last September; having our recreation complex open will help residents connect even more and further enjoy the friendships they have already been making,” Hulme says.

More than 100 homes have sold in Elements since sales began last spring, with more than half of those happening this year.

“This flls a much-needed niche, providing active adults a place where they can enjoy a lifestyle catered to their specifc interests, but still be able to live near children and grandchildren,” says Robert Kembel, general manager of Viridian. “We sold homes last year before the models even opened.”

David Weekley Homes, Drees Custom Homes and Lennar ofer homes in Elements. The one-story foor plans ofer open-concept living areas, two and three bedrooms, walk-in showers, abundant lighting and more.

For more: viridiandfw.com.