Goodbye, Summer. Hello, Fall!

Visitors from all over the world travel to Abilene. This map from the Historic Seelye Mansion highlights the its visitors. 

Happy fall!

As the summer travel season closes and fall travel season begins, we celebrate a great summer in Abilene!

From new projects including a We Like Ike window/yard decorating contest to new Visit Abilene, Kansas rack cards distributed in hundreds of communities, businesses and attractions, we strive to market Abilene and accommodate groups and visitors to our five-star community.

New summer marketing efforts including hosting travel bloggers and social media influencers Everyday Wanderer, Hobbies on a Budget, Travel with Sara, Wherever I May Roam, Iowa Gallivant and Walk Across America led to increased awareness about our community's businesses and attractions and coordinated efforts with media outlets led to stories online, in print and on television including: LA Times, KANSAS! Magazine, Manhattan Magazine, Good Day Kansas and Where's Shane.

The Abilene CVB also assisted many new groups including Christian Motorcycle Association of Kansas, International Studebaker Drivers Club, and 2019 Ocean to Ocean Reenactment.

Fulfilling visitor requests, preparing welcome bags and welcoming visitors to Abilene's state-designated Travel Information Center also kept staff busy.

We look forward to a great fall season and helping you plan your trip to Abilene!

Julie Roller Weeks,
director, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
Studebakers Visit Abilene

2019 Fly Kansas Air Tour Plans Stop in Abilene

Did you know Abilene has an airport? In addition to hosting,  Skydive K-State , it also serves visitors to our five-star community! The 2019 Fly Kansas Air Tour will once again plan to stop in Abilene and visit the  Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum .


5 Things to Do in Abilene

5 Things to Do in Abilene - Week of 9/23/2019
5 Things to Do in Abilene - Week of 9/23/2019
Gone for Awhile Tours Visits Abilene

Each day tour buses visit Abilene and we're happy to assist with them with coordination.  They enjoyed lunch at the Abilene Civic Center before an afternoon visit to the all-new exhibits  Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum . Later, they stocked up on treats from  Russell Stover Candies  before checking into the  Holiday Inn Express & Suites and dining at the  Brookville Hotel .

The Gone for Awhile Tours' bus driver shared he's more and more impressed with every visit to Abilene and thanked the CVB for its accommodations.

Bonus: This group also received Abilene goodie bags prior to their arrival so they could learn more about our 5-star community!
*New* Exhibit Alert


We are so excited to have a new Special Exhibit - De Gaulle / Eisenhower: Alliance and Friendship in War and Peace - opening on Monday, September 23!


The exhibit runs September 23, 2019 - February 2, 2020.
Deadline Approaches to Register for Jon Schallert Consumer Destination Workshop

October 1 is the last day to register the Jon Schallert Business Development Workshop October 7-8 at the Greyhound Hall of Fame in Abilene.
 
The workshop, coordinated by the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Agriculture Marketing, will provide attendees with businesses principles and tools needed to reinvent their business or community into a consumer destination.
 
The two-day agenda will include work sessions with group work, a social media workshop session and question and answers.
 
To date, thirty-seven representatives from Abilene attractions and businesses are registered for the workshop and sixty-nine from other communities throughout Kansas including Colby, Emporia, Marysville and Salina.
 
"The role of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau is to market Abilene and provide services to groups and individuals visiting our five-star community" said Abilene CVB director Julie Roller Weeks. "Tourism plays an important role in our economy and the more opportunities we give visitors to stay and spend, the more everyone benefits."
 
The workshop is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant and provided at no cost to participants.
 

Throwback Thursday

The Salina Journal - April 3, 1960
5 Star Reviews - Joe Snuffy's Old Fashioned Grill
Share your news!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to  Julie@abilenecityhall.com.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS



EVENT

WHEN

LOCATION
LEARN MORE
*SOLD OUT* Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, September 28 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
*SOLD OUT* Silver Flyer Railbus Saturday, September 28 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Cowtown Classic Charity Bike Ride Sunday, September 29 @ 7 am Eisenhower Park
Putting Color Back in Grandma's Cheeks Thursday, October 3 @ 7 pm Dickinson County Historical Society
Colorizing Ike, WWII and Other Historical Images Thursday, October 3 @ 7 pm Dickinson County Historical Society
Heritage Days Saturday, October 5 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Saturday, October 5 @ 10 am - 3 pm (hourly departures)

 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel)
 Saturday, October 5 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Sunday, October 6 @ 2 pm (last steam run of the year)
 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Impact the Cure Saturday, October 12 @ 8 am Impact Sports and Fitness
Museum Rededication and Ribbon Cutting Saturday, October 12 @ 11 am Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
Vintage Base Ball Game Saturday, October 12 @ 11 am Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
Abilene Fire Department 150th Celebration Saturday, October 12 @ 1 pm  Abilene Fire Department
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, October 12 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
*SOLD OUT* Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse Saturday, October 12 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
National Greyhound Association's Fall Meet Monday, October 14 - Saturday, October 19  National Greyhound Association
Empires Fall October 18-27 Great Plains Theatre
Halloweenie Spooktacular Friday, October 18 @ 6 pm - 7:45 pm Abilene Parks & Recreation
Spooktacular Saturday, October 19 @ Noon - 6 pm Old Abilene Town
Karaoke Night Friday, October 25 @ 7-10 pm Old Abilene Town
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, October 26 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
*SOLD OUT*  Silver Flyer Railbus Saturday, October 26 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
5th Annual Tombstone Talks Friday, November 1 @ 6:30 pm and 8 pm Great Plains Theatre
Abilene Gun Show Saturday, November 2 @ 9am - 5 pm; Sunday, November 3 @ 9am - 3pm Sterl Hall
Makin' Magic - 25 Years of Fun November 29 - December 15 Great Plains Theatre
Abilene's Victorian Inn Christmas Afternoon Tea Saturday, December 7 Abilene's Victorian Inn
Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8		 Varies each year
Night of Christmas Magic Saturday, December 7 Downtown Abilene
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad - Christmas Lights Tour December 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 @ 6 pm and 7 pm. Pickup: Abilene Travel Information Center / Civic Center parking lot (east end)

Cost: $5 per person ages 3 and older.
Call: 
785-263-1077 for reservations.
. 
About us
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau  is the marketing arm of the City of Abilene and provides services to tourists and groups convening in Abilene.
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