Looking to get photos with Santa this year? We have a full list of all the places he will be in 2024 around the Louisville, KY area! You can find even more fun holiday events on our Local Event Calendar. Sign up to get the calendar emailed to you every week for free HERE! Find our full list of light displays HERE!
If you have an upcoming holiday event that you would like to add to the calendar submit the info to be added to our calendar at this link!
Recurring Events
- Santa Express at The Kentucky Railway Museum - December 1, 7, 8,14, 15, 21 & 22
- North Pole Express at The Kentucky Railway Museum - December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, & 22
- Brunch with Santa at the Kentucky Railway Museum - December 8, 15, and 22
- Gardens Aglimmer - Enjoy a stroll through our holiday lights display while enjoying a hot drink and sweet treat from our Jingle All the Way Café. This year’s event will include visits from Santa* crafting
activities for kids of all ages, and great photo opportunities. Please note: Santa will arrive nightly at 6pm and depart by 9pm. If you plan to visit Santa, you must be in line by 8:15pm. - Friday, November 29 – Saturday, November 30
- Thursday, December 5 – Sunday, December 8
- Wednesday, December 11 (Special Date Night, ages 21+ only)
- Thursday, December 12 – Sunday, December 15
- Monday, December 16 (Special Sensory Friendly Night)
- Tuesday, December 17 – Monday, December 23
- Friday, December 27 – Monday, December 30 (Santa and Mrs. Claus are not present on these dates)
- Qannik’s Beary Happy Holiday at the Louisville Zoo - Create warm memories while you watch Qannik and her animal friends through the Zoo enjoy three weekends of festive fun with special holiday enrichment on December 7th-8th and 14th-15th. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit on the 21st and 22nd.
- Southern Lights Holiday Festival - Drive through the lights nightly, November 29-December 31, 2024 (Closed Christmas Day) from 5:30-10:00 pm. At the end of the route, we invite you to park and explore the Holiday Village (included in admission). The Holiday Village features photos with Santa, Santa’s North Pole Mailbox (where children can drop off their Christmas List), Animal Land, Mini-Train rides, a Bluegrass Miniature Train Display, and the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop. Grab a quick snack in the village or sit down for dinner at Tootie’s Peppermint Café to complete your visit.
- Santa's Wonderland at Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops - Now - December 24th
- Pictures with Santa at Oxmoor Center - November 22nd - December 24th
- Pictures with Santa at Mall St Matthews - November 15th - December 24th
- Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass - Saturdays and Sundays, Nov 9 - Dec 22
- Storytime with Mrs. Claus at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass - Sundays, Nov 10 - Dec 22
- Free Holiday Face Painting at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass - Sundays, Nov 10 - Dec 22
- Christmas At Kentucky Kingdom - Select Days, November 29 - January 4, 2025
- Polar Express Experience at the Sauerbeck Family Drive-In - Only 6 nights: 12/6-7, 12/13-14 and 12/20-21
- Santa Trains at Bluegrass Railroad Museum - Select days, Nov 30 - Dec 15
- StageOne Family Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - December 7, 8, 14, 15, and 21
- Louisville Ballet: The Brown-Forman Nutcracker - December 13th - 24th
- Clarksville Little Theatre: A Christmas Carol-The Musical - December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30pm and December 8 & 15 at 2:00pm.
- A Wonderful Life at Derby Dinner Playhouse - Nov 13 - Dec 31
- A Fairy Tale Christmas at Derby Dinner Playhouse - Nov 16 - Dec 21
- MESA KIDS Cooking School - Pancakes with the Green Guy - Saturdays, Nov 30 - Dec 21
- Christmas Gift & Decor Show at the KY Expo Center - Dec 13, 14, 15 - Free pics with Santa all weekend
- Kentucky Flea Market New Year's Spectacular at the KY Expo Center - December 28-31
- Christmas in Charlestown - Nov 29 - Jan 1
FREE CHARACTER VISITS, 6-10 PM:
SANTA – Nov. 29, Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Dec. 19 (plus Dec. 23 at Greenway Park)
THE GRINCH – Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 (plus Dec. 23 at Greenway Park)
BUDDY THE ELF AND JOVIE – Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20
SPECIAL GUEST NIGHTS – Dec. 4, Dec. 11, Dec. 18, Dec. 21
November 8th
Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass
November 9th
SLHI Christmas Charity Pajama Party & Holiday Market
Hurstbourne Christian Church Christmas/Holiday Arts Bazaar
Norton Commons Holiday Pop Up Market
November 15th
November 16th
Bullitt Central High School Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair
Lowe's Kids Workshops: Holiday Countdown
Anchal 13th Annual Holiday Shop
Thanksgiving Clay Workshop at Oldham County Schools Arts Center
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Christmas Market
The Kentucky Castle: Holiday Market
November 17th
Ascension School: The Grinch's Christmas Bazaar
The Kentucky Castle: Holiday Market
November 21st
November 23rd
Holiday Brite Nite at Paddock Shops
The Louisville Orchestra: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Christkindlmarkt at the German American Club
Male High School Winter Wonderland Craft Show
St. Gabriel's Annual Craft Show
November 24th
An Evening with Chevy Chase following a screening of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Holiday House Tour and Kinkade Village with Train Exhibit at Blackacre
Purrfect Day Cafe: Ms. Sweeny's TURKEY TALES Crafts and Storytime with Kiddos plus KITTENS
Falls of the Ohio State Park: Make a Natural Ornament
November 28th
54th Annual Northeast Family YMCA Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
November 29th
Harley-Davidson Louisville: Selfies with Santa
Rocky Mountain High Experience® - A John Denver Christmas
November 30th
Shelbyville Fire & Rescue: Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser
International Holiday Event at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass
LIBA South's Small Business Saturday Holiday Market
Shop Small Saturday at Norton Commons
Fleur de Flea Presents Vintage Holiday Bash
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
December 1st
Kentucky Performing Arts presents A Magical Cirque Christmas
Holiday House Tour and Kinkade Village with Train Exhibit at Blackacre
4th Annual Light Up The Maples Park
Falls of the Ohio State Park: Create an Origami Ornament
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
Bud’s Tavern JTown: Breakfast with Santa
December 3rd
December 6th
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage
Derby City Pediatric Dentistry - Pictures and Crafts with Santa
Enchanted Winter Woods - Walk Through Christmas Display
2024 Oldham Gardens Christmas Market
December 7th
Blackacre State Nature Preserve And Historic Homestead: Country Christmas
19th Annual Nature of Christmas in Goshen
Breakfast with Santa at Slugger Field
Breakfast with Santa at Middletown United Methodist Church
Holiday Ornament Ceramics Workshop at Oldham County Schools Arts Center
StageOne Family Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Made Market Louisville - Holiday 2024
Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour
The East End Farmer’s Market: An Old-Fashioned Christmas Market
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District 3rd Annual Pancakes with Santa
Magic Inc. presents Nutcracker In A Nutshell
Sensory Friendly Christmas Party presented by Ecotech and Barren Heights
37th Ballard Holiday Halls Arts and Craft Fair
Breakfast with Santa at Dave and Buster's
Falls of the Ohio State Park: Nature's Holiday Lights - Minerals in Ultraviolet
Enchanted Winter Woods - Walk Through Christmas Display
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
Feeders Pet Supply: Picture Your Pet with Santa
2024 Oldham Gardens Christmas Market
The Story of the Nutcracker at Performing Arts Louisville
December 8th
River City Turners Gymnastics: Pancakes with Santa
Joy Full, Josephine Sculpture Park's 2nd annual year-end gratitude gathering
StageOne Family Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Samara Joy 'A Joyful Holiday' ft. The McLendon Family
Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour
37th Ballard Holiday Halls Arts and Craft Fair
Jeffersontown Fire and EMS: Cookies with Santa
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
Feeders Pet Supply: Picture Your Pet with Santa
2024 Oldham Gardens Christmas Market
Grinch Brunch Buffet at the B.A. Colonial
Middletown Christian Church Christmas Concerts
December 10th
Ceramic Christmas Tree Workshop at Waterfront Botanical Gardens
December 12th
Pizza and Pajamas with Santa at Sicilian Pizza & Pasta Glenmary Plaza
Christmas with Santa at Mt. Washington Branch Library
December 13th
An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine
Enchanted Winter Woods - Walk Through Christmas Display
Westport Village: All is Bright Magical Holiday Celebration
2024 Oldham Gardens Christmas Market
December 14th
Louisville Orchestra Family Concert: Santa's Symphony Spectacular
Lowe's Kids Workshops: Spinning Snowflake
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church: Breakfast with Santa
Clarksville Parks and Recreation: Breakfast with Santa
The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass: Pet Picture with Santa & Mrs Claus
StageOne Family Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Pet Picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass
Christmas Folklore and Natural History Hike at Blackacre
Louisville Nature Center: Holly and Ivy
Enchanted Winter Woods - Walk Through Christmas Display
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
Westport Village: Photos with Santa
2024 Oldham Gardens Christmas Market
Brunch with Santa at Metro Diner
December 15th
StageOne Family Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Holiday House Tour and Kinkade Village with Train Exhibit at Blackacre
Lights on Main Free Family Day
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
2024 Oldham Gardens Christmas Market
Holiday Hayride with Horses (and Santa) at Chestnut Hall
December 21st
Qannik’s Beary Happy Holiday: With Santa & Mrs. Claus
StageOne Family Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Nutcracker on Ice, Presented by Louisville Skating Academy
Waterfront Botanical Gardens: Storytime and Craft - Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
City of Jeffersontown: Pancakes with Santa
The 13th Annual Flea Off Market Holiday Bazaar
Falls of the Ohio State Park: T’was the Hike Before Christmas
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops
Westport Village: Photos with Santa
December 22nd
Qannik’s Beary Happy Holiday: With Santa & Mrs. Claus
Nutcracker on Ice, Presented by Louisville Skating Academy
The 13th Annual Flea Off Market Holiday Bazaar
Free Carriage Rides and Santa Visits at The Paddock Shops