Killeen’s annual Holiday Under the Stars weekend will be Dec. 2-3 and will feature five unique events over two days for the public to enjoy.
The weekend activities begin Friday at 5:30 p.m. when we open our holiday market in Downtown Killeen. The market will run to 8:30 p.m. and will feature holiday-themed arts and craft vendors, food vendors and more.
Around 6:50 p.m., The mayor and Santa will make their way to Santa Fe Plaza on Avenue D and lead the countdown for our tree lighting ceremony, which will take place at 7 p.m. Along with the lighting, there will be caroling, entertainment, free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a snow show.
Saturday’s activities begin with the Jingle Bell Dash 5K at 8 a.m. The Centex Race Series event will be held at the Andy K. Wells Hike and Bike Trail. The cost is $25 and same day registration is available.
The annual Christmas Parade will begin at 1 p.m. and start on Avenue C near 2nd Street. The parade will travel east on Ave C, then north on 8th Street to Church Avenue. It will travel west on Church Avenue and finish on Root Avenue.
Finally, the rest of Saturday can be spent downtown as we celebrate the “Festival of the Holidays” from 3-8 p.m. There will be free pictures with Santa, ice skating, Christmas inflatables, arts and crafts, interactive games, snow show, live entertainment, food trucks, merchants and free s’mores (while supplies last). The festival takes place on Ave D between Gray and 8th Streets.
To find out more, visit www.killeentexas.gov/HUTS.