2024 Holiday Guide
2024 Guide
Updated 11/20/2024
Step into the holiday magic in Abilene, Kansas, named Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY!
Mark your calendars for a festive weekend filled with unforgettable events. Experience the Heritage Homes Association’s 47th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour, revel in the nostalgia of Old-Fashioned Christmas at the Dickinson County Heritage Center, and embrace the spirit of the Wild West at a Cowboy Christmas in Old Abilene Town. Tour the lavishly decorated Historic Seelye Mansion, then hop aboard the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad's Cowtown Santa Express for a holiday ride to remember.
Catch the live production of Plaid Tidings at Great Plains Theatre, take an evening cruise to admire spectacular Christmas lights, and enjoy a dazzling downtown fireworks show. And don't forget—shop small and support local businesses all season long!
For the full schedule of events, visit AbileneKansas.org/Christmas.
Celebrate the magic of the season at Cowtown Christmas in Abilene, Kansas, on December 7 & 8!
Saturday, December 7, 2024
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.
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Shop Small
Make the most of your Saturday, December 7th, by spending the day in Abilene, Kansas! From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, explore the city’s charming small businesses and discover unique finds that will brighten your holiday season. From boutique treasures and antiques to cozy cafés and specialty shops, you’re sure to uncover something special for everyone on your list.
Support local entrepreneurs and Shop Small All Season Long! Many of Abilene’s small businesses are offering holiday specials, so don’t miss out on these incredible deals. Check out the full list of business specials here: https://www.dkedc.com/christmas.
When you shop locally, you’re giving more than gifts—you’re investing in the heart of our community. Come shop, dine, and experience the magic of the season in Abilene, Kansas, where small-town charm meets holiday cheer!
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Breakfast with Santa (Tickets must be purchased in advance)
Breakfast at the Abilene High School Football Field Mezzanine will include biscuits and gravy with juice or coffee. 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, December 2. Purchase your tickets at the Abilene Community Center or by calling the office (785) 263-7266.
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 49th Annual Abilene Holiday Craft Show
Shop from talented handcrafters throughout Kansas at Sterl Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find unique gifts and festive treasures perfect for the season!
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 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 on 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 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sand Springs Venue Country Christmas Open House
Come Enjoy our 7th Annual Christmas Vendor Open House! Santa will be joining us again from Noon to 2. Many different Vendors offering goods for great Christmas Presents. Food and Drinks available for purchase. Tis the Season for all the joy and fun.
10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Abilene CARES Coalition Festival of Trees and Wreaths
Visit Rivendell Bookstore from 10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, to place a bid on the silent auction of one of the decorated trees, wreaths, or other Christmas items. Additional viewing times will be announced later. You will also be able to vote for your favorite Christmas item. The voter winner will receive a special one-of-a-kind ornament designed by a local artist.
All proceeds benefit the Abilene Core Community.
2:00 p.m. Plaid Tidings at Great Plains Theatre
Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings is a brand new show that offers the best of Forever Plaid, tied up in a nifty package with a big Christmas bow on top! Filled with Christmas standards that have all been "Plaid-erized," our boys are back to do their Christmas Special. At first, Francis, Jinx, Smudge and Sparky aren't sure why they've returned to Earth for another posthumous performance, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney lets them know that they're needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world. Sprinkled among the Christmas offerings are audience favorites, like their riotous three-minute-and-eleven-second version of The Ed Sullivan Show – this time, featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and The Vienna Boys Choir, as well as a Plaid Caribbean Christmas that puts the "Day-O" in Excelsis! This truly "heaven-sent" holiday treat will lift audiences' spirits and fill them with nostalgia for a bygone era of classic music sung in perfect harmony. This show is rated PG, perfect for the whole family!
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Cowboy Christmas at Old Abilene Town
Gather the whole family for a festive afternoon filled with holiday cheer! Enjoy delicious chili and warm cinnamon rolls, and let the kids dive into fun activities. Don't miss the chance for a "ginchy" photo with the Grinch himself!
Wander through our beautifully decorated Old Abilene Town and get into the holiday spirit.
Bring the whole family for a memorable Cowboy Christmas!
3:30 p.m. Cowtown Santa Express
The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s “Cowtown Santa Express” is a wonderful way to create magical holiday memories for your family in 2024! Riding a heated train decked out in holiday lights, meeting Santa, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate, and experiencing the glowing ambiance of Old Abilene Town truly make for a special Christmas outing.
Make advanced reservations to secure your spot on this festive journey departing from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It’s sure to be a memorable experience for kids and adults alike!
4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Heritage Homes Association’s 47th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour
You won’t want to miss the Heritage Homes Association’s 47th Homes for the Holidays Tour! Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at West’s Plaza Country Mart and Abilene Downtown Antique/Mud Creek Malls, and online at www.LittleTownofMansions.com.
4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Old Fashioned Christmas at Dickinson County Heritage Center
Step into the magic of the season at Old Fashioned Christmas, held December 7th and 8th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Heritage Center, 412 S. Campbell St., Abilene, Kansas. This beloved holiday event promises a festive evening filled with twinkling lights, heartwarming traditions, and activities for all ages. Admission is just $5 for adults, and children 5 and under are free—cash is preferred.
Stroll through the lighted village, where each building offers something special to discover. Heritage Hall will feature live music with the Talmage Quartet at 5:00 PM and The Fiddlers at 7:00 PM, while piano melodies will fill the Middle Museum from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Enjoy storytelling and hot cider in the cozy cabin, and visit the Prichard Barn to experience a Living Nativity presented by Faith Lutheran Church from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Families can enjoy festive activities across the grounds. Kids will love the crafts in the School House, meeting Santa in the Ag Building, and savoring hot chocolate and cookies. Take a spin on the carousel—free rides will be running all evening long! The Burkland Store will host the AHS German Club, offering unique German Christmas items for purchase to support their fundraiser. Don’t miss the blacksmith shop, where the Tuesday Night Work Group will be serving freshly popped popcorn.
Whether you’re looking to create new holiday memories or celebrate timeless traditions, Old-Fashioned Christmas at the Heritage Center is a can’t-miss event.
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. 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 p.m. at Amanda's Bakery & Bistro, 302 N. Broadway Ave.
The winners from the Cowtown Christman Light Showdown will be announced at 8:00 p.m. at Little Ike Park.
Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown Sponsors: 1st Place - West's Plaza Country Mart and AC Westside Market; 2nd Place - Shelly Crane - Almost Home Realty; 3rd Place - Patterson Health Care Pharmacy - Abilene; and Mayor's Choice - City of Abilene
Feel free to decorate your ride and come enjoy a great Christmas Cruise!
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Judging for Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Seelye in Lights
Christmas at the Seelye Mansion has always been a magical experience! The holiday traditions at this historic mansion date back to December 25, 1905, when the first Christmas dinner was served in the dining room to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of Alfred Seelye’s parents, Mason and Ellen Seelye. The following year, on December 26, 1906, the mansion hosted a grand Christmas Ball with over 300 guests from across the country marveling at an 11,000-square-foot Winter Wonderland. The highlight was the unveiling of a rare Christmas flower, the poinsettia, shipped by rail from California—its first appearance in Kansas.
Today, Christmas at the Seelye Mansion is more enchanting than ever. Over 65 beautifully decorated Christmas trees fill the home, and nearly one hundred live poinsettias adorn each of the mansion’s twenty-five rooms. Adding to the charm, an impressive collection of hundreds of nutcrackers is also on display.
This December, Mr. Terry Tietjens, the Seelye Mansion Board of Directors, and their dedicated volunteers invite you to experience the mansion’s holiday splendor firsthand. “Seelye in Lights” will be open for three special evenings on December 7, 14, and 21 from 5-7 p.m. Guests can enjoy light refreshments, live music, and a tour of the mansion dressed in holiday glory. Tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for children 16 and under.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to step back in time and experience Christmas as it was meant to be celebrated—warm, bright, and beautiful at the Seelye Mansion.
5:30 p.m. Cowtown Santa Express
The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s “Cowtown Santa Express” is a wonderful way to create magical holiday memories for your family in 2024! Riding a heated train decked out in holiday lights, meeting Santa, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate, and experiencing the glowing ambiance of Old Abilene Town truly make for a special Christmas outing.
Make advanced reservations to secure your spot on this festive journey departing from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It’s sure to be a memorable experience for kids and adults alike!
7:00 p.m. Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting
An annual tradition, visit Little Ike Park for the lighting of the Mayor’s Holiday Tree.
7:05 p.m. 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.
7:30 p.m. All Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown ballots must be turned in front of Amanda’s Bakery and Bistro
7:30 p.m. AHS Singers perform at Little Ike Park
7:30 p.m. Plaid Tidings at Great Plains Theatre
Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings is a brand new show that offers the best of Forever Plaid, tied up in a nifty package with a big Christmas bow on top! Filled with Christmas standards that have all been "Plaid-erized," our boys are back to do their Christmas Special. At first, Francis, Jinx, Smudge and Sparky aren't sure why they've returned to Earth for another posthumous performance, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney lets them know that they're needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world. Sprinkled among the Christmas offerings are audience favorites, like their riotous three-minute-and-eleven-second version of The Ed Sullivan Show – this time, featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and The Vienna Boys Choir, as well as a Plaid Caribbean Christmas that puts the "Day-O" in Excelsis! This truly "heaven-sent" holiday treat will lift audiences' spirits and fill them with nostalgia for a bygone era of classic music sung in perfect harmony. This show is rated PG, perfect for the whole family!
7:30 p.m. Cowtown Santa Express
The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s “Cowtown Santa Express” is a wonderful way to create magical holiday memories for your family in 2024! Riding a heated train decked out in holiday lights, meeting Santa, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate, and experiencing the glowing ambiance of Old Abilene Town truly make for a special Christmas outing.
Make advanced reservations to secure your spot on this festive journey departing from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It’s sure to be a memorable experience for kids and adults alike!
8:00 p.m. Winners of Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown announced
- 1st Place - West's Plaza Country Mart and AC Westside Market
- 2nd - Shelly Crane - Almost Home Realty
- 3rd Place - Patterson Health Care Pharmacy - Abilene
- Mayor's Choice - City of Abilene
8:00 p.m. Fireworks* Sponsored by Almost Home Realty
*Weather permitting, fireworks will be set off from the east end of the Civic Center Parking Lot.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Holiday Tours at Historic Seelye Mansion
Built in 1905 for $55,000, the Historic Seelye Mansion is beautiful anytime, 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 on 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 times to join a tour are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Heritage Homes Association’s 46th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour
You won’t want to miss the Heritage Homes Association’s 46th Homes for the Holidays Tour! Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at West’s Plaza Country Mart and Abilene Downtown Antique/Mud Creek Malls, and online at www.LittleTownofMansions.com.
2:00 p.m. Plaid Tidings at Great Plains Theatre
Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings is a brand new show that offers the best of Forever Plaid, tied up in a nifty package with a big Christmas bow on top! Filled with Christmas standards that have all been "Plaid-erized," our boys are back to do their Christmas Special. At first, Francis, Jinx, Smudge and Sparky aren't sure why they've returned to Earth for another posthumous performance, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney lets them know that they're needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world. Sprinkled among the Christmas offerings are audience favorites, like their riotous three-minute-and-eleven-second version of The Ed Sullivan Show – this time, featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and The Vienna Boys Choir, as well as a Plaid Caribbean Christmas that puts the "Day-O" in Excelsis! This truly "heaven-sent" holiday treat will lift audiences' spirits and fill them with nostalgia for a bygone era of classic music sung in perfect harmony. This show is rated PG, perfect for the whole family!
Learn more
4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Old Fashioned Christmas at Dickinson County Heritage Center
Celebrate the season with us at Old Fashioned Christmas, continuing Sunday, December 8th, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Heritage Center, 412 S. Campbell St., Abilene, Kansas. This festive event offers an enchanting evening of music, crafts, treats, and holiday traditions for just $5 per adult, with free admission for children 5 and under. Cash is preferred.
Sunday’s entertainment lineup features live performances in Heritage Hall, beginning with the Kansas Brigade Band at 5:00 PM, followed by Annie Wilson (Tallgrass Express) at 6:00 PM and Zerf at 7:00 PM. Piano players will fill the Middle Museum with holiday melodies from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM, while the cozy cabin will host storytellers serving warm cider.
Families can enjoy a variety of holiday activities across the grounds. Santa awaits in the Ag Building with hot chocolate and cookies, while kids can unleash their creativity with crafts in the School House. The Burkland Store will feature unique German Christmas items available for purchase, supporting the AHS German Club fundraiser. Don’t forget to stop by the Blacksmith Shop for freshly popped popcorn, courtesy of the Tuesday Night Work Group, and enjoy free carousel rides throughout the evening.
Join us for a magical evening filled with Christmas cheer and timeless traditions. Make cherished memories with your loved ones this holiday season at Old-Fashioned Christmas on December 7th and 8th!
5:30 p.m. Cowtown Santa Express
The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s “Cowtown Santa Express” is a wonderful way to create magical holiday memories for your family in 2024! Riding a heated train decked out in holiday lights, meeting Santa, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate, and experiencing the glowing ambiance of Old Abilene Town truly make for a special Christmas outing.
Make advanced reservations to secure your spot on this festive journey departing from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It’s sure to be a memorable experience for kids and adults alike!
7:30 p.m. Cowtown Santa Express
The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s “Cowtown Santa Express” is a wonderful way to create magical holiday memories for your family in 2024! Riding a heated train decked out in holiday lights, meeting Santa, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate, and experiencing the glowing ambiance of Old Abilene Town truly make for a special Christmas outing.
Make advanced reservations to secure your spot on this festive journey departing from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. It’s sure to be a memorable experience for kids and adults alike!
And remember to Shop Small, All Season Long, at Abilene’s small businesses!
Thank you to the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation for compiling this great list of sales and special events!
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