Discover the charm of Christmas in downtown Abilene at the 31st Annual City Sidewalks celebration hosted by the Abilene Downtown Association.

Merchants, museums and galleries will open their decorated doors for a full week of holiday cheer, fun activities and shopping. Highlights include a parade of lights, lighting of a 62-foot Christmas tree, musical performances and free goodies.

Full schedule of events: 

DEC. 2-11

Contest: Downtown businesses are competing for best decorated windows. Winners will be chosen by People’s Choice and a panel of judges. Vote on the Abilene Downtown Facebook page.

MONDAY, DEC. 2

Opening Festivities: Abilene Downtown Association kicks off the 31st annual celebration of City Sidewalks week with the lighting of downtown Abilene!

4:30-5:30 p.m. Create Rudolph ornaments at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St.
5:30 p.m. Enjoy music from Abilene Star Chorus (Sweet Adelines) and Tony Barker.
6:00 p.m. A 62-foot-tall tree lighting on the Abilene Convention Center south steps. Minter Park and Everman Park will light up with holiday lights and decorations. Lighting made possible by the Dian Graves Owen Foundation, JAR Land & Investments, Lone Star Electric and H-E-B.
6:15 p.m. 1948 movie “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on the convention center lawn.

MONDAY MEDIA SPONSORS: KTAB/KRBC/ Telemundo/Big Country Home Page

TUESDAY, DEC. 3

The Main Event Tuesday!

5:00-7:00 p.m. Festive face painting at the Abilene Public Library. Free.
6:30 p.m. Parade – Celebrate the holidays with the 31st Annual FOX West Texas Christmas Lights Parade sponsored by Coca-Cola.  More than 100 festive floats travel through Downtown Abilene starting at  The parade route goes north on Pine Street, then left on N. 6th and south on Cypress Street.
Downtown Fun:  Restaurants, cultural venues and stores are open late. Food trucks on N. 2nd between Pine & Cypress and N. 6th between Cypress and Cedar streets.
Abilene ISD Entertainment:  Over 20 musical groups in 20 locations downtown will perform. For a full list, visit Abilene Centerstage Facebook page.
Community Entertainment: Music of the season provided by a variety of community performers.

• 5:00-7:30 p.m. LUNDI at Monks, 233 Cypress St.
• 5:30-6:00 p.m. The Memory Men at Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St.
• 5:30-6:00 p.m. Abilene Community Band at Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St.
• 6:30-7:00 p.m. Celebration Singers at First Financial Bank, 400 Pine St.

7:30 p.m. Community Tree Lighting at the Abilene Convention Center. The Mayor will perform the official duty of lighting the Christmas tree inside the Convention Center foyer. Abilene ISD students will perform and refreshments will be served.

TUESDAY MEDIA SPONSOR: FOX West Texas

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4

Holiday Pet PAWlooza: Bring your well-behaved dog or cat downtown to enjoy the holiday themed entertainment and snap their picture with Santa. Howl-A-Day Adoptions and Pet Pop-Up Christmas Market, contests and pet speciality items.

Make a Dog Toy: The downtown Abilene Public Library will offer a do-it-yourself dog tug toy craft activity from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

It’s a Wonderful Life: At 7:00 p.m., KACU 89.5 Abilene Public Radio will present “It’s a Wonderful Life” the live radio play at Paramount Theatre.  Fun for the whole family. Tickets are $15; children 12 and  under are free. More information at KACU.org.

WEDNESDAY MEDIA SPONSOR: KTXS TV

THURSDAY, DEC. 5

4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Library Fun – Design a new sleigh for Santa. A holiday themed LEGO Club will extend its hours. Stop by the library from

6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Caroling All the Way fill the downtown sidewalks with the music of the season at 6 p.m. Vocal groups, musicians and hand bell choirs are invited 6:30 p.m.. At , sing “Joy to the World” in Minter Park followed by a Las Posadas procession.

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Carols and Ale – get into the holiday spirit at Cypress Street Station,158 Cypress St., with draft beer and Christmas carols from 6-8 p.m. Featuring Red Gap Brewing Co. at $3 each and Abilene Bible and Brew. Come festively dressed! Prize for winner.

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.Workshop – The Grace Museum will host a Polymer Clay Class – Ornaments and Gifts Tags, Paid registration required. The Grace is open late, 5-8 p.m.

THURSDAY MEDIA SPONSOR: La Voz 93.3 FM

FRIDAY, DEC. 6

4:00-5:30 p.m. Library Fun – family board games and light snacks at the Abilene Public Library from

Shop downtown’s sparkly sidewalks: Retailers and businesses are making merry with special festivities and extended hours Friday and Saturday.

•  The Antique Station, 703 N. 3rd St. Collectibles.
• The Arrangement & The Warehouse, 357 Walnut St. Boutique, floral and events.
• Betty & June, 189 Pine St. Boutique.
• Bible Hardware, 333 Walnut St. Hardware, gifts and knives.
• Cypress Street Station, 158 Cypress St. Dining.
• The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St.
• The King’s Barber, 173 Walnut St. Gift cards and men’s grooming.
• The Local, 250 Cypress St. Dining  Loft on 6th, 1031 N. 6th St. Boutique.
• Lone Star Dry Goods, 173 Walnut St. Classic American clothing/gifts.
• McKay’s Bakery, 266 Cypress St. Dining & treats.
• Monks Coffee Shop, 233 Cypress St.
• Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St. Texas books, gifts, edibles and souvenirs.
• Under One Roof, 244 Pine St. Unique clothing, gifts and accessories.

5:30 p.m. Take a SoDA District Progress Walking Tour beginning at 5:30 p.m. at 833 S. 1st. It ends at 6:30 p.m. at Amendment 21. See the future home of Sockdolager Brewing and more!

Christmas in the Garden: How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? Find out at this special Storybook Capital family event in the Adamson Spalding Storybook Garden. Be the first to experience magical new lighting. Hop aboard the train. Play in real snow. Make holiday crafts. Meet Santa. Have your picture taken in our dinosaur themed photo area. $10/family. Train rides are $1. This event is sold out!

7:00 pm Enjoy a free concert by Celebration Singers at Paramount.

8:00 p.m. Belsnickel Beer Stroll – check-in at the Center for Contemporary Arts to meet Belsnickel and tour downtown while discovering whether you are Impish or Admirable. Belsnickel will guide you to four venues for drink specials. Tour ends at 10 p.m. at the Center with an after party. Limited tickets. $45. Includes shirt. Call (325) 677-8389.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6

9:00 a.m. – Reindeer Run 5K Junior League of Abilene, in partnership with the Abilene Downtown Association, is hosting a 5K run at at the Abilene Convention Center. Register at jrleagueabilene.com.

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Family Fun Day – bring the kids to the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature for holiday fun! Art activity, “Santa Calls” book reading and more! Meet Santa, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

7:30 p.m. Christmas Concert:  The Abilene Philharmonic performs its Holiday Pops concert, “Hometown Christmas,” at the Abilene Convention Center at a 3 p.m. matinee and at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, go to www.abilenephilharmonic.org.

7:30 p.m. Action Christmas Movie: Paramount Film Series presents “Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis. Terrorists take hostages at a Christmas Eve party.