Downtown Dayz

When: Saturday

Where: downtown Abilene

How much: free unless otherwise noted

What's going on: Free bicycle helmets, a country jug band and decorated pumpkins will greet Downtown Dayz visitors on Saturday in downtown Abilene.

Sponsored by the Abilene Downtown Association, the event is held each second Saturday of each month.

More than 100 bicycle helmets for children will be given away during "Hard Hats for Little Heads," sponsored by the Taylor-Jones-Haskell Co. Medical Alliance. The helmets will be distributed from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in front of the United Way offices, 240 Cypress St. Dr. Talmadge Trammell will provide proper fittings from 11 a.m. to noon.

Funding for the project, held during Brain Injury Awareness Month, is provided by the Texas Medical Association Foundation through a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

The six-person Country Jug Band from Abilene will present traditional down-home country and gospel favorites at 1 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Band members will demonstrate their instruments. After the performance, kids can make their own musical instrument and jam with the band.

Just in time for Halloween, people of all ages are invited to decorate pumpkins and bring them to the Cockerell Galleries, 1133 N. 2nd St., for judging and prizes. Pumpkins should be turned in by noon Saturday, with winners and prizes announced at 1 p.m.

Other activities:

• Texas Gun and Knife Show, Abilene Civic Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (the show continues Sunday)

• Historic walking tour, meet at Minter Park, 11:30 a.m.

• Carlton Stowers, formerly of Abilene, will sign copies of his latest book, "Texas Football Legends," from 1-3 p.m. at Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St.

• Screening of "Across the Universe," 2 and 7:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. Admission: $6 adults, $5 students/senior citizens/military personnel. (Also screened 7:30 p.m. Friday.)

• Family art activities at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St., 1-4 p.m.

• Students from Strings Unlimited Violin Studio will perform outdoors at the corner of North 2nd and Cypress streets, 11 a.m.

• Ben Steckly and students from Frush Music Studio perform, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St.

• Memory Men Barbershop Singers will perform in various locations downtown at noon.

• Acoustic music by Abilene Christian University students Casey Cheek and Walker Lyle, 6 p.m., ACU-Cockerell Art Gallery, 1133 N. 2nd St.

• Mike Wheeler & Co. will perform, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Cypress Street Station, 158 Cypress St.

• Cockerell Galleries, 1133 N. 2nd St., will host a variety of sidewalk artists, including henna tattoo artist Diana Burk, calligraphers Suzanne Starr and Anita Lane, Halloween face painting by Janine Smith, "Crown of Thorn" whittling demonstrations by Dennis Regan, and trick-or-treat bag decorating hosted by Ralph and DeeDee Zamarippa.

• Sneak a peek at the "Little Masterpieces" exhibit at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St.

• The Honeycomb Tree will feature a Linen Loft trunk show, featuring vintage linens.

• Chef Janet Scalley will present a cooking demonstration at 2 p.m. at The Loft at Under One Roof.

For more information, see www.abilenedowntown.com.