The holiday season is magical, exciting, beautiful and at times, overwhelming. There are so many options when it comes to ways to spend quality time with loved ones this time of year, so how do you decide which one to try? Some stick to the same thing each year, while others enjoy trying something new. No matter how you approach the month of December, Kentucky is filled with enchanting destinations. If you need a little help narrowing it down or would like to know which places are worth the drive from any corner of the state, then check out these 7 over-the-top light displays in Kentucky.
- ChristmasTown at The Creation Museum
Facebook/Creation Museum Located in Petersburg in Northern Kentucky, the Creation Museum offers an enchanting Christmas light garden with its ChristmasTown event. The gardens surrounding the museum are illuminated with colorful lights and decor and it is one of the most magical walk through displays in our state. Learn more on the ChristmasTown website.
- Lights Under Louisville at the Louisville Mega Cavern
Facebook/Louisville Mega Cavern You can’t put together a list of the most over-the-top light displays in Kentucky and not include Lights Under Louisville. This attraction is truly unique, as you drive through the display while underground in a massive cave. There are other ways to see the lights (even during the day!), including a ride on the Christmas Express. Plan a trip to Kentucky’s Christmas cave on the Lights Under Louisville website.
- Festival of Lights at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement
Facebook/Patti’s 1880’s Settlement Grand Rivers is a fun-filled place to visit in Kentucky all year long. Right on the water, it is filled with charm and during the holidays, the popular Patti’s 1880’s Settlement hosts Festival of Lights. This enchanting walk-through display is free for guests and winds through the Settlement’s property. It is open nightly and there are also shops and restaurants to check out! Find out more on the Patti’s website.
- ChristmasTime at Ark Encounter
Facebook/Ark Encounter Another must on a list of over-the-top displays is ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter. Where else can you see a massive replica of Noah’s Ark illuminated in lights? The surrounding gardens are also filled with colorful lights and you can enjoy activities like ice skating, shopping, visiting the zoo, and much more. Find out all of the details on the Ark Encounter website.
- Southern Lights at The Kentucky Horse Park
Facebook/Southern Lights Southern Lights makes this list thanks to its stunning drive-thru display, but also the wide variety of activities that are fun for the whole family. Drive through the lights at the park and then head to the Holiday Festival at the Visitor Center. Guests can visit with Santa, hop aboard a mini train, take a pony ride, and more. Learn all about this family friendly event on the Southern Lights website.
- Stonegate in Owensboro
Facebook/Owensboro Christmas Lights Next, we’ll head west to Owensboro and the most over-the-top home and neighborhood light display. The Stonegate neighborhood, and this home in particular, go all out with lights for the holiday season. You can walk or drive by, but they also have a specific night with a festival atmosphere that’s a wonderful fundraiser for the community. Read all about this festive neigborhood in our previous article.
- Winter Wonderland of Lights in Ashland
Facebook/Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival-Ashland, Kentucky Ashland is one of the best Christmastime towns in Kentucky with several events, a festive parade, and this beautiful drive-thru display. It’s a town tradition and the entire city is worth a visit from any corner of the state. Take a closer look on the Winter Wonderland of Lights website.
This list of 7 over-the-top light displays in Kentucky showcases some of the biggest, best, and more unique holiday destinations in the state. Of course there are even more places to consider this season, so if your favorite spot didn’t make the list, be sure to share it with us in the comments!
Facebook/Creation Museum
Located in Petersburg in Northern Kentucky, the Creation Museum offers an enchanting Christmas light garden with its ChristmasTown event. The gardens surrounding the museum are illuminated with colorful lights and decor and it is one of the most magical walk through displays in our state. Learn more on the ChristmasTown website.
Facebook/Louisville Mega Cavern
You can’t put together a list of the most over-the-top light displays in Kentucky and not include Lights Under Louisville. This attraction is truly unique, as you drive through the display while underground in a massive cave. There are other ways to see the lights (even during the day!), including a ride on the Christmas Express. Plan a trip to Kentucky’s Christmas cave on the Lights Under Louisville website.
Facebook/Patti’s 1880’s Settlement
Grand Rivers is a fun-filled place to visit in Kentucky all year long. Right on the water, it is filled with charm and during the holidays, the popular Patti’s 1880’s Settlement hosts Festival of Lights. This enchanting walk-through display is free for guests and winds through the Settlement’s property. It is open nightly and there are also shops and restaurants to check out! Find out more on the Patti’s website.
Facebook/Ark Encounter
Another must on a list of over-the-top displays is ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter. Where else can you see a massive replica of Noah’s Ark illuminated in lights? The surrounding gardens are also filled with colorful lights and you can enjoy activities like ice skating, shopping, visiting the zoo, and much more. Find out all of the details on the Ark Encounter website.
Facebook/Southern Lights
Southern Lights makes this list thanks to its stunning drive-thru display, but also the wide variety of activities that are fun for the whole family. Drive through the lights at the park and then head to the Holiday Festival at the Visitor Center. Guests can visit with Santa, hop aboard a mini train, take a pony ride, and more. Learn all about this family friendly event on the Southern Lights website.
Facebook/Owensboro Christmas Lights
Next, we’ll head west to Owensboro and the most over-the-top home and neighborhood light display. The Stonegate neighborhood, and this home in particular, go all out with lights for the holiday season. You can walk or drive by, but they also have a specific night with a festival atmosphere that’s a wonderful fundraiser for the community. Read all about this festive neigborhood in our previous article.
Facebook/Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival-Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland is one of the best Christmastime towns in Kentucky with several events, a festive parade, and this beautiful drive-thru display. It’s a town tradition and the entire city is worth a visit from any corner of the state. Take a closer look on the Winter Wonderland of Lights website.
And if you are interested in even more suggestions, check out our Christmas lights road trip through Kentucky!
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Address: Creation Museum, 2800 Bullittsburg Church Rd, Petersburg, KY 41080, USAAddress: 1 Ark Encounter Dr, Williamstown, KY 41097, USAAddress: Patti’s 1880’s Settlement, 1793 J H O’Bryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045, USAAddress: Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213, USAAddress: Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511, USAAddress: Stonegate Dr, Owensboro, KY 42303, USAAddress: Ashland, KY 41101, USA
