Free bicycle helmets for 125 children

Free bicycle helmets, a country jug band, decorated pumpkins and more greet visitors to downtown Saturday during Downtown Dayz.

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. to 1 p.m. in front of the United Way offices, 240 Cypress St. Local neurosurgeon Dr. Talmadge Trammell will provide proper fitting 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.

Play along with the Jug Band

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.

Band members will demonstrate their instruments separately and in combinations. After the performance, children can make their own musical instrument and jam with the band.

Decorate a pumpkin for a prize

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

Other events planned for Saturday include:

• Texas Gun and Knife Show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Abilene Civic Center.

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

• Carlton Stowers, formerly of Abilene, will sign copies of his latest book, “Texas Football Legends,” from 1 to 3 p.m. at Texas Star Trading Co.

• The movie, “Across the Universe,” shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at The Paramount Theatre.

• Family art activities from 1 to 4 p.m. at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature.

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

• Ben Steckly and students from Frush Music Studio perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Grace Museum.

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

• Acoustic music by Abilene Christian University students Casey Cheek and Walker Lyle begins at 6 p.m. at the ACU-Cockerell Art Gallery.

• Mike Wheeler & Co. will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Cypress Street Station.

• Cockerell Galleries 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 artist 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.

• 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.

• Special sales events include a Jon Hart holiday sale at Cox Jewelers, as well as a super sale at Under One Roof.

• Under One Roof and Honeycomb Tree will host door prize drawings.

• Get a free praline with a $20 purchase at Candies by Vletas.

• Eternal Threads will showcase new products from projects in Afghanistan, Nepal, Thailand and Madagascar. Enjoy a cup of Fair Trade coffee while you shop.

For more information, visit www.abilenedowntown.com.