16 Magical Christmas Events in Louisville

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:

If you want to purchase a one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season, check out our Louisville Gift Guide!

light up louisville christmas tree and fireworks — Light Up Louisville is a great kickoff to the holiday season! (Photo Credit)

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: December 19, 2023 – January 2, 2024
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 2nd, 2023
Hours: 12-10pm
Address: Along Bardstown Road, Baxter & Barret Avenues & Douglass Loop
Admission: FREE!

Light Up St. Matthews

Located in Brown Park, L ight 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 2nd 2023
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 10, 2023 to January 1, 2024
Hours: Opening Day 6PM to 10PM, everyday after that 9:30AM to 10PM (check for various holiday hours)
Address: 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY
Admission: Standard Vehicle (Includes SUV, Truck, Minivan) $34.99 / Christmas Express: $19.99 per person

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: December 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14 through 23, and 27 through 30, 2023.
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, $10.50 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!

This is one office Christmas party you don’t want to miss!

Dates: November 21 – December 31, 2023
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 5pm-12am, Friday & Saturday 5pm-2am
Address: 732 East Market Street in the Green Building
Admission: Free, just have to buy drinks!

high tea at the conrad caldwell house in louisville ky — High tea at the Conrad-Caldwell House has kinds of amazing finger food with your tea!

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 2 and 3, 2023
Hours: 11am & 1:30pm, 3:30pm
Address: 1402 St James Ct, Louisville, KY 40208
Admission: $45 adults, $25 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 2 and 3, 2023
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)

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 2nd, and lights last all season
Hours: 4-9pm
Address: Metro Hall at Jefferson and Sixth streets in downtown Louisville
Admission: Free!

Christmas 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!

Christmas 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: Christmas on the Farm December 2, Book Sale November 30-December 3, 2023
Hours: Christmas on the Farm 10am-5pm, Book Sale times TBA
Address: 561 Blankenbaker Lane 40207
Admission: Christmas on the Farm $10 for adults, $5 for children under 18, children 6 and under Free!

Lights and stands at the Christkindlmarkt Christmas market in Chicago, Illinois — Fun fact: the nation’s only authentic German Christmas Market is just 5 hours north, in Chicago! But these holiday markets in Louisville are a lot closer to home. *(Photo Credit: Guy Bauer)*

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 theParistown’s Fête De Noël!

The Flea Off Market’s Holiday Bazaar at Logan Street Market

Need an excuse to go shopping at an epic holiday bazaar?

Hosted by popular pop-up The Flea Off Market at the Henry Clay, the holiday bazaar offers holiday shopping at the gorgeous Henry Clay!gorgeous

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 16-17, 2023
Hours: TBA
Address: 604 South 3rd Street, Louisville, KY 40202
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 1-2, 2023
Hours: Friday 6pm-10pm, Saturday 10am-5pm
Address: 1860 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY
Admission: Friday Preview Night: $65 (TBA), Saturday $5

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 8-10, 2023
Hours: Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.
Address: Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY
Admission: Free!

drag daddy snow white christmas Louisville — Naomi Wayne playing Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens! (Photo Credit: Josh Tyson)

Drag Queen Xmas Events

Do you need to make your Yuletide more merry and gay? Well lucky for you there are three drag Christmas events in town to do just that!

Snow White and the Seven drag queens

Follow Snow White, her Seven Queens, Mullificent, Mira Mira and the Prince as the annual drag Holiday musical returns to PLAY Louisville!

Featuring the talents of Naomi Wayne, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Myranda Thomas, Robbie Smith, The Alexis, Valiana Dolls, Evelyn Salt, Nina Na’Shaé Rosé, Leigh Nieves, Starlette, William Nickles & Selene St. Claire, this cast will leave you humming all the way to 2023!

With an updated script and music, Writer/Director Tony Lewis brings the show to the holiday season with nods to your favorite holiday traditions, pop culture fads and fresh rewrites to your favorite pop and holiday tunes.

Admission to the show grants you access to PLAY Dance Bar for the entirety of the evening, so you can keep the party going after the show!

Date: December 16, 2023
Hours: Doors Open at 6:30pm, Show begins at 7PM.
Address: PLAY Dance Bar, 1101 E Washington St, Louisville, KY 40206
Admission: Presale $25, $30 at the door.

Drag Queens on Ice

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 this year is Milk from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 and All Stars 3, who happens to be a real figure skater! Other amazing local queens 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 3, 2023
Hours: 7pm
Address: 731 Brent St, Louisville, KY 40204
Admission: Free!

Not So Silent Night: A Holiday Concert Starring Naomi Wayne and Friends

A classic Christmas…with a twist! Naomi Wayne and friends bring together their musical mastery for some merry mayhem!

Featuring special guests Myranda Thomas and Philip Clemons, prepare to hear your favorite holiday standards along with some raucous hidden gems. Don your gay apparel and find that hanging mistletoe.

Directed by William Nickles, alongside the Drag Daddy Production Team, this is an evening you won’t want to miss!