Best List of Holiday & Christmas Events in Louisville

‘Tis the season for the awe of Holiday & Christmas events and activities in and around Louisville. 

Looking for a way to celebrate or get into the spirit? We’ve got you covered! Holiday events, markets, tree-lighting, photos with Santa and more. 

We have scoured the internet to find what is going on for 2025 Christmas events in Louisville, and updated the following list for you. We hope you can make a ton of wonderful memories this holiday season!

Read also:

• Drive Thru Holiday Lights and Events
• Dine with Santa

 

Photos & Meetings with Santa:

Photos with Santa are available at the Malls and Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s throughout the Holiday Season. Make reservations in advance, November 1st-December 24th. 

See Santa at the Malls: 

Christmas Events in Louisville are not the same if you can’t see Santa! 

Santa at Mall St. Matthews – November 14-December 24, pet photos on select Mondays and Tuesdays. Santa Cares Day is December 7, 9:30-10:30am.

Santa at Oxmoor Mall – November 21-December 24, pet photos on select Mondays and Tuesdays. 

Santa at Jefferson Mall – November 20-December 24, Pet Photos are available on Mondays starting Nov 24th.

The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass – November 16-December 21, Saturdays & Sundays from 1-4pm.

Zoneton Santa Truck Route – Various dates throughout November & December

Through December 31

Elf the Musical– Derby Dinner Playhouse, November 12-December 31

A Velveteen Rabbit Christmas – Derby Dinner Playhouse, November 15-December 20

The Sauerbeck Family Drive-In – Christmas movies every Wednesday in November. 

Click here to jump to December events listed chronologically

November 7

Chenoweth Square Holiday Walk – Stroll the Square and get into the holiday spirit! 5:00-8:00pm

November 7 & 8 

Garland & Gifts in Downtown Corydon – Beat the crowds at Light Up Corydon and get your Christmas Shopping done early AND locally! Beginning at 11:00 AM both Friday & Saturday until close… explore, support, and shop.

November 8

Holiday Open House – Work the Metal, 10am-5pm

November 13

Christmas Bingo – Join B.A. Colonial for Christmas Bingo, 7-9pm. They‘ll have handmade Christmas prizes, gift cards, and door prizes. At least $500 in prizes!

Holiday Open House – Historic Downtown Jeffersonville, Enjoy local shops & restaurants, trolley rides, & holiday music, 5:30-8:30pm

November 14 – January 3

Lights Under Louisville – Louisville Mega Cavern

November 14-16

Festival of Trees and Lights – Louisville Slugger Field, Marvel at the hundreds of beautifully decorated trees, wreaths and décor decorated by local designers and volunteers — all for sale to raise funds for Norton Children’s Hospital. Photos with Santa, children’s crafts, ride-on train, miniature train display, outdoor Elf Town activities and Hanukkah activities are included with admission.

November 14-December 28

Reindeer Farm – The Reindeer Farm, nestled on their small family farm in Bowling Green, KY is your new holiday tradition! Come experience the magic of Christmas and meet our LIVE REINDEER! 

November 15

Eastern High School Band Holiday Boutique – 9:00am-2:00pm.

Nulu Jingle Fest – East Market District, 11am-5pm, Shelby St. between Market & Nanny Goat Strut 

Tree Lighting – The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, 6-8pm, Santa, Mrs. Claus, & Polo’s Teddy Bear will be making a grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage plus cheerleaders, dancers, stilt walking balloon Elves, and Free Hot Chocolate!

November 18-20

Temptations Holiday Boutique at The Olmsted- Times vary by day.

November 19, 20, 24, December 1, 3, & 4

Nutcracker Family Storytime – Check website for locations/times.

November 20-January 6

Lights on Main – From November 20 to January 6, the Frazier will be transformed into an enchanted holiday forest with three floors of trees beautifully decorated by local schools, organizations, families, and individuals. 

November 22-January 3

Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom – Get ready to immerse yourself in the magic of the season among dazzling displays of over ONE MILLION lights, Christmas trees and holiday decor as far as the eye can see.

November 21-December 23

Santa Claus Land of Lights – A 1.2-mile Family Christmas Light Adventure that tells the “Shining Story of Rudolph!” Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays November 21 through December 7. Open nightly December 12 – December 23.

November 22

Christkindlmarkt – German American Club, The Market opens at 11:00 am and runs until 6:00 pm. The main hall and the outdoor grounds will be filled with crafts, food, drinks, and Gluhwein!

November 22

Light Up Jeff – 4pm, Start the fun with the North Pole Party on Court Avenue. 6pm, Watch the Holiday Lights Parade. Warder Park

November 23, 30 & December 14

Holiday House Tour and Kinkade Village & Train Exhibit – Sundays, 1:00-4:00pm. Take a break from the hustle and bustle this holiday season and tour the festively decorated 1844 Presley Tyler House. Learn about some of Christmas traditions that began during the 19th century. Tours are lead by docents dressed in period attire.

November 26 – January 1

Lights at Freeman Lake Park (Elizabethtown) – nightly from 6 – 11pm. Drive thru lights with fun themes like Rudolph, to Christmas themed Star Wars, nativity and more. You turn off your lights and turn on the music! It is free, donations accepted. 

November 28 – December 24

Fete de Noel – Paristown. Ice skating rink, winter market, and pictures with Santa. See more information on our ice skating post. One of the most fun Christmas Events in Louisville.

November 28-December 22

Light Up Charlestown followed by weeks of Charlestown’s Christmas City- Varies activities, meetings with Santa and the Grinch, and train rides (small fee). Please see their website for dates/times for all the fun. Lights set to music in the town square and other activities across the street. Wonderful annual event that’s free!

@loufamfun Bundle up for free holiday fun in Charlestown, IN #christmas #loufamfun #indiana #christmaslights #holiday ♬ original sound – LouFamFun

 

November 28 – December 20

Yuletide at Yew Dell – Yew Dell Gardens, purchase a ticket in advance for a certain time for entrance and exit. (Weekends only)

November 28-December 31

Southern Lights Holiday Festival – The Kentucky Horse Park – 5:30 pm-10pm. (Closed Christmas Day) 

November 28 – December 30 (Various dates open, check website)

Gardens Aglimmer at Waterfront Botanical Gardens – Enjoy a sparkling winter wonderland while wandering the gardens. Estimated visit length is 45 minutes. Advanced registration is required, admission is not available at the door.  

November 29

Light Up Corydon – Live entertainment, Food Trucks, Vendors, Holiday Shopping with Downtown Merchants, FREE Kids Activities, Christmas Parade, special appearances by the Grinch and Santa. 11am-8pm

November 29-December 23

Holiday Tea at Hermitage Farm – Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. This December, they invite you to celebrate the season with their annual Holiday Tea at Hermitage Farm’s historic Main House. Enjoy crafted herbal teas, miniature sandwiches, and delicious desserts as carolers stroll the grounds singing in the spirit of Christmas cheer. Times vary per day, check their website for all the details.

December 5

Light Up Mt. Washington – Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus, food trucks, costume contest and more! 6:00-9:00pm

December 5 & 6

WinterFair – Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church, showcases juried artists who create one-of-a-kind, original hand crafted items and fine art gifts in a variety of media at affordable prices for holiday gift giving.

December 5-7

Walk to Bethlehem Live Nativity – Live Nativity event from 7-9pm, Biblical telling of the true meaning of Christmas with live animals and hot chocolate.

December 6

Light Up Jeffersontown – Gaslight Square District on Watterson Trail at Taylorsville Road, 3:00-6:30pm

December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21

Kentucky Railroad Museum – Join them for a nostalgic Christmas adventure aboard a historic train ride to pick up Santa!

More Christmas Events in Louisville

 

December 6

Storytime with Mrs. Claus – 12:00-1:00pm,  Enjoy festive stories, fun games, and holiday cheer with Mrs. Claus herself. In partnership with Shelby County Public Library, each child will also receive a free book-themed giftbag filled with goodies.

Christmas at the Movies – 3pm, Step into the magic of the season with the Louisville Chorus at Christmas at the Movies—a joyful celebration of holiday classics, cinematic favorites, and community cheer. This is a FREE concert at St. Matthews Baptist Church.

Light Up Louisville – 3-9pm. Light Up Louisville is a free, annual event that will kick off the holiday season in the city! We look forward once again to welcoming Louisville citizens to Downtown to welcome the REAL Santa Claus! The Lots of Lights Parade brings holiday cheer to Jefferson Street, aka Santa Claus Lane, with dozens of brightly lit groups singing and dancing in the street!

Whitehall Garden’s Tea – Doors open at 2:45pm, tea is served at 3:00pm. 

Blackacre Country Christmas – 11am-3pm, Activities include, visit with Santa, hayrides, Christmas carolers, nature crafts, wood burning activity, story time with Miss Prim, refreshments, holiday house tours and our new Gift Shoppe.

Light Up St. Matthews – 3:00-6:00pm, Brown Park

FaLaLa on Frankfort – Join in for live music, entertainment and activities at the small businesses all along the avenue. 

Holiday Open House – Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 10am-3pm. Several family friendly event going on throughout the day.

Magic Inc Presents Nutcracker in a Nutshell – Louisville Palace, 2:00pm.

A ’60s Christmastide – Locust Grove, 10am-5pm, Enjoy a holiday musical performance by the students of Lincoln Performing Arts Elementary School, explore the A ‘60s Christmas exhibit in the historic house, create holiday crafts in the great parlor, and shop for books at our expanded Holiday Book Sale.

Pancakes with Santa – 8:00am – 12:00pm (or until we run out), 2nd Annual “Pancakes with Santa” fundraiser for the WHAS Crusade for Children. Come dressed in your favorite pajamas and enjoy firehouse made Pancakes with Sausage or Biscuits & Gravy.

Breakfast with Santa – Celebrate this holiday season with the Louisville Bats for their annual Breakfast with Santa! Join Santa in the Bats Home & Away Clubhouse and enjoy buffet style breakfast, cookie decorating, and ornament crafting!

Light Up Simpsonville – local businesses have joined forces to create our biggest holiday celebration ever! Eat, shop & play!

Floyd County Christmas in the Country – 3-6pm, Pictures with Santa Claus, Touch-a-truck area for children, Live Christmas music, and so much more!

Christmas on the Square –  They’re creating an actual Christmas market right here in JTown – the kind where you can find those unique, handmade gifts that actually mean something. Plus Santa photos, live music, food trucks, and that cozy holiday atmosphere that makes December so special. All happening 3:00-6:30 PM at City Hall (10416 Watterson Trail).

The Spirits of Christmas-Victorian Ghost Stories – Culbertson Mansion, 6-8pm, Ghost stories and terrifying tales became a popular Christmas Eve tradition during the Victorian era! Join the Friends of Culbertson Mansion for scary stories by the fire, hot chocolate and a piece of traditional twelfth cake next to the glimmering tree.

December 6-7

Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour – Noon-5pm, both days, gives visitors a rare glimpse inside these historic Victorian mansions and townhouses stylishly dressed for the holidays.

Picture Your Pet with Santa – Picture Your Pet With Santa returns for ONE WEEKEND ONLY at the Middletown and Preston Highway Feeders Pet Supply stores! Join them from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday OR Sunday. 

December 6, 13, & 20

Cookies with Captain Santa – Mary M. Miller Cruise Boat, 12:00-1:30pm

December 6, 7, 13 & 14

A Dickens Christmas Festival – 12:30pm – 6:30pm, at the KY Renaissance Festival Grounds in Eminence, KY.  Their amazing cast will perform scenes from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, and through the day they will have vendors, food, drink & Christmas cheer!

December 6-7, 13-14, 20-21

Beary Happy Holiday – Louisville Zoo, Areas of the Zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland throughout the month of December, providing a unique opportunity to experience the holidays alongside the community’s beloved animal residents. 10am-2pm

December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – StageOne Theater will perform in the Bomhard Theater. Check their website for specific dates/times.

Even more Christmas Events in Louisville!

 

December 7

Grinch Brunch – The B.A Colonial, 818 W Kenwood Drive. Bring your friends and family for brunch with the one and only Grinch! He’ll be sneaking around the restaurant, ready for pics with the kids! Reservations are required. 10AM – 2:00PM!

December 9-11

A ’60s Christmas Candlelight Tour – Step back in time as Locust Grove celebrates its 60th anniversary with the beloved tradition of Candlelight Tours inside the historic house.  Tours take place these evenings with two tours taking place each night at 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM.

December 12-21

A Christmas Carol –  Get ready to embark on a heartwarming journey of redemption and transformation as Highview Arts Center proudly presents, “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by Kathy Preher Reynolds.

December 13

Historic Corydon Holiday Tour – Step into the magic of the season and experience Hallmark-worthy holiday charm as you stroll through the beautifully decorated homes that showcase the warmth and character of Corydon. 12-4:45pm

December 12, 13 & 14

Christmas Gift and Décor Show – Kentucky Expo Center, times vary by date.

December 12-14 & 19-22

The Brown-Forman Nutcracker – Times vary by date.  

December 13

Christmas in Anchorage – 9:00am – 3:00pm, A wonderful Christmas craft and décor show! They will also have Christmas treats for sale!

December 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21

All is Calm – Christmas Eve 1914, a lone soldier stepped out of the trenches singing Stille Nacht. This a cappella opera, sung in English, shares the stories of soldiers along the Western Front in the spontaneous Christmas Truce of World War I. All is Calm will take place at the Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health at 708 Magazine St in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Seating is General Admission.

December 20

Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas – 3pm, The Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour 2025 is a global concert experience that blends sweeping symphonic sound with theatrical beauty.

December 13-14

The Flea Off Market – 15th Annual Indoor Holiday Bazaar, 1860 Mellwood Ave

December 24

Christmas Eve Visit – Bring your camera and capture the magic that is Santa 11–3pm in Santa’s Workshop. PLUS, Santa’s best friend and trusted sidekick, Mrs. Claus, will also be visiting the Workshop, adding extra sparkle and cheer to the season.

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Check out Oldham Family Fun’s post for even more Holiday Family Fun!

 

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The following Christmas Events in Louisville have not yet been updated for 2024 as of 11/01/24. Please check back soon! THESE ARE PRIOR EVENTS

Rudolph’s Run – An adventure in your car, solving clues to find the missing information to complete Santa’s List. If you complete the list, you will be entered to win a $100 gift card and they will draw a winner each week. They will event have a skating rink at the end.

Festival of the Nativities in Crestwood. Read all about this free event on their website. Over 500 nativities to view!

Gaslight Square Carriage Rides – Experience an old-fashioned holiday tradition with carriage rides through Gaslight Square. 6:00-8:00pm

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Click here for more ideas for WINTER FUN