2022 Holiday Guide
Saturday, December 3
All Day Christmas Tree Lane
Follow Christmas Tree Lane through Abilene on N. Buckeye Ave to NW 3rd Street to see a beautiful assortment of decorated Christmas Trees in residential yards.
9:00 – 10:00 am Breakfast with Santa (Tickets must be purchased in advance)
Breakfast at the Hitching Post Restaurant will include pancakes and sausage. There will be a coloring and craft table, storytime, and, of course, your chance to visit Santa Claus. Tickets are $8 and must be purchased by Monday, November 28.
*When visiting the website, make sure to click "Special Events" to view options.
9:00 – 11:00 am Christmas Brunch
Carry out brunch sponsored by the Arts Council of Dickinson County. Enjoy a carry-out brunch (with theme TBA)! You'll experience a brunch sampler with delectable recipes combined with a little bit of history and culture to kick off the Christmas spirit. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased October 17 - December 1 at West's Plaza Country Mart. For information, call (785) 263-1884 or text (785) 280-0543 for advance tickets or questions.
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Abilene Holiday Craft & Gift Show
Sterl Hall, 619 North Rogers Street
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Holiday Tours at Historic Seelye Mansion
Built in 1905 for $55,000, the Historic Seelye Mansion is beautiful at any time of year, but especially during the holiday season. Tour the mansion and see beautifully decorated trees in every room, a collection of more than 750 nutcrackers, and hundreds of Poinsettias.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased the day of your tour. Please park in the parking lot behind the mansion and go to the Seelye Patent Medicine Museum behind the mansion to purchase a ticket. Tip: tours run continuously, but the best time to join a tour is at 10 am and 1 pm.
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Sand Springs Venue Country Christmas Open House
Enjoy a petting zoo, Santa and family photos alongside “Clara” an old vintage truck, holiday vendors, and much more!
Noon – 3:00 pm Cowboy Christmas at Old Abilene Town*
Hot chocolate, chili, cinnamon rolls. Warm yourself up at the Alamo Saloon. Kids activities, gift shop for Christmas shopping, decorate one of our many trees, enjoy Christmas music and more to get you in the spirit of the season at Old Abilene Town. *please note time change
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm Celebrate Christmas at the Historic Sunflower Hotel
See the inside of the Historic Sunflower Hotel, which is beautifully decorated with Christmas Trees and holiday decor.
1:00 pm 1st Santa Train
Abilene Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a holiday train ride with the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Association. The train ride is approximately 45 minutes long and travels from Abilene to one mile west of Enterprise and back. Passengers will ride in an enclosed heated car with Santa, who will be available to listen to your Christmas wish list. Riders may also take their photos with Santa. The cost to ride is $10, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
*When visiting the website, make sure to click "Special Events" to view options.
1:00 - 6:00 pm Wrapping Station at the Abilene Public Library
Bring your gifts ready to wrap, and the Library will have paper, supplies, and space to spread out.
2:00 pm 2nd Santa Train (if 1st train fills up)
*When visiting the website, make sure to click "Special Events" to view options.
2:00 pm The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre
This Holiday treat will have you leaving the theatre with warm fuzzies about a story of the Great Lakes voyages of Christmas Tree ships and a family’s positive spirit to share the power of classic inspiration and Christmas miracles. The heartbeat of life is in our stories and our songs!
4:00 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Dinner Train
The dinner train will include lasagna, salad, vegetable, roll and cheesecake.
4:00 – 8:00 pm Heritage Homes Association’s 45th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour
From homes with connections to C.L. Brown, C.H. Lebold, bank presidents, WWII Veterans and immigrants to a special farmhouse and growing church, you won’t want to miss the Heritage Homes Association’s 45th Homes for the Holidays Tour! Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at West’s Plaza Country Mart, SK Designs and Abilene Downtown Antique/Mud Creek Malls, and during the tours at Community Bible Church.
4:00 – 8:00 pm Dickinson County Historical Society’s Old Fashioned Christmas
Enjoy live music from The Fiddlers, Talmage Quartet, Brigade Band and Hiebert's Dulcimers, a living nativity, Christmas village, Santa visits, Christmas in the Cabin, crafts for kids and 4-H Christmas tree decorating contest. Tickets are $5 per person (ages five and up).
4:30 -6:30 pm Christmas Cruise for Food - Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown
Drop off food or monetary donations to the Abilene Area Food Bank, 409 NW 3rd Street, next to the Sunflower Hotel. Please use the eastbound lane that is designated for dropoffs, and volunteers from the Food Bank and Neighbor to Neighbor will be waiting to accept your donations.
Then, you will receive a ballot and map for the Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown. Cruise through Abilene admiring all of the holiday decorations. Ballots must be turned in by 7:30 pm at Amanda's Bakery & Bistro, 302 N. Broadway Ave.
The winners from the Cowtown Christman Light Showdown will be announced at 8:00 pm at Little Ike Park.
Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown Sponsors: Almost Home Realty, Abilene Physical Therapy, Solid Rock Audio Video, JRI Hospitality, The Farmhouse, Original Grande, Salina Country Club and Ingermanson Farms.
Feel free to decorate your ride and come enjoy a great Christmas Cruise!
5:00 – 7:00 pm Judging for Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown
6:00 pm Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting
An annual tradition, visit Little Ike Park for the lighting of the Mayor’s Holiday Tree.
6:10 pm Santa Visits
Visit Santa Claus at Little Ike Park, and make sure to tell him what’s on your list! Visitors will enjoy free goodie bags from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
7:00 pm Turkey Drop* (for adults) - Little Ike Park
Reminiscing to WKRP’s ‘Turkeys Away’, stand below as ten (stuffed) turkeys descend from the sky. Catch one and you’ll receive a free holiday turkey!
7:15ish Snowball Drop* (for kids) - Little Ike Park
No matter what the meteorologist says, we guarantee it will be snowing. See hundreds of snowballs flying through the sky. Find a special, brightly colored snowball and redeem it for Dickinson Dollars that can be used in Dickinson County businesses.
7:30 pm The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre
This Holiday treat will have you leaving the theatre with warm fuzzies about a story of the Great Lakes voyages of Christmas Tree ships and a family’s positive spirit to share the power of classic inspiration and Christmas miracles. The heartbeat of life is in our stories and our songs!
7:30 pm All Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown ballots must be turned in to Amanda’s Bakery and Bistro
7:30 pm AHS Singers perform at Little Ike Park
8:00 pm Winners of Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown announced
1st Place - $2,000
2nd Place - $1,000
3rd Place - $500
Mayor's Choice (4) - $100 each
Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown Sponsors: Almost Home Realty, Abilene Physical Therapy, Solid Rock Audio Video, JRI Hospitality, The Farmhouse, Original Grande, Salina Country Club and Ingermanson Farms.
8:00 pm Fireworks*
*Weather permitting fireworks will be set off from the east end of the Civic Center Parking Lot.
Sunday, December 4
All Day Christmas Tree Lane
Follow Christmas Tree Lane through Abilene on N. Buckeye Ave to NW 3rd Street to see a beautiful assortment of decorated Christmas Trees in residential yards.
9:00 am - 8:00 pm Celebrate Christmas at the Historic Sunflower Hotel
See the inside of the Historic Sunflower Hotel, beautifully decorated with Christmas Trees and holiday decor.
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm Celebrate Christmas at the Historic Sunflower Hotel
See the inside of the Historic Sunflower Hotel, which is beautifully decorated with Christmas Trees and holiday decor.
1:00 – 4:00 pm Holiday Tours at Historic Seelye Mansion
Built in 1905 for $55,000 the Historic Seelye Mansion is beautiful at any time of year, but especially during the holiday season. Tour the mansion and see beautifully decorated trees in every room, a collection of more than 750 nutcrackers, and hundreds of Poinsettias.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased the day of your tour. Please park in the parking lot behind the mansion and go to the Seelye Patent Medicine Museum behind the mansion to purchase a ticket. Tip: tours run continuously, but the best time to join a tour is at 10 am and 1 pm.
1:00 – 5:00 pm Heritage Homes Association’s 45th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour
From homes with connections to C.L. Brown, C.H. Lebold, bank presidents, WWII Veterans and immigrants to a special farmhouse and growing church, you won’t want to miss the Heritage Homes Association’s 45th Homes for the Holidays Tour! Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at West’s Plaza Country Mart, SK Designs and Abilene Downtown Antique/Mud Creek Malls, and during the tours at Community Bible Church.
2:00 pm The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre
This Holiday treat will have you leaving the theatre with warm fuzzies about a story of the Great Lakes voyages of Christmas Tree ships and a family’s positive spirit to share the power of classic inspiration and Christmas miracles. The heartbeat of life is in our stories and our songs!
4:00 – 8:00 pm Dickinson County Historical Society’s Old Fashioned Christmas
Enjoy live music from The Fiddlers, Talmage Quartet, Brigade Band and Hiebert's Dulcimers, a living nativity, Christmas village, Santa visits, Christmas in the Cabin, crafts for kids and 4-H Christmas tree decorating contest. Tickets are $5 per person (ages five and up).
And remember to Shop Small, All Season Long, at Abilene’s small businesses!
Business Specials
- RHV - Santa visits from Noon - 4 pm. Santa will provide a small gift for the kiddos, and shoppers will receive 20% off during the event.
- Cypress Bridge Candle Co. - Will be open Saturday evening + Sunday!
- Aksent Boutique - will be open until 8 pm on Saturday!
Help us, help you!
Is your event, activity, or sale missing? Are you hosting Griswold Family Photos, hot cocoa, ornament decorating, Gingerbread house classes, storytime with Santa, or other activities? Please send updates to [email protected].
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