Discover the charm of Christmas in downtown Abilene at the 34th Annual City Sidewalks celebration.
It will be a time to celebrate beloved old traditions and start a few new ones.

Merchants, museums and galleries will open their decorated doors for a month of holiday cheer, fun activities and shopping.

Vote for your favorite storefront in our holiday window decorating contest on the Abilene Downtown Facebook page!

Parade: Nov. 29, 2022
The deadline to enter the parade was Nov. 9.
FOX West Texas will re-air the parade at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4
www.foxchristmaslightsparade.com

Saturday, Nov 26, 2022

Small Business Saturday

The Abilene Downtown Association kicks off a month of fun with the 34th annual celebration of City Sidewalks with specials and sidewalk sales all day and an evening with the lighting of downtown Abilene. Buy local!

Downtown retailers are creating unique promotions or extending shopping hours today to encourage people to support locally owned businesses.

Monday, Nov 28, 2022

City Hall Lighting

Revolution Strings will begin playing at 5:30 pm followed by the outdoor City Hall tree lighting by Mayor Anthony Williams at 6 pm. Enjoy additional entertainment and take your photo with this beautiful community tree!

Tuesday, Nov 29, 2022

Parade Night

The FOX West Texas Christmas Lights Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. The route is from Pine to North 4th to Cypress Street. Enjoy 100 festive floats decorated with lights along with bands and other entertainment! This event is enjoyed by 15,000 people a year!

Music Schedule

5:30-6 p.m.

Clack Cardinal Choir at Abilene Public Library

Red Rhythm & Blues at Center for Contemporary Arts

Dyess 2nd Grade Choice at Convention Center’s North Steps

Austin Honor Choir at Everman Park

Mann Concert Boys & Girls at The Grace Museum

Purcell Jaguar Honor Choir at Minter Park

Craig Middle School Core Orchestra at National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature

Abilene Community Band at Paramount Theatre

Thomas Singers at Prosperity State Bank

A Capella Fellas (formerly known as The Memory Men) at Texas Star Trading Co.

Voice of Taylor at The Wooten Ballroom

6-6:30 p.m.

Pure Gold at Center for Contemporary Arts

Ward Wildcat Honor Choir at Convention Center’s North Steps

Alcorta Honor Choir at Everman Park

Ortiz All-Star Singers at The Grace Museum

Wylie East Intermediate Honor Choir at Minter Park

Martinez Honor Choir at Abilene Public Library

Friday, Dec. 2, 2022

Christmas in the Garden: Welcome to Narnia!

Enter through the magical wardrobe and enjoy…

Book Reading with the White Witch

Costumed Characters – Snow Machine - Magic

Narnia-themed refreshments & crafts – Live music

Two times to choose from: 5-630 PM or 6:30-8 PM (put this line in different color)

$10 per family

(No train rides this year due to hotel construction)

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

Junior League of Abilene's 5K Reindeer Run

Registration is now open for Junior League of Abilene's Reindeer Run 5K on Saturday, Dec. 3, in downtown Abilene! The race begins at 9 a.m. and proceeds benefit JLA's programs. Register today at bit.ly/Reindeer5k.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

Snowy Day at the NCCIL

The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature is hosting "The Snowy Day" at the NCCIL and sponsored by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. There will be 100 books given out for free to the first 100 children. Santa appearance, The Snowy Day movie viewing, fine art project, Letters to Santa writing station, donuts, bookstore open, The Snowy Day art display. Free to the public!

Abilene Philharmonic's Home for the Holidays Concert

Dec. 3

3 p.m. - Family Friendly Matinee

7:30 p.m. - Full-length Concert

Abilene Convention Center

Featuring Niki Scalera, vocals Samuel Cook, vocals Abilene Chamber Singers Broadway star Niki Scalera returns to Abilene for an evening of classic Christmas melodies and holiday favorites. Join us for an Abilene Holiday tradition!

Adults - $15
Students (ages 6 and up) - $5
Children (5 and under) - FREE
(these prices do not include the $2.50 per ticket fee)

Paramount Film Series: Christmas Vacation

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark's employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs. Tickets: $7. Rated PG-13.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022

KACU's Live Radio Show: A Christmas Carol

Join us at the Paramount Theatre for our 2nd annual live radio play! Kids 12 and under are FREE! Tickets at https://paramount-abilene.thundertix.com/

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022

ArtWalk

Welcome to ArtWalk - our monthly celebration of art in our downtown community! On the second Thursday of every month, we invite you to experience live art demonstrations, handcrafted art vendors, local food & drink, and more! 5-8 p.m. Family Christmas Night at The Grace Museum. Free art activities at the Abilene Public Library and the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. Organized by the Center for Contemporary Arts. ArtWalk Night film at the Paramount Theatre is the award-winning "Parasite" starting at 7:30 p.m.

Friday & Saturday, Dec. 9-10, 2022

Paramount Film Series presents "It's a Wonderful Life"

George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all - and it's Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence - who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn't been for all his good deeds over the years.

Tickets: $7

Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022

Abilene Opera presents Handel's Messiah

Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022

Abilene Community Band Christmas Concert

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

The Return of the Nutcracker

Thursday & Friday, Dec. 22-23, 2022

Aaron Watson Family Christmas - Only single tickets left!

Throughout December

Letters to Santa: Visit the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature and write your letter to Santa Claus at the letter writing station and place it in the North Pole mailbox.

Visit the Garden: The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council has decorated the sculptures in the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden at the Abilene Convention Center for Christmas with decorations and lights! Bring your family downtown to

take photos and explore the garden. For more information, visit storybookcapitalofamerica.com