Visit 12 Christmas Lights Displays In Kentucky For A Magical Experience
As we make our way toward winter, you know what that means… it’s time to start celebrating Christmas. If you’re looking for something a bit more exciting than blaring Christmas music, drinking egg nog, and watching A Christmas Story for the thousandth time, then check out some of the best Christmas light displays in Kentucky. Every year, these magical destinations illuminate with festive cheer and they are some of the best things to do at Christmas in Kentucky. If you’re wondering about the best Christmas light displays in Kentucky, then take a look at these 12 wonderful options.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
1. Lights Under Louisville at the Louisville Mega Cavern - 1841 Taylor Avenue, Louisville, KY 40213.
Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213, USA
Head to the Mega Cavern to see the world's only underground light show. Lights Under Louisville runs from mid-November to early January. Learn more about this unique light display on its website.
2. The Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival, Ashland - Central Park and downtown Ashland.
Ashland puts on an impressive holiday festival every year, complete with a beauty pageant, parade, train rides, and of course, spectacular Christmas lights. The light display will be illuminated mid-November to early January. The entire season is filled with festive cheer in Ashland and you can find out more on the festival's Facebook page.
3. Southern Lights Holiday Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park - 4089 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511.
Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511, USA
This driving tour of spectacular lights attracts more than 120,000 visitors each year. The route is open nightly from late November to the end of December. Plan your visit on the event's website.
4. Grand Rivers Festival of Lights - Patti's 1880 Settlement, 1793 J H O'Bryan Avenue, Grand Rivers, KY 42045.
This fun property in downtown Grand Rivers has over 700,000 lights to get you into the holiday spirit. Find out more about one of the largest Christmas light displays in Kentucky on its website.
5. Light up Louisville - 4th & Jefferson Streets in downtown Louisville.
Light Up Louisville has been a holiday tradition since 1981. There is even a 40-foot tall Christmas tree and a pop-up ice skating rink. A "Holiday Market" with vendors and food remains open from Jefferson Street to Liberty Street through the season. Find more information on the city's website.
6. Light Up The Levee Grand Illumination at Newport on the Levee - 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071.
Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071, USA
This festival to kick off the holiday season is located in Newport, right across the river from Cincinnati. At the Grand Illumination, you can listen to live music, watch artists create amazing ice sculptures, meet Santa, and admire the sparkling 50-foot tree. The lights will continue to glow until early January. Follow along with the event's information on the Levee's website.
7. Christmas at Panther Creek Park - 5160 Wayne Bridge Road, Owensboro, KY 42301.
Drive through this amazing illuminated tour that has more than 400,000 lights. The tour is open every night throughout the season and continues until early January. Learn more on the Owensboro website.
8. Christmas In The Park - Noble Park, 2915 Park Avenue, Paducah, KY 42001.
For the month of December, come see Paducah's Noble Park glow with Christmas Lights. Moving light displays will be dancing throughout the park. You can bring non-perishable food items or cash to be donated to local charities. Get all of the details on the event's website.
9. Light Up Bardstown - 1 Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004.
Bardstown is always such a magical Christmas town in Kentucky throughout the holiday season! They go all out with their light displays and Christmas tree. Plan a visit to this charming little town by looking through their website.
10. Lighting Of The Trace - Buffalo Trace Distillery, 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Buffalo Trace Distillery, 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
Editor's Note: Please note, Buffalo Trace Distillery has not announced information about this event in 2021.
Starting in early December, Buffalo Trace has a month-long celebration of lights. You will be able to drive around this distillery's beautiful property and see it all lit up until early January, from dusk until 11pm. Read more on the distillery's website.
11. Ruley's Santa Clause Land - 165 Stringtown Road, Loretto, KY 40037.
Ruley's Santa Claus land, 165 Stringtown Rd, Loretto, KY 40037, USA
This farm in Marion County boasts more than a million lights covering four acres. The light show is put on by the Ruley family every year, who started doing it simply to have something fun for the local children to do around Christmas time. Entry is free, but donations are accepted. You can follow along with them on Facebook.
12. Bardstown Road Aglow - Bardstown Road in the Highlands of Louisville.
Bardstown Road is the place to be in early December! Participating businesses up and down Bardstown Road compete in a holiday decorating contest, so it's fun to walk around and see who is the brightest and most creative with their displays. Many of the businesses will have special sales. Find out more on the event's website.
If you’re not in the Christmas spirit yet, you certainly will be if you visit one or all of the best Christmas light displays in Kentucky!
Has anyone ever seen one of these displays in person before? Are there any other awesome Christmas light shows in Kentucky that we missed? Feel free to share with us in the comments!
And for more on the unique drive-thru Christmas lights display in Kentucky featured above, read on about our very own Christmas cave.
Address: 165 Stringtown Road, Loretto, KY 40037
Address: 4089 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511
Address: 1841 Taylor Avenue, Louisville, KY 40213
Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601
Address: 1 Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004
Address: 1880 Settlement, 1793 J H O'Bryan Avenue, Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Address: 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071
Address: 5160 Wayne Bridge Road, Owensboro, KY 42301
Address: 2915 Park Avenue, Paducah, KY 42001
Address: Ashland, KY, USA
Address: Bardstown Road, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY, USA
Address: Buffalo Trace Distillery, 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
Address: 5160 Wayne Bridge Rd, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
Address: 1 Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Address: Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071, USA
Address: 2915 Park Ave, Paducah, KY 42001, USA
Address: 793 J H O'Bryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045, USA
Address: Ruley's Santa Claus land, 165 Stringtown Rd, Loretto, KY 40037, USA
Address: Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511, USA
Address: Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213, USA
Address: Downtown, Louisville, KY, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Light Displays In Kentucky
November 04, 2019
Andrea Limke
What is the largest Christmas lights display in Kentucky?
There are so many fun things to do at Christmas in Kentucky and light displays are some of the best for all ages. When it comes to the largest Christmas lights display in Kentucky, it’s a tough call. All of the destinations listed above are some of the best, but for the largest, check out Lights Under Louisville, Patti’s in Grand Rivers, and all of the festivities in Ashland.
What is there to do at Christmas in Kentucky?
There is so much to do at Christmas in Kentucky that you can have plenty of holiday fun all season long. Visit a light display as mentioned above, ride the Polar Express with Santa, go ice skating, or even consider a winter hike for some fresh air.
What are the best Christmas towns in Kentucky?
Many of Kentucky’s towns transform into winter wonderlands this time of year. Your own town or neighborhood may even be one of the best Christmas spots in the Bluegrass State. But if you need more suggestions, try Ashland, Bardstown, Lousiville, Newport, Paducah, or Owensboro. All of these towns offer a wide variety of Christmas activities and events.
Address: 165 Stringtown Road, Loretto, KY 40037
Address: 4089 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511
Address: 1841 Taylor Avenue, Louisville, KY 40213
Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601
Address: 1 Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004
Address: 1880 Settlement, 1793 J H O'Bryan Avenue, Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Address: 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071
Address: 5160 Wayne Bridge Road, Owensboro, KY 42301
Address: 2915 Park Avenue, Paducah, KY 42001
Address: Ashland, KY, USA
Address: Bardstown Road, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY, USA
Address: Buffalo Trace Distillery, 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
Address: 5160 Wayne Bridge Rd, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
Address: 1 Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Address: Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071, USA
Address: 2915 Park Ave, Paducah, KY 42001, USA
Address: 793 J H O'Bryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045, USA
Address: Ruley's Santa Claus land, 165 Stringtown Rd, Loretto, KY 40037, USA
Address: Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511, USA
Address: Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213, USA
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. I have lived elsewhere twice, but keep coming back. I'm a video editor and freelance writer who enjoys watching people wearing University of Louisville uniforms excel at sports, scaling the faces of large rocks, and hanging out with my border collie/laborador/cattle dog mutt thingy that I have.
Love Kentucky?
Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!
