Embark on a holiday adventure in Lexington! Discover all the top festive events with our guide. From Lexington residents to wandering souls, our guide unveils the city's holiday charms.
One highlight of the season is the Bluegrass Christmas Market, where local artisans showcase unique crafts and delightful treats. This market provides an ideal setting to find thoughtful gifts and enjoy festive snacks. Alternatively, the Holly Day Market offers a vibrant atmosphere filled with holiday cheer, featuring a variety of vendors and festive entertainment. And the Luminate Lexington: Official Tree Lighting Ceremony is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it marks the beginning of the celebrations with a stunning display of lights. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Lexington
- Bluegrass Christmas Market
- Holly Day Market
- Luminate Lexington: Official Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Southern Lights
- A Kentucky Christmas at Ashland
- Lexington Theatre Company: “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
- Shaker Village Illuminated Evenings (Harrodsburg)
- Santa Train (Versailles)
- A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage (Richmond)
- Lexington Philharmonic and The Lexington Singers: A Cathedral Christmas
See these and even more events listed below!
Lexington Holiday Light Displays
Luminate Lexington: Official Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Illumination of the city's official Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah.
Description:
The Luminate Lexington: Official Tree Lighting Ceremony features the illumination of Lexington's Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah, accompanied by community choirs singing festive songs and ice skating at The Rink in Triangle Park.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Luminate Lexington: Official Tree Lighting Ceremony
Southern Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday light display with interactive animal exhibits.
Description:
Southern Lights is a three-mile driving tour through over a million twinkling lights at the Kentucky Horse Park. The event features photos with Santa, Animal Land, model trains, and more in the Holiday Village.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Southern Lights
Lexington Holiday Markets and Shopping
Bluegrass Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique gifts and handmade crafts from over 25 vendors.
Description:
The 4th Annual Kentucky Mercantile Christmas Market is a holiday shopping experience featuring over 25 vendors offering unique gifts, handmade crafts, delicious treats, and festive cocktails. This event is held at 5th Quarter LLC in Somerset, KY, and includes a wide variety of boutiques, artisans, and small businesses.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Bluegrass Christmas Market
Holly Day Market
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with diverse vendors.
Description:
The Holly Day Market brings vendors from across the country to Lexington for a weekend of holiday shopping. Vendors sell a variety of items including jewelry, clothing, toys, books, holiday decorations, ornaments, art, and food.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Holly Day Market
A Kentucky Christmas at Ashland
What to Expect:
Historic mansion decorated with classic holiday splendor.
Description:
Step into a 19th-century winter at Ashland, where you can explore a beautifully decorated mansion adorned with classic holiday splendor. Enjoy the warmth of the season while experiencing historic charm during this special event. The celebration features a Holiday Market, Ashland Illumination, and Candlelight Tours.
Where: Lexington | More Info: A Kentucky Christmas at Ashland
Lexington Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Lexington Theatre Company: “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
What to Expect:
Classic musical with Broadway veterans and local professionals.
Description:
Irving Berlin's White Christmas is a spirited stage adaptation featuring terrific choreography, a heartwarming story, and beloved holiday tunes. The Lexington Theatre Company combines Broadway veterans, rising stars, and local professionals to create a production that feels just like Broadway, crafted right here in Lexington.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Lexington Theatre Company: “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
Shaker Village Illuminated Evenings
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with live music and candlelight tours.
Description:
Shaker Village Illuminated Evenings features holiday music, roaring fires, and twinkling lights. Each Saturday evening includes different performers, programs, and tours. The event offers activities like meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, creating holiday crafts, and enjoying bonfires and hot drink stations. It also includes candlelight tours and special holiday music performances.
Where: Harrodsburg | More Info: Shaker Village Illuminated Evenings
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage
What to Expect:
Faithful stage adaptation of a beloved holiday classic.
Description:
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage brings Charles M. Schulz's timeless story to life with Vince Guaraldi's music, featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the Peanuts gang as they uncover the true meaning of Christmas through song and dance.
Where: Richmond | More Info: A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage
UK Choirs Collage: A Holiday Spectacular
What to Expect:
Holiday concert featuring local and school choirs.
Description:
Celebrated vocalists and musicians from the UK School of Music and the Lexington Singers Children's Choir perform holiday favorites from close to home and around the globe, conducted by UK Director of Choirs, Dr. Jefferson Johnson. Special guest choirs from George Rogers Clark HS, Lafayette HS, and Franklin County HS also participate.
Where: Lexington | More Info: UK Choirs Collage: A Holiday Spectacular
Alltech Celebration of Song
What to Expect:
Holiday concert with professional performances by the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and scholarship winners.
Description:
The Alltech Celebration of Song features the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and winners of the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition, showcasing traditional carols and popular Christmas music in a complimentary event open to the public.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Alltech Celebration of Song
Lexington Philharmonic and The Lexington Singers: A Cathedral Christmas
What to Expect:
Awe-inspiring musical experience in a divine setting.
Description:
The Lexington Philharmonic and The Lexington Singers present a Cathedral Christmas, featuring sacred orchestral and choral works in a divine setting, evoking the spirit of the holiday season with awe-inspiring musical performances.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Lexington Philharmonic and The Lexington Singers: A Cathedral Christmas
Lexington Other Holiday Activities
Santa Train
What to Expect:
Santa visits every child on a festive train ride.
Description:
Join the Bluegrass Railroad Museum for a festive 90-minute train ride where Santa visits every child, accompanied by Conductors and Car Hosts.
Where: Versailles | More Info: Santa Train
Travis Clark Photography Santa Photos
What to Expect:
Seasonal photography studio with over fifteen years of experience.
Description:
Travis Clark Photography offers high-quality Santa photos in Lexington, KY, with traditional and contactless options available. Their seasonal studio has been providing festive family photos for over fifteen years, also offering event photography and photo booth rentals.
Where: Lexington | More Info: Travis Clark Photography Santa Photos
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Lexington-Fayette (4 miles)