Abilene Kicks Off Holiday Season with a Cowtown Christmas
Named Midwest Destination of the Year by the Midwest Travel Network, Abilene businesses, attractions, organizations and residents are preparing for a five-star holiday weekend on December 3 & 4.
"Abilene is a great place to visit any time of year, but it's especially great during the holiday season," said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau director. "By packaging so many activities on the same weekend, Abilene truly becomes a Midwest destination!"
Holiday Tours at Historic Seelye Mansion
To start the day, visitors are encouraged to tour the Historic Seelye Mansion. The Mansion was built in 1905 for $55,000 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tour the Mansion and see beautifully decorated trees in every room, a collection of more than 750 nutcrackers and hundreds of Poinsettias.
"As the story goes, Mrs. Seelye was the first to bring the Poinsettia, a festive red plant, to Kansas," Roller Weeks said. "Today, the tradition conditions and hundreds of Poinsettias fill the Mansion's rooms."
45th Heritage Homes Association's 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.
"The Homes for the Holidays Tour offers visitors a unique opportunity to tour the inside of privately-owned homes and admire beautiful holiday decorations," Roller Weeks said.
Shopping Opportunities
Visitors are encouraged to support local businesses by shopping small all season long. Vendor fairs at the Abilene Holiday Craft Show and Sand Springs Venue Country Christmas Open House offer additional opportunities to find unique holiday gifts.
Dickinson County Historical Society's Old Fashioned Christmas
Named Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY, an Old Fashioned Christmas celebrates Christmases past with Christmas in the Cabin, live music including music from The Fiddlers, Brigade Band, Hiebert's Dulcimers, a living nativity, and other family-friendly activities.
Tickets are $5 per person (ages five and up).
Cowboy Christmas at Old Abilene Town
Enjoy hot chocolate, chili and cinnamon rolls while warming yourself up at the Alamo Saloon. See one of several decorated trees and enjoy special activities for kids.
Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown & Cruise for Food
Support the Abilene Area Food Bank while admiring Griswold-style holiday decorations throughout the community. The best decorated home in the Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown receives $2,000.
Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting
The evening will conclude with the Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting at Little Ike Park, followed by visits with Santa, a unique "Turkey Drop" spoofing the WKRP in Cincinnati episode Turkeys Away, "Snowball Drop," and a spectacular downtown fireworks display.
“You won’t want to miss the fireworks,” Roller Weeks said. “They’re the perfect ending to the evening and give Abilene a Hallmark movie vibe.”
Other seasonal activities include The Christmas Schooner – A New Musical at Great Plans Theatre and special holiday train rides with the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad.
See a full schedule of events at www.AbileneKansas.org/Christmas