Feeling festive? Where to find the best free holiday light displays around Lexington
When Saint Nick climbs into his sleigh on Christmas Eve, he’s not likely to miss Lexington.
This year’s Southern Lights Holiday Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park is promising to be “brighter than ever” and feature, among several attractions, photos with Santa, train rides and a petting zoo.
If you’re looking for something more low-key and light on the wallet, however, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a run-down of the best free holiday light shows Lexington has to offer this season.
Catch this longstanding light display in Lexington
Since 2005, Lexington Fire Department Station No. 20 has been putting on a holiday light show, and according to Lexington Fire Capt. Jamie Cropper, it’s grown over the years. The project begins just after Halloween when firefighters start mapping out the displays.
“Now we have over 20,000 lights,” Cropper told the Herald-Leader in a phone call Wednesday.
Each light is strung and synchronized by the firefighters of station 20 across three shifts, Cropper said. The light show lines up with classic holiday music, which listeners can catch by tuning their FM radios to 91.1.
The light show begins daily at 5:30 p.m. and runs through to the end of the year.
Originally, the show was started to promote the department’s annual toy drive, which Cropper said has been running for an impressive 94-year streak. This year, it’s distributing toys to 850 families and more than 2,500 children.
While the department is no longer taking sign ups for this year’s drive, Cropper said it can assist with referring families to other local toy drives. This year’s toy giveaway is Saturday, Dec. 14, and the department will continue to take toy donations after the holidays to prepare for next year, Cropper said.
If you do catch the light show with your family, children are free to play among the lights with adult supervision, Cropper said. Refrain from parking on the grass, and be ready to clear the station driveway immediately if firefighters need to mobilize on a call, the station wrote in a Facebook post.
Station No. 20 is located at 3001 Arrowhead Drive down Harrodsburg Road.
Other free shows in the area
Several Lexington residents put on holiday light shows for their neighbors, and we’ve tried to include as many as possible here, though we may have missed one or two. Here are some shows to check out this holiday season.
Mt. McKinley Lights: This light display at 2956 Mt. McKinley Way in Lexington runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
The Jones Family Christmas Light and Music Show is now in its 11th year. Running every night throughout December from 6:30 to 9 p.m., the light show tells the story of Christmas with music and narration. Turn your radio dials to 89.5 FM. It takes place at 1748 Abbington Hill, just note the show may not be running if there is heavy rain.
The Turner Home at 1008 Chinoe Road. This is a popular spot, and for good reason as thousands of Christmas lights and decorations light up the home of Ron and Linda Turner. If you do want to drive by for a look, drive slowly and be mindful of people crossing the street.
Facebook user Christina Breeding Grimm also compiled a mapped route of free Christmas light shows, which you can take a look at using the map below.
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