THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2022

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

The thunder rolls into The Expo on Jan. 14-15 for the annual return of the No Limits Monster Truck, Mud Racing and Motocross Show.

The action starts at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

“We’ve been coming to Bell County for 20-something years,” said Ed Beckley, CEO of No Limits. “We like the crowd, we like the Expo staff and we love this arena. It’s big, and we can go wide open.”

Today’s top monster trucks will be there, including Bear Foot, King Crunch, Wicked Sickness and Outlaw Wrangler, the mud-slinging, car-crushing Jeep.

“We have so much going on,” Beckley said. “This is going to be a relief — an escape from all your problems. You’ll have a chance to get out and enjoy the normal things in life, like trucks going fast in the mud and making a tremendous noise.”

“One of the highlights of the show — and there are many — is Cowboy Kenny Bartram and his motorcycle stunts,” Beckley said. “Kenny is a 10-time X Games and Gravity Games medalist. He is really amazing.”

Beckley called No Limits a “motorized circus” that draws crowds to Belton from Austin, Waco and even the Houston area. But some of the stars of the show will be local folks.

“We have several events featuring people from Bell County,” he said. “One of the favorites is the kids’ Power Wheel races. People bring their little battery-powered cars — like a Barbie Jeep or Corvette — and race them.”

Power Wheel contestants are limited to 3 to 9 year olds and they are separated into classes depending on how the machines are powered.

“We have a 6- to 12-volt class and a 24- to 36-volt class,” Beckley said. “The kids like to dress up in costumes and have fun, and their families are encouraged to get down on the track and cheer them on.”

Parents can call (940) 683-4742 to register a child.

A second event for local participants is the Hooligan Mini Bike races.

“This are the little bikes with big fat tires,” he said. “They are the new go-karts. They are fun and competitive, and they are a blast to watch.”

Beckley said entries must have “started life as a mini bike” but may be modified.

“They must be pull-start, no transmission mini bikes, and they have to have at least one brake,” he said.

Call the above number for additional rules and regulations, and to enter.

Another popular event that involves the crowd is the Tuff Truck competition.

“It’s a mud race where you bring the vehicle,” Beckley said. “It can be an old truck or your future ex-wife’s car. Actually, sometimes the future ex-wife brings her future ex-husbands truck and buries it in the mud.”

Good times!

“The show is about 2.5 hours long, and it’s a great escape from the upcoming tax season and the headaches of COVID,” he said. “We are going to take you away from all that for a while and when you leave  you are going to feel refreshed.”

A wide-eyed contestant in a Power Wheels race is focused on the finish line. Local kids can flash their blinding speed Jan. 14-15 at the No Limits Monster Truck, Mud Racing and Motocross Show at the Bell County Expo Center.

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First Friday deals and steals!

Our Town Temple

Downtown businesses will celebrate a new year with the initial First Friday of 2022, and there will be deals and discounts throughout Temple’s business and entertainment district.

Here’s a look at some of the happenings:

Kowboy Wine Bar will stage a live show by Red Watterson and Joe Frey, starting at 8 p.m.

Ras Kitchen will have Nikki Nicole from IHeart Radio’s  KIIZ 92.3 & the House of Nicole onsite for a speed-dating event complete with live entertainment by Sounds by Selectah SpidaTech. The event also will feature social icebreakers, specialty drinks, delicious treats, games and prizes.

Green Door will take 20 percent off an appetizer when you mention First Friday. Be sure and catch the live piano show by Russell Boyd.

The Parlour Antiques & Oddities will put on a New Year’s reception with complimentary beverages and snacks. Shoppers who spend $25 or more will have the opportunity to win a cool ‘giveaway’ prize.

Tour Temple & Corky’s Wine Bar will offer a four-hour ‘Temple Brew Trail Tour’ and Corky’s Beer & Wine Bar will host karaoke night with DJ Bryan Hogue.”

Bird Creek Burger Co. will offer half-priced appetizers (excluding chili) and celebrate happy hour all day.

Artist 2 Artist Showcase will stage an art show and vendor sale at Main Street Courtyard, 5 S. Main Street. This month’s show will feature vendors including KC Creations (boutique items), Rocky Gutter Soap Co., Beads-4-Me, The Bratty Bat and many more.

O'Briens Irish Pub will offer 20 percent off an appetizer when you mention First Friday.

Darling Décor and More will have a huge clearance sale with markdowns of up to 75 percent off.

Mo’s Railyard Saloon will offer $2 frozen margaritas throughout the evening.

Treno Pizzeria & Taproom will offer discounts on selected beers & wines, and as always, Treno’s pizza chefs will be baking up tasty fresh hot pizza pies.

Fire Base Brewing will have the Lulamae’s Cajun Cuisine Food Truck onsite and Maxx Carter will be performing live. Mention First Friday at Lulamae’s and receive a 10 percent discount.

Artist Noel Johnson will hold an art sale on the sidewalk next door to O’Briens Irish Pub.

The Hub will be open till 8 p.m. and will offer free New Year’s cookies and punch.

Mexiko Cafe will be open all evening with reduced beer prices.

BJ’s Brewery & Tasting Room will be serving Brewhouse Blonde Kolsch Style, their special beer for the evening.

Cheeves Brothers Steak House will offer half-priced appetizers in the bar and lounge, and half-priced specials on selected beers, wines by the glass and call-level liquors

La Dalat will offer 10 percent-off appetizers and $3 coffee or hot tea to anyone who mentions First Friday.

Nami Japanese Steak & Sushi will offer First Friday specials on select sushi rolls, appetizers and beverages.

Precious Memories Florist & Gifts Shop will offer some super buys on trees and gift items at the Downtown location and will have ‘loaded’ hot chocolate for grown-ups and kiddo-friendly hot chocolate with an indoor S'mores roasting station. Guests will also be able to watch the monthly restyling of the store. The Pink Bulldog Boutique will be expanding and restocking just in time for First Friday, and author Cheryl A. Hinckley will be on hand to sign the first book of her rescue dog series, "A Texas Dog Named Lucy Mae.” 

The Yard-Food Truck Plaza will feature some great food trucks offering tasty eats and 10 percent discounts to anyone who mentions First Friday. Participating trucks include Chock Full of Cheese, Taqueria Mi Lindo Nayarit, 808 Island Grindz and Mama Lama Mobile Kitchen.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

This building at 19 N. Main currently houses KPA Engineers, but it has had a lengthy history. It was built between 1906 and 1907, and the first occupant was Davidson & Clay Furniture Store. Over the years, it has been a Downtown anchor with tenants such as Modern Hardware & Appliance, Stavinoha Hardware and Terry Farris Department Store. The Temple College Foundation purchased the building in December 2001 and the TC Business Training Center opened in 2005. David Stone | Our Town Temple

A T-REX SIZE COLLECTION OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Ongoing

Monday nights — Yoga Classes offered by Sara Dodd at the Cultural Activities Center. $12. 5:15 p.m. class.

Tuesday nights beginning Jan. 18 — Clay with Marilyn - go to cacarts.org to sign up for her series of classes

Thursday nights beginning Jan 6 —  Clay with Lindsay - go to cacarts.org to sign up for her classes

Wednesday nights — Open mic comedy night at Corky’s Wine Bar. Sign up at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8

Saturday nights — Comedy Showcase at Corky’s Wine Bar. Open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8.

January

January 6, Thursday - Central Texas Arts League meets to plan a year of creative ventures. Open to the public.  6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m.  Come learn about the plans and meet with fellow artists in the Central Texas area.

January 7, Friday - On the first Friday of every month, historic downtown Temple transforms into a giant party. Enjoy street music and performances, drinks, food, and after-hours shopping.

January 8, Saturday - Cabin Fever: Stargazing Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. Learn about constellations, meteor showers and other celestial objects while checking out the night sky. 10 a.m.

January 8, Saturday — Great British Rock ’n’ Roll Name that Tune Bingo at Fire Base Brewing Co. 7:30 p.m.

January 9, Sunday — Larry Burgin & Texas Tradition at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10, 6-9 p.m.

January 11, Tuesday - Shimmy and shake your way over to Sammons Community Center for a 6-week fun-filled Belly dancing course. Tighten your core by learning a mixture of movements with Colleen Pannell, Instructor. $90

January 14-15 - No Limits Monster Truck Winter Nationals & Mud Races. Some of the nation’s most competitive truck and motocross racers as they invade Bell County Expo Arena on Friday and Saturday. 7:30 p.m.

January 15, Saturday - Game Show Night by Texas Red at Fire Base Brewing Co. We have the night for you! 4 rounds of the game show questions and prize-winning for all! Free to play and Family Friendly! Who will walk away with the evening's Oscar? Play as a team or individual. Win free drinks and other prizes! 7-9 p.m.

January 16, Sunday — Downtown Drag at Corkys featuring Lacey Luxx, Luiz Fatale, Naima Fatale, Beauty and Rah’jai Mirage Jackson. $25 VIP, $15 general admission. 8 p.m.

January 16, Sunday — Jerry Haisler & The Melody Five at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10. 6-9 p.m.

January 19, Wednesday - The city of Temple is undertaking the development of a Mobility Master Plan designed to produce a multimodal transportation system. The second public involvement meeting will be hosted online with a live event and in person at the Wilson Park Recreation Center on from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

January 22, Saturday — Name that Tune Bingo: 80s and 90s Mixtape at Fire Base Brewing Co.

January 23, Sunday — Bobby Dean & Timeless Country at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10, 6-9 p.m.

January 29, Saturday - Parker McCollum Red Dirt Mardi Gras at Bell County Expo. 8 p.m.

January 30, Sunday — Old Friends dance at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10, 6-9 p.m.

February

February 4, Friday - On the first Friday of every month, historic downtown Temple transforms into a giant party. Enjoy street music and performances, drinks, food, and after-hours shopping.

February 5, Saturday - Geek Out Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. Want to show off your geeky side? Come out to the museum for Geek Out Family Day. Dress up as your favorite superhero, cartoon, or video game character. Enjoy the nerdier side of life.

February 11-12 - Bell County Youth Fair Livestock Show & PRCA Rodeo. The Bell County PRCA Rodeo is currently in its 34th year of continuous operation at the Bell County Expo Center. Last year, the Bell County Youth Fair awarded over $25,000 in scholarships to local area youth. https://agrilife.org/bellctyyouthfair/

February 12, Saturday - Kyle Mathis plays an acoustic solo gig downstairs at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. 8 p.m. to midnight

February 12, Saturday — 5th annual Onesie Bar Crawl. The comfiest bar crawl ever. Starts at Mo’s Rail Yard Saloon. Map will be available. www.crawlwith.us/temple/onesie#tickets

DEAN’S SERIES: KATHRYN FOUSE: Let the Games Begin with Kathryn Fouse, piano. Join us for an entertaining evening of music from popular video games. 7:30 p.m., Jan. 18 at Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

EXHIBIT OPENING: The next art exhibit opening will be Jan. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. The featured artist is PHOKUS and the exhibit will feature a  mixed media presentation entitled "So tonight that I may dream.”

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS: The College of Visual & Performing Arts at UMHB features a band that plays music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation while synchronizing the music to video projections of the original film. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, at the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.

AIZURI QUARTET: This group will perform at the CAC on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Described as "genuinely exciting" by the New York Times and "elegant" and "inquisitive" by The New Yorker, the quartet presents a vibrant selection of new music and standards. The group was nominated for a Grammy in 2019. 

LION KING JR.: The Temple High School Theater Arts department will present a production featuring actors from across the school district on Jan. 27-30. The Jan. 27-29 shows will start at 7 p.m. and the Sunday matinee will begin at 2. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets are available at CentralTexasTickets.com.

POPS CONCERT: The Temple Symphony Orchestra will feature trumpeter Allen Vizzutti in a January 29 Pops Concert at the Mary Alice Marshall Performing Arts Center at Temple College. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

THE CONTEMPORARIES TELETHON “THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT” will be held on stage Jan. 29 at the CAC. The telethon proceeds provide financial support for the building and the programming.

DEAN’S SERIES: EMILY & JONATHAN GRAY: College of Visual & Performing Arts at UMHB presents Emily & Jonathan Gary in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 4  inside the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.

INHERIT THE WIND: The Temple Civic Theater will hold auditions on Feb. 2- and 21, and the show will be presented April 1-10.

LAST OF THE RED-HOT LOVERS: The Temple Civic Theater show will run Feb. 4-13 at TCT.

MUSIC TO HELP OTHERS: Christ Episcopal Church is presenting a concert to benefit local charities at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6 at the church.  The concert will celebrate Black History Month and honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The concert also will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/christchurchtx and will benefit the Un-Included Club, a nonprofit organization that provides literacy, urban agriculture, and leadership programs for underserved youth. Donations will be accepted at the door or online. The Sunday afternoon concert series is a continuing ministry of the church. The concerts, featuring local musicians, have raised more than $14,000 for area charities, food banks and medical clinics serving those in need.

THE VANDOLIERS - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series opens on Feb. 12. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

VISITING ARTIST JEFFERY CARL: Join us to hear Jeffery Carl, an artist based outside Chicago, whose work explores how our relationship to geography informs our self-understanding, the development of communities, and the ways in which we shape our environment. 4 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center at UMHB.

WIND/JAZZ ENSEMBLES: An evening of musical entertainment from the UMHB wind ensemble and jazz ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.

CAMP ROCK: THE MUSICAL: Performances are March 5 and 6 at the Cultural Activities Center.

JIMMIE VAUGHAN - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series continues with guitar legend Jimmie Vaughan on March 19. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS: The Temple Civic Theater will hold auditions on March 27-28 and the show runs May 6-15.

FESTIVAL OF PRAISE: This soul-stirring tour will be at the Bell County Expo Center on April 9 and will be headlined by Gospel music icon Fred Hammond, along with Marvin Sapp and Hezekiah Walker.

VALLEJO - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series continues on April 23 with a performance by Vallejo. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

SEASON FINALE: The Temple Symphony Orchestra’s season finale will be at 3 p.m. May 8 at Temple College and will feature pianists Frances Renzi and Anthony Pattin.

RECKLESS KELLY - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series continues June 11 with Reckless Kelly. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

NO LIMITS MONSTER TRUCK & MUD RACES are coming to The Expo on Jan. 14 & 15. See some of the nation’s most competitive monster trucks and motocross racers as they invade Bell County. 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets at bellcountyexpo.com

LONE STAR GUN SHOW is going Jan. 15-6. Bring in your old gun and trade up. Look at all kinds of merchandise from New and Used Guns, Knives, Swords, Hunting Gear, Books, Coins, Medals, Ammo, Reloading Equipment and Supplies. 9-5 on Saturday, 10-4 on Sunday.

A SAMI SHOW: ARTS & CRAFTS MARKET will be in Assembly Hall from 10-5 Saturday, Jan. 22, and 11-4 Sunday, Jan. 23.

PARKER McCOLLUM RED DIRT MARDI GRAS features Texas mainstream country at its best. Saturday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Buy tickets and select seats at bellcountyexpo.com

BELL COUNTY YOUTH FAIR & PRCA RODEO is coming to The Expo on Feb. 11 and 12. Details on this big show will be coming soon!

MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR will be held Feb. 19 and 20 with a dazzling array of workshops and lectures on how to grow and raise your own food, build your own root cellar and more. Details are coming!

TEMPLE AREA HOME BUILDERS HOME & GARDEN SHOW will be held Feb. 24-26. Check out the largest Home & Garden Show in Central Texas with 125 exhibits. Friday, 6-9; Saturday, 10-6; Sunday, Noon-5.

FACING THE INFERNO: THE WILDFIRE PHOTOGRAPHY OF KARI GREER: Colorful, intimate, and intensely dramatic images that capture the work of wildland firefighters in this new exhibit that runs through Jan. 15. Amazing photography.

COMING NEXT MONTH! ALIENTO a TEQUILA: This exhibit explores and celebrates the landscape, culture, and traditions that gave birth to tequila. A series of photographs by Joel Salcido include the original distilleries that founded the industry, as well as several artisanal tequilerías committed to the ancestral ways of tequila-making, from harvest to bottle. Jan. 28-March 16.

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