16 Magical Christmas Events in Louisville (Updated for 2024)
Holiday markets. Dazzling light displays. Towering Christmas trees. Caves filled with holiday lights. Hang on, did we say caves? (Yes, we did!)
Louisville is a pretty festive city all year round. I mean, we love an excuse for a themed festival or party: there’s the Derby Festival, not to mention all the epic haunted houses in Louisville and other ridiculous Halloween events!
But the holidays just might be our favorite time of year (other than Derby season, obviously). If you’re looking for some holiday fun this Christmas in Louisville, then look no further than these must-see Christmas events that will help you get into the holiday spirit! In this post, you’ll find the best Christmas events in Louisville.
Psst: looking for more holiday and winter fun this season? Check out these posts as well:
- Where to Find the Best Christmas Lights in Louisville
- 12 Cozy Things to do in Winter in Louisville, Kentucky
- 9 Best Christmas Bars in Louisville, Kentucky
- 14 Wondrous Things To Do in Kentucky in Winter
- 12 Cozy Things To Do in Indiana in Winter
If you want to purchase a one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season, check out our Louisville Gift Guide!
The Best Louisville Christmas Events
There are plenty of holiday events in Louisville all season long! Here are the best Christmas events in Louisville:
Fête De Noël in Paristown
Paristown’s Fête De Noël (“Festival of Christmas”) is a 6-week long winter wonderland! This winter holiday festival includes Louisville’s only outdoor ice skating rink, a holiday market full of delicious treats (helloooo,gourmet hot chocolate!) and Santa’s Workshop.
The Holiday Market runs on weekends. You can shop for fresh cut trees and holiday wreaths, gifts, art, local food and more from over 20 local and regional vendors.
To skate underneath the twinkling lights, general admission tickets are $15 per person and include 60 minutes of ice time and a complimentary skate rental.
- Dates: November 29, 2024 – January 5, 2025
- Hours: Vary by attraction – check details here
- Address: 731 Brent Street, Louisville, KY
- Admission: Free to attend, but some activities do require tickets
Bardstown Road Aglow
Bardstown Road Aglow is a great way to walk around the Highlands and a visit all the best local boutiques visit in town, but all decked out for the holidays! The event spans a lot of the Highlands, and there are free trolley rides along Bardstown Road, Baxter & Barret Avenues & Douglass Loop.
Along the way, you’ll be treated to live Holiday music, Elijah Craig bourbon cocktails that you can purchase, and even a tree lighting ceremony at 6pm.
This event is always busy with great energy, and between the music and the drinking you may find yourself buying yourself a few presents as well. Hey, tis the season!
- Date: Saturday, December 7th, 2024
- Hours: 12-10pm
- Address: Along Bardstown Road, Baxter & Barret Avenues & Douglass Loop
- Admission: FREE!
Murder Under the Mistletoe Murder Mystery Food Tour
Someone’s been murdered, and it’s up to you to solve the case (or perhaps confess your crime)! Join Louisville Food Tours for an immersive Murder Mystery Food Tour, an unforgettable night of intrigue, food, and fun. As you stroll to three local restaurants, you’ll gather clues with each “round” of delicious food and drinks. At the start of the tour, you’ll be given a role—so prepare to get into character!
The setting for this immersive Christmas-themed murder mystery is the Snow Falls’ Holiday Sweater Cocktail Crawl – the event of the season in the Snowhio River Valley! Get it? ?
Each year, the city’s most festive souls gather in their flashiest, tackiest sweaters to sip bourbon cocktails, savor local bites, and revel in the spirit of the season. But this year, rumors are swirling along with the bourbon.
Whispers of revenge, blackmail, and scandal are heating up faster than a smoked (c)old fashioned, leaving everyone wondering if someone’s holiday cheer might just be a cover for something sinister.
Tonight, you’re a star character in the evening’s Murder Mystery – or even the perpetrator! While sparkling lights and historic charm immerse you in holiday cheer, the mystery unfolds as your character is revealed and swirling clues unravel the night’s secrets. So don your tackiest holiday sweater and bring your sleuthing skills – everyone has secrets to hide, and no one is above suspicion.
Your ticket includes a full meal, 3 cocktails, a Master of Mystery host to guide your game, and all the materials you’ll need for a night of fun and intrigue!
- Date: Thursdays and Fridays from Nov 21-Dec 32, 2024
- Hours: 6-9 PM
- Address: Tour begins at Hell or High Water, 112 W. Washington St
- Admission: $159, tickets reserved online in advance. Use the code LGL10 for 10% off.
Light Up St. Matthews
Located in Brown Park, Light Up St. Matthews is a free event where you can enjoy musical entertainment, take train rides, ice skate, take photos with Santa and indulge in free cookies and hot chocolate! The main event happens at 6pm when the switch it is thrown and Brown Park lights up with thousands of colorful light displays.
And don’t worry if you can’t make it to the main event, you can enjoy these colorful lights all of December in Brown Park any evening you want!
- Date: Saturday, December 7th, 2024
- Hours: 3-6pm (or any time after in December to just look at the lights)
- Address: Kresge Way & Browns Lane, St Matthews, KY
- Admission: FREE!
Lights Under Louisville at the Mega Caverns
Located near the Louisville Zoo, the Mega Caverns is a 100-acre limestone cavern, which during the holiday season, becomes an underground light show featuring 900 lit characters and over 4 MILLION lights. Really!
Lights Under Louisville is 30-minute drive through attraction winds through part of the 17 miles of underground caverns and features music, and of course, all those brilliant lights. They even have something called the “Christmas Express,” which will take you through the caverns on an open top trailer!
- Dates: November 8, 2024 to January 4, 2025
- Hours: Opening Day 6PM to 10PM, everyday after that 9:00AM to 10PM (check for various holiday hours)
- Address: 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY
- Admission: Standard Vehicle (Includes SUV, Truck, Minivan) $42.99 / Priority Pass: $89.99
Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom
Get ready to see Kentucky Kingdom like you never have before—with over 1.5 million lights, 300+ Christmas trees, and the entire park decked with holiday decor! Here you can meet Santa, Rudolph, and snow tube down a 175-foot-long hill covered in real snow. While you’re here, you can also ride the park’s rides and see the lights from above!
The best part of all, it’s included this celebration is included with your Daily Admission or Season Pass admission.
- Dates: Various nights through January 4, 2025. Check dates here.
- Hours: Check Various hours here.
- Address: 937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY 40209
- Admission: $35.99 for a day pass, included if you already have a season pass.
Gardens Aglimmer
Gardens Aglimmer at the Waterfront Botanical Gardens is exactly what it sounds like: beautiful, sparkling lights strewn over the flora and fauna of the growing botanical gardens!
Enjoy a winter wonderland of sparkling snowflakes, swans on a blue light pond, deer, oversized flowers, and a multicolor tunnel of lights through December!
- Dates: November 29, 30, December 5-8, 11 (Special Date Night, 21+ only), 12-15, 16 (Special Sensory Friendly Night), 17-23, 27-30, 2024.
- Hours: Gardens Aglimmer is a timed event with time slots starting at 5:45pm. The lights are turned off at 9:00pm each night.
- Address: 1435 Frankfort Ave, Louisville KY
- Admission: $17 Nonmember Adults, $12 Member Adults, $10.00 Nonmembers ages 3 – 12, $8 Members ages 3 – 12, Children 2 & under free.
Miracle on Market
Miracle on Market is a holiday pop-up cocktail experience, which is really like walking into the coolest, kitschiest office Christmas party that you’ve ever been to… and actually wanted to go to!
Christmas lights are hung from the drop ceiling with care, hoping that some good drinks will soon be there – and there are plenty! Snuggle up with your favorite “co-workers” and order cocktails in adorable glasses like Christmas in a Carol Barrel, the Christmapolitan, the Jingle Balls Nog, and even a Naughty Shot and Nice Shot. And plenty more to make that miracle on Market street finally happen!
We also have a whole guide to Christmas bars in Louisville, there are plenty to pick from!
- Dates: November 19 – TDB, 2024
- Hours: Sunday – Thursday 5pm-12am, Friday & Saturday 5pm-2am (TBD)
- Address: 732 East Market Street in the Green Building
- Admission: Free, just have to buy drinks!
Holiday Victorian Tea at the Conrad-Caldwell House
If you’re anything like me you’re a ho ho ho for some amazing high tea, and unfortunately Louisville no longer has its own fine high tea establishment. But once a year for the magic of Christmas the Conrad-Caldwell House opens its door to those of us who love high tea!
Besides getting to drink as much tea as you like from a selection of holiday blends, you’ll get a three-tier tray of delicious finger foods like scones, pinwheels, and plenty of sweet holiday treats. Once you’ve finished your tea and scones, you can wander around the gorgeous Home all decorated for the holidays as it is part of the Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour.
You can find tickets on their website, just make sure to get them early as they sell out quickly!
- Dates: December 7 and 8, 2024
- Hours: 11am & 1:30pm, 3:30pm
- Address: 1402 St James Ct, Louisville, KY 40208
- Admission: $50 adults, $30 kids
Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour
The first weekend in December several of Old Louisville’s stunning Victorian mansions open their doors to the general public to see them decorated out in all their Christmas finery. During the Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour you can bet the halls have been decked with boughs of holly, so don your gay apparel and get ready to be jolly!
It’s a rare and special thing to step into this gorgeous, gilded homes in the country’s largest contiguous collection of Victorian mansions in the United States. Seriously, these are some decorations that would make the North Pole jealous.
This tour is self-guided, so you can view these stunning homes at your pace which are all located within three blocks of one another, and docents will greet you at each house.
- Dates: December 7 and 8, 2024
- Hours: 12-5pm
- Address: Visitors Center in Central Park 1340 S 4th Street Louisville, KY 40208
- Admission: $30 pre-sale, $35 day of (Children under 17 free with family)
Light Up Louisville
One last event before we send you off into a magical twinkling land of holiday cheer: don’t forget Louisville’s kick-off to the season, Light Up Louisville! Typically occurring just after Thanksgiving, Louisville’s annual Christmas Tree lighting event occurs on the Jefferson Square and Metro Hall lawns, and the lights last all season long.
The festive display includes rainbows of colors for all the best winter holidays, from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, and celebrates Louisville’s diversity.
On the evening of the kick-off event, you’ll watch the 45-foot tall tree light up to mark the beginning of the holiday season. You’ll meet Santa Claus when he arrives on Jefferson Street for the “Lots Of Lights” parade.
A Vendor Village will be filled with local food and craft vendors, as well as a Children’s Activity area. Kids can have fun writing letters to Santa or taking photos with their family in a photo booth.
- Dates: Tree lighting is on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 and lights last all season
- Hours: 3-9pm
- Address: Metro Hall at Jefferson and Sixth streets in downtown Louisville
- Admission: Free!
Winter on the Farm
Locust Grove during the winter months can be just as magical as the summer, with snow blanketing the farm (if there is snow). And what’s better? Celebrating winter on the farm!
Winter on the Farm is the ultimate Locust Grove Christmas experience, with interpretative performances, choir and band concerts, holiday crafts, refreshments galore, and more! Most of the event will be outside under the pavilion, so bundle up!
Running concurrently is the big winter book sale! Are you… a book hoarder? Or just know someone who can never have enough books? Maybe you’re both (ahem, me). Well stop inside to buy some books for a loved one (or yourself), at cheap prices to get you ready for Christmas. You may even find a rare delight!
- Dates: Winter on the Farm December 7, Book Sale December 6-8, 2024
- Hours: Winter on the Farm and book sales time 10am-4:30pm
- Address: 561 Blankenbaker Lane 40207
- Admission: Winter on the Farm $5 for adults, children 12 and under free! Book sale free!
Holiday Markets in Louisville
Listen: Christmas and shopping just go together. We didn’t make the rules. Blame our capitalist society, ok? Whether you’re shopping for loved ones, shopping for yourself, or just shopping for the fun of it, there are a few holiday markets in Louisville worth checking out this year!
- Psst: We already listed this event above, but don’t forget about the outdoor holiday market at the Paristown’s Fête De Noël!
The Flea Off Market’s Holiday Bazaar at Mellwood Arts Center
Need an excuse to go shopping at an epic holiday bazaar?
Hosted by popular pop-up The Flea Off Market at the Mellwood Arts Center, the holiday bazaar offers holiday shopping at the cool Mellwood Arts Center which has plenty of other shops and galleries to look at.
You’ll find booths inside selling all kinds of holiday ephemera and is the best place to pick up some last-minute shopping while supporting local!
- Dates: December 21-22, 2024
- Hours: TBA
- Address: 1860 Mellwood Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
- Admission: Free!
Made Market at the Mellwood Arts Center
Do you ever browse Etsy late at night, feverishly hitting “favorite” and adding things to your cart until you fall asleep in a pool of drool somewhere around 2am?
No, just me?? Well, OK then.
Anyway, Made Market is basically what it would be like to browse Etsy IRL, but even better because everything is handmade by local Louisville artists and tradespeople.
The markets local vendors must apply and be approved in order to sell their unique, handmade items, so everything is super high quality. You’ll find delicately crafted ceramics and jewelry, gourmet mixers and syrups, handmade woodcrafts and leather goods, and yummy-smelling soaps and lotions, all beautifully packaged.
Friday night is the Made Market preview night (TBA), where you can take cocktail classes, get free food, gifts, and more! The price tag is more exy, but it’s an experience.
Folks, this is where to shop for your bougie friends. And yes: I’m fully aware that I am in that category. Please feel free to send me gifts, y’all!
- Dates: December 6-7, 2024
- Hours: Friday 6pm-10pm, Saturday 10am-5pm
- Address: 1860 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY
- Admission: Friday Preview Night: $25-75 (depending if you want to do a class), Saturday $5 and free 15 and under!
Christmas Gift & Decor Show at the Kentucky Expo Center
Apparently, this massive Christmas Gift & Decor Show is the largest free admission event of its kind in the country. So you know it’s gonna be epic.
Wear a pair of good walking shoes and head to the Exposition Center to peruse hundreds of booths of kitschy, ridiculous, handmade, definitely not handmade, and all kinds of other Christmas… stuff! Let’s just put it this way: if you can’t find something for everyone on your list here, maybe your loved ones are just too picky.
- Date: December 13-15, 2024
- Hours: Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.
- Address: Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY
- Admission: Free!
Drag Queens on Ice
Do you need to make your Yuletide more merry and gay? Drag Queens on Ice supports the Kentuckiana Pride Foundation, and takes place at Paristown’s Fête De Noël and best of all, is a family-friendly FREE event!
The headliner last year was Milk from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 and All Stars 3, who happens to be a real figure skater! Other amazing local queens you might see include Dusty Ray Bottoms from season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race Starlette, Karmen Kazzi, and Salem Vytch-Tryells and is hosted by Leah Halston.
This is sure to be a fabulous night of queens twirling in shining sequins and fluttering wigs!
- Date: December 8, 2024
- Hours: 7pm
- Address: 731 Brent St, Louisville, KY 40204
- Admission: Free!
What’s your favorite Louisville Christmas event? Is there an event that you love that didn’t make our list? Drop us a comment below!
Psst: looking for more holiday and winter fun this season? Check out these posts as well:
- Where to Find the Best Christmas Lights in Louisville
- 9 Best Christmas Bars in Louisville, Kentucky
- 12 Cozy Things to do in Winter in Louisville, Kentucky
- 14 Wondrous Things To Do in Kentucky in Winter
If you want to purchase a one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season, check out our Louisville Gift Guide!
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