Ken Collier
Oct 13, 2026
Your Lubbock week ahead |
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 • The Lubbock Signal • Issue 2
Good morning, Lubbock!
This week, we’re rediscovering three places with plenty of local character: the quiet gardens of the Memorial Arboretum, the shops and patios of Cactus Alley, and a south Lubbock pond garden filled with koi, lilies and cactus.
Then comes a lively Homecoming weekend, with Friday’s parade and free concert followed by Saturday’s Red Raider football game. Here’s your guide to a few good reasons to get out and enjoy the Hub City. |
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Lubbock Memorial Arboretum offers 93 acres of gardens, trees, wildlife and walking space inside K.N. Clapp Park.
The grounds are free to visit and open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight.
Visitors can explore perennial, sensory and wildflower gardens, walk the 1.18-mile accessible trail, watch birds and seasonal butterflies, or simply find a quiet place to slow down.
For locals and visitors alike, it is one of Lubbock’s easiest free places to rediscover nature without leaving the city. Read More... |
Cactus Alley at 2610 Salem Avenue has been giving small Lubbock businesses a setting with character for decades.
Built around a landscaped courtyard instead of a conventional strip-center layout, the property mixes independent food, coffee, retail and service businesses in a setting of brick storefronts, shaded walkways and outdoor gathering spaces.
Its tenant mix evolves, but the larger attraction remains the same: Cactus Alley feels like somewhere to explore rather than simply somewhere to complete an errand.
For locals who have not walked through the courtyard lately, this longtime Lubbock hidden gem is worth another look. Read More... |
Petals and Fins is one of south Lubbock’s more unusual specialty businesses, offering koi, water lilies, pond plants and cactus from a private personal pond garden at 2014 114th Street.
Owners Bryan and Dawn turned nearly a decade of enthusiasm for koi ponds and water gardening into a small business designed for fellow pond keepers and curious beginners.
Visits are by appointment, giving customers a chance to see fish and plants in a real garden setting and get practical guidance directly from longtime enthusiasts.
For Lubbock gardeners looking for something beyond the conventional garden-center experience, Petals and Fins offers a distinctly local mix of living color, water and West Texas character. Read More... |
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Friday: parade, bonfire & a free Homecoming concert |
Friday, October 16 • Texas Tech campus
The Homecoming parade begins at 6 p.m. at Avenue V and Broadway and heads onto campus. The pep rally, bonfire and concert featuring Goo Goo Dolls and Bowling for Soup begin at 7:30 p.m. at Urbanovsky Park, east of United Supermarkets Arena.
The concert is free; no tickets are required. Gates open at 6 p.m. Designated public parking becomes available after 5:30 p.m.
Allow time for security screening and follow the clear-bag policy. Outside food and beverages are prohibited; food trucks will sell refreshments inside. Check Texas Tech’s event page for the complete parking and entry rules. |
Saturday: a top-10 Homecoming rematch on FOX |
Saturday, October 17 • 2:30 p.m. Central • Galaxy Stadium • TV: FOX
This Homecoming game comes with national TV coverage and a rematch to watch. No. 10 Texas Tech is 5–0 overall and 2–0 in the Big 12; Arizona State arrives 3–2 and 1–1.
The schools are the two most recent Big 12 champions. Arizona State also handed Tech its only regular-season loss last year, winning 26–22 in Tempe.
A Tech win would preserve its unbeaten start and extend its home winning streak to 12. For the Sun Devils, beating a top-10 opponent on the road would boost their conference campaign.
Watching from home? Tune to FOX at 2:30 p.m. Central. Texas Tech also lists the FOX Sports app for streaming options.
Going to the game? Tech has announced a sellout. Download your digital tickets before arriving and allow extra time for campus traffic. The Homecoming king and queen will be presented at halftime.
Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash. Archival game-day scene at Texas Tech’s stadium before its current renovations and Galaxy Stadium name. |
Help us find Lubbock’s next hidden gem |
Know a local shop, a neighborhood gathering place or an upcoming community event we should cover? Reply to this newsletter with your suggestion.
If someone comes to mind who would enjoy these local discoveries, forward this issue their way.
Have a great week, Lubbock!
Ken Collier |