Southern Lights Holiday Festival
Visitors take a three-mile driving tour through over a million twinkling holiday lights before parking to explore the Holiday Village. Inside the village, guests can take photos with Santa, visit Animal Land to see and feed exotic animals, and view miniature train exhibits. Additional activities include pony and camel rides, mini-train rides, gift shopping, and seasonal dining.
What to Expect
A three-mile drive-through light tour featuring a festive holiday village.
Event Details
Duration
The driving route is three miles; no visit duration is stated.
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Friends of Coal
Food & Drink
The village has snacks, hot drinks, candy, kettle corn, and food vendors; Tootie’s Peppermint Café serves meals, desserts, specialty non-alcoholic drinks, and alcohol is available at the café and Rudolph’s Hitching Post.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with children
Vibe
Festive and family-friendly
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: $35 per personal car, extended van, RV, limousine, or carload; $100 per mini bus (25 people and above); $150 per school bus; $250 per motor coach. Tickets are $35 online or at the gate. Military and first responders with valid ID get one car admitted free on December 1 and 9 only. Admission includes the Holiday Village and Animal Land. Extra charges apply for pony and camel rides, pony photos, animal treats, additional Santa photos, food, and drinks: pony ride $6; pony ride with photo $10; pony photo only $6; camel ride $6; animal feed cone $2; carrots $3; additional Santa photos $5 each. One Santa photo per family is complimentary. – Get tickets
- Hours: The driving event is open 5:30–10:00 p.m. nightly.
- Parking: Visitors are invited to park and explore the Holiday Village at the end of the route.
- Accessibility: The event is wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair rentals are not offered.
- Pets: Leashed pets are allowed, except in the Animal Land tent or restaurant unless they are certified service animals.
Tips & Advice
- Buy your ticket online and keep the barcode on your phone, because staff scan it at the entry gate and tickets are good any night through December 31.
- Pack dinner, snacks or a movie for the car, because waits on weekend nights can stretch to several hours before you reach the lights.
- Come on a weeknight if you can, since weeknights are slower than weekends and the busiest stretch runs from the second week of December through Christmas.
- Dress for the weather, because Animal Land, Santa and the pony and camel rides are all outside in the Holiday Village.
- Visit by Christmas Eve if the kids want a Santa photo, since Santa's last night is December 24 while the rest of the Holiday Village stays open.
Special Events & Promotions
- Military & First Responder Nights on December 1 and 9: one car gets in free with valid ID for active military, veterans, nurses, doctors, EMTs, police and firefighters.
- Keeneland Kids Club Night, with Keeneland's mascot Bucky for photos and giveaways.
- A Kid Again night on November 29.
- Breyer Night on December 3 and December 7.
- Southern Lights Stroll and 5K on Saturday, November 21, with separate online registration that includes a Stroll shirt.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What comes with admission besides the drive?
Your ticket covers the Holiday Village. That includes Santa photos with one free photo per family, the Animal Land petting zoo, the mini train ride, the Bluegrass Miniature Train Exhibit and the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop. Pony and camel rides, animal treats, extra Santa photos and food cost extra.
Can we go straight to the Holiday Village?
No. Everyone starts in the campground by driving the lights, and there's no entrance just for the Holiday Village.
What animals are in Animal Land?
You'll see baby camels, kangaroos, sheep, capybaras, highland cows, goats and alpacas under a tent, and you can buy treats to feed them. Pony and camel rides have no age requirement, but ponies have a 100-pound weight limit.
Where can we eat?
Tootie's Peppermint Café is a sit-down spot with burgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, fries, specialty non-alcoholic drinks and desserts. You'll also find The Original Kettle Korn, Mack's Candy Shack, The Holiday Nut Hut and Rudolph's Hitching Post. Adults can get alcohol at Tootie's and Rudolph's.
How long is the wait?
Expect to wait. Thursday through Sunday nights are very busy, and weekend waits can run several hours. Weeknights are slower, and the busiest stretch runs from the second week of December through Christmas.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.