Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown

If Griswold-Style Holiday Decorations are Your Thing, You’ll Love Abilene’s 4th Annual Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown!

Get ready to deck the halls and cruise through a sparkling wonderland at the Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown in Abilene, Kansas. This beloved event is a festive treat for the whole family—and a great way to support the community.

Date: Saturday, December 7

Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Location: Start at 409 NW 3rd Street (Abilene Area Food Bank)

Christmas Cruise for Food

Kick off your evening by making a difference! Swing by the Abilene Area Food Bank (next to the Sunflower Hotel) and drop off non-perishable food items or monetary donations. Volunteers from the Food Bank and Neighbor to Neighbor will be there to greet you.

Use the eastbound drop-off lane to keep things moving smoothly.

Get Your Ballot & Map

After donating, you’ll receive a ballot and map for the Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown. This is your ticket to exploring Abilene’s dazzling holiday light displays.

Ballots must be turned in by 7:30 p.m.

Drop them off at Amanda's Bakery & Bistro located at 302 N. Broadway Ave.

Winners Announced at Little Ike Park

Join us at 8:00 p.m. in Little Ike Park for the grand announcement of this year’s winners!

1st Place ($2,000): Sponsored by West's Plaza Country Mart & AC Westside Market 

2nd Place ($1,000): Sponsored by Shelly Crane - Almost Home Realty KS

3rd Place ($500): Sponsored by Patterson Health Care Pharmacy - Abilene

Mayor’s Choice (4- $100): Sponsored by the City of Abilene Kansas

Kansas Tourism's Mobile Visitors Center to Attend Cowtown Christmas in Abilene

Kansas Tourism's Mobile Visitors Center (MVC) will be making a special stop at the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Depot on Saturday, December 7, during a Cowtown Christmas. The MVC will be open in the afternoon, ready to share all things Kansas with attendees.

The Mobile Visitors Center brings travel information directly to you. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff, known as Inspiration Agents, are excited to welcome you, answer your questions, and provide resources as you explore all that Kansas has to offer. This branded vehicle can be found at high-attendance events and festivals, both in-state and out-of-state.

“By bringing the Mobile Visitors Center to events like Cowtown Christmas, we’re able to connect with visitors in a unique and innovative way,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Mobile Visitors Center can help visitors give the gift of travel this holiday season by sharing the best of Kansas and helping them discover new adventures.”

Don't miss the Kansas Tourism Mobile Visitors Center at Cowtown Christmas on Saturday, December 7, at the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Depot. It's the perfect opportunity to gather travel tips, explore Kansas' rich offerings, and enjoy the festive spirit of the season.

For more information about a Cowtown Christmas, visit www.AbileneKansas.org/Christmas.

Kansas Gunsmoke Trail

U.S. Tours - America is offering a 6-day "Ride the Gunsmoke Trail" tour! Check it out online at https://www.ustoursamerica.com/ride-the-gunsmoke-trail/

2025 American Flag Sponsors

Visitors to Abilene frequently comment on the beautiful American flags lining Buckeye Avenue and NW 3rd Street. The American flags are one of the many wonderful attributes that make our community stand out.

To continue this tradition, the City of Abilene’s Convention & Visitors Bureau is seeking sponsors for the American flags, which are placed on poles from I-70 along Buckeye Avenue to the south city limits and from Buckeye west on NW 3rd Street. The flags are flown from the Eisenhower Marathon weekend in April through Veterans Day. Because they are displayed for seven months, the flags and poles are more prone to wear and tear. The City of Abilene’s Public Works Department replaces them as needed.

Our goal is to purchase 200 flags for the 2025 season. The cost of each flag remains the same at $25, which includes the cost of the pole.

While the City of Abilene’s Public Works Department, Vyve Broadband and Linder Electric install the flags on the light poles, we rely on the community to provide funding for this project.

We hope you will consider purchasing one or more flags this year. Please complete the enclosed form and return it to Julie Roller Weeks at the Abilene CVB by January 24, 2025.

Thank you in advance for your continued support!

2025 American Flag Sponsors:

1. Scott Litke
2. Brad Dunlap
3. Marlene and Bill Howe
4. KJIL Radio
5. Wildcat Services, Inc. Krinhop
6. Matt and Jen Helmer
7. Curtis & Sandy Rein
8. Annette Wilson
9. Rackets Tap House
10. Shelly Crane
11. Larry & Tina Rankin
12. Rawhide Portable Corral
13. Gary & Bunny McCloud
14. Craig Richardson
15. Abilene Termite & Pest Control
16. Tim & Sharon Burt
17. Great Plains Federal Credit Union
18. Holm Automotive Center
19. West's Plaza Country Mart
20. John and Judy Anguiano
21. Robson Oil Co. Inc./Corner Stop Cenex, Liberty Cenex
22. Tony & Sarah Geiger
23. Jeremy Stuck
24. Carol & Moe Spitcaufsky
25. Bill & Nanc Scholl
26. Casey & Jane Foltz
27. Martin Becker Carlson Funeral Home
28. Danner Funeral Home
29. Vine Creek Accounting
30. Bert and Wetta Abilene
31. Harlan & Peggy Janke
32. Duri Ridge Free State Armory LLC
33. Marlin & Melinda Fitzwater
34. Chuck & Ann Brussow
35. Rick & Marcia Williamson
36. Greyhound Hall of Fame
37. Eisenhower Foundation
38. Cathy Strowig
39. Lumber House Inc.
40. Bielefeld Insurance
41. Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Post 1969
42. Gary Sweatland
43. Lynn Peterson Monuments & Design, Inc.
44. Theresa Brierton
45. Les & Michele Snowball
46. The Wendell & Nancy Gugler Charitable Giving Fund
47. Geske Interiors, Inc
48. Abilene Rent-All and Sales, Inc.
49. Faith Lutheran Church
50. Sonic Drive In of Abilene
51. Brandon L. Rein
52. Pinnacle Bank
53. In Memory of Kim Bogart
54. Pioneer Farm & Ranch 
55. David Debenham
56. The Abilene Group Financial Advisors
57. First Bank Kansas
58. Steve & Tish Cathey
59. Bruce & Denise Youtsey
60. Bruce & Denise Youtsey
61. Pottberg, Gassman & Hoffman Chtd.
62. Patterson Healthcare Pharmacy
63. Solomon State Bank
64. Chris Murphy
65. Brown Memorial Foundation
66. Dick & Sharon Evers

*As of 12/3/2024