Celebrate Pink Friday in Abilene: Support Small Businesses on November 22

Get ready to think pink and shop local! Pink Friday is a nationwide movement dedicated to celebrating the small and local businesses that make our community shine. Taking place on Friday, November 22—just one week before the holiday shopping frenzy of Black Friday—Pink Friday encourages all of us to invest in our local economy, support our neighbors, and discover all Abilene, Kansas has to offer.

Why Pink Friday Matters

Established in 2020, Pink Friday was created to uplift the small business community by reminding shoppers to prioritize local retailers for their holiday needs. By choosing to shop small first, you’re not just finding unique gifts—you’re supporting the vibrancy and diversity of our local economy. Every purchase you make helps sustain our community’s independent shops, create local jobs, and keep Abilene a thriving, exciting place to visit and live.

Abilene’s Pink Friday Shopping Guide

From one-of-a-kind home decor to handmade candles, trendy apparel, Western wear, and one-of-a-kind antiques, Abilene's small businesses are ready to make your holiday shopping memorable. Head downtown or browse the locally-owned stores scattered around our town, and discover items you won’t find anywhere else!

Make a list, bring your friends, and be ready to shop local. Explore a list of locally-owned businesses at www.abilenekansas.org/shop and start planning your Pink Friday adventure in Abilene.

Make a Day of It!

While you’re shopping around town, take time to grab lunch at a local eatery, sip a warm cup of coffee, or snap photos by our striking murals and iconic attractions. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a festive day in Abilene while showing your love for our community’s small businesses.

Let’s paint the town pink and make this holiday season unforgettable! Join us for Pink Friday on November 22, and celebrate the joy of shopping small, shopping local, and showing your Abilene pride.

Happy Birthday, Terry!

(Friday, November 8)

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Terry Tietjens!

In February 1982, Terry and his brother Jerry made a bold decision that forever changed Abilene's history: they purchased the Historic Seelye Mansion. Can you imagine what might have happened to this architectural marvel, its priceless contents, and the cherished stories without their passion and dedication?

Fun Fact: Just a month before the sale, in January 1982, a fire threatened to derail their plans, but the mansion was saved, and so was a piece of Kansas history! By December 1985, they hosted their first tours, opening the doors to thousands of guests who continue to be amazed.

We owe so much to the Tietjens brothers for preserving this Kansas treasure and sharing it with the world. The Seelye Mansion has not only been recognized with a Midwest Travel Writers Association GEMmy Award but is also celebrated as an 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture winner by the Kansas Sampler Foundation!

Please join us in wishing Terry a wonderful birthday and thank him for his incredible contributions to Abilene’s legacy!

Like Ike in Abilene

by Lisa Morales

Abilene, Kansas. History comes alive at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas. In fact, Abilene is as proud to be “Ike’s” home as he was to be from this Mid-Western town. He famously said in 1945, “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” Many sites throughout town associated with the former president and first lady can be found at this link, and many events take place in commemoration such as the Eisenhower Easter egg roll and marathon. The campus of the Presidential Library and Museum houses several significant sites, including Eisenhower’s boyhood home, the library, the museum and the final resting place of the president, his wife and their first son. 

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Free Museum Day

Visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum exhibits for free in honor of Veterans Day! Since the 2025 holiday falls on a Monday when we are not open, visit the museum for free on Tuesday, November 12!

*Free admission for the museum exhibits only. Tickets for scheduled home tours must be purchased.