Gering & Scottsbluff Team Up to Celebrate the 2025 Christmas Season
For Immediate Release
Nov. 18, 2025
Tina Worthman, Gering Tourism Director, tina@visitgering.com, 308-436-6886
Tevia Daly, City of Scottsbluff Recreation and Events Supervisor, tdaly@scottsbluff.org, 308-630-6213
Gering and Scottsbluff Team Up to Celebrate the 2025 Christmas Season
Communities Partner to Promote Regional Holiday Events, Festivities, and Family Traditions
The communities of Gering and Scottsbluff are joining together this year to celebrate the Christmas season with a full lineup of festive, family-friendly holiday events. For the first time, both cities, local tourism organizations, merchants, and cultural attractions have coordinated a regional holiday calendar to promote the best of the season across the valley.
This coordinated effort includes a partnership between the City of Gering, Gering Tourism, Gering Merchants, City of Scottsbluff, Downtown Scottsbluff Association, Midwest Theater, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Legacy of the Plains Museum, Riverside Discovery Center, Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, Scotts Bluff County Tourism, and the West Nebraska Arts Center.
A shared calendar of events, updated throughout the season, is available at VisitGering.com.
This year, the Gering Merchants opted not to host a separate Christmas parade, choosing instead to support the Downtown Scottsbluff Christmas Parade, which kicks off the holiday season on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 5:45 p.m.
The Scottsbluff parade will offer the region one large, vibrant Christmas celebration, drawing visitors to both communities as part of the shared effort to strengthen holiday events valley-wide.
The holiday season officially begins in Gering with the opening of Santa Village at the Gering Civic Plaza on Friday, November 29, with the Opening Celebration from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; and the Official Lighting Ceremony from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Santa Village features festive Christmas cottages created by local businesses and organizations, visits with Santa, twinkling lights, and a Hallmark-style holiday atmosphere in downtown Gering. The Village will be open to the public from Nov. 29 through Christmas.
The collaboration between Gering and Scottsbluff highlights the many traditions, attractions, and seasonal activities available for families, visitors, and residents throughout December.
Featured events include:
- Midwest Theater holiday performance of Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience and many favorite holiday films;
- Legacy of the Plains Museum holiday activities, including Trees Along the Trail, Yuletide Lights and High Plains Christmas;
- Riverside Discovery Center’s “Wild Lights” nighttime zoo light experience; and
- Wildcat Hills SRA (which is on the Nebraska Holiday Passport this year) nature-themed programs and winter hikes
These, along with many other community holiday happenings, are all listed in one place on the VisitGering.com events calendar.
Local organizers say this year’s collaboration reflects a growing commitment to regional cooperation.
“Our goal is to make the entire valley shine for the holidays,” said Tina Worthman, Tourism Director for the City of Gering. “By working together, we’re strengthening our events, supporting our merchants, and creating a memorable Christmas season for residents and visitors alike.”
“This kind of partnership benefits both communities,” added Tevia Daly, the Recreation and Events Supervisor for the City of Scottsbluff. “It brings people downtown, strengthens local business, and helps us showcase the magic of the holidays across the entire region.”
A full listing of Christmas events from Gering, Scottsbluff, and partner organizations can be found on the VisitGering.com events calendar. You can also find information about Scottsbluff Parks and Recreation on their Facebook page, facebook.com/scottsbluffparks.