5 Kentucky light displays that will get you into the holiday spirit
Sometimes you need a little help getting in the holiday spirit. And a great holiday light display can help. Here are five possibilities in Louisville, Newport, Frankfort, Harrodsburg and Lexington to check out.
Lights Under Louisville
Lights Under Louisville is the only underground light show in the U.S.
The 30-minute drive-through the city’s Mega Cavern features more than 3 million points of light, including 850 lit characters.
The lights began Nov. 15 and run through Jan. 4. Tickets are $27 per car. (Lightsunderlouisville.com)
Newport Light Up the Levee
Light Up the Levee began on Nov. 23 and continues through Jan. 2. The 50-foot tree with 1.4 million lights and fantastic ice sculptures are just a couple of the festival attractions. (Newportonthelevee.com)
While in Newport, you might want to catch Santa scuba diving with the shark rays at the Newport Aquarium. (Newportaquarium.com)
Buffalo Trace
The 21st Annual Lighting of the Trace will be held Dec. 5.
The free event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a candlelight tour and carols by the Kentucky State University choir followed by a visit from Santa and the flipping of the switch to turn on more than 150,000 lights.
The lights will include themed displays featuring elves rolling barrels and leaping buffalos. (Buffalotracedistillery.com)
Illuminated Evenings at Shaker Village
Illuminated Evenings at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill will be held in Harrodsburg each Saturday in December up to Christmas Day (Dec. 7, 14, 21).
In addition to the twinkling lights, there will be bonfires, music, Jingle Bell shuttle rides and candlelight tours.
In place of the $5 admission fee, visitors can bring donations of new hats, gloves and scarves as well as non-perishable foods for the Shaker Village Giving Tree. (Shakervillage.org)
Southern Lights
Of course, don’t miss the 27th annual Southern Lights display at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Regularly voted a Top 20 holiday event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, it is an extravaganza of beloved holiday scenes outlined in millions of twinkling lights.
Southern Lights runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 31, and costs $20 per car (Mon.-Thur.) and $25 (Fri.-Sun.). (Kyhorsepark.com)
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 7:29 AM.