HGTV calls this small Kentucky town one of the best to visit for Christmas charm
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- HGTV named Bardstown one of 50 best small towns to visit for Christmas.
- December events light up downtown with parades, train rides and Victorian tours.
- Shops, bourbon markets and distilleries offer gifts, cocktails and seasonal displays.
If you’re trying to catch the holiday spirit, you can’t go wrong with a Kentucky town that recently landed on HGTV’s list of the 50 best small towns in the country to visit for Christmas.
Bardstown in Nelson County, typically known by its moniker as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” its proximity to several historic distilleries and as the site of the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival, snagged a spot on the HGTV list.
“We are honored that Bardstown has been recognized by HGTV as one of the best small towns to visit for Christmas,” Stacey Phelps, the president of Visit Bardstown, told the Herald-Leader in an emailed statement.
“Here, the holidays are not a checklist – they are an immersion of lights, tradition, bourbon and small-town cheer, all centered around a beautiful, walkable historic downtown where shopping and celebrating feel simple and memorable,” Phelps’ statement reads in part.
HGTV recognized Bardstown alongside classic Christmas towns that make the holiday a point of pride, including Santa Claus, Ind., North Pole, Alaska, Bethlehem, Pa., to name a few.
So what makes Bardstown stand out? Here’s what to know:
Why Bardstown is the most “Christmassy” town in Kentucky
As HGTV notes, every December, Bardstown transforms into “The North Pole of Kentucky”. Its streets are lined with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations.
Holiday festivities kick off with Light Up Bardstown in late November. The event features a tree lighting, carolers and a visit from Santa.
Throughout December, visitors can take a ride on a Christmas-themed train via The North Pole Express at My Old KY Dinner Train, visit the decorated My Old Kentucky Home or sip bourbon-spike hot cocoa during a walk downtown, according to Visit Bardstown.
You can also knock out your Christmas shopping at Bardstown’s boutiques, bourbon markets and specialty shops.
“Around Court Square and along North Third Street, visitors can browse independent boutiques, linger over seasonal bourbon cocktails and take in twinkling window displays before heading to our distilleries for their own holiday glow-ups,” Phelps told the Herald-Leader in a statement.
“With traditions like Light Up Bardstown and the Hanging of the Greens, the Bardstown Christmas Parade, our expanded Christmas Carnival in the Park and Victorian-era holiday tours at My Old Kentucky Home, Bardstown really does feel like the North Pole of Kentucky this time of year,” Phelps’ statement reads.
A full list of Bardstown events, including its Christmas festivities, is available at visitbardstown.com/bardstown-events.